O sarcasm and irony they are stylistic resources used by text issuers (oral or written) with the aim of offering greater expressiveness to the enunciated speech.
They are used when the author of the text intends to offer greater drama to the speech, using, in this way, the words in their connotative (figured) sense, to the detriment of their real sense, called denotative.
Although they are terms that are similar and are often used as synonyms, sarcasm and irony have their peculiarities. Both are closely linked, however, they differ in intention established by the writer.
For contemporary Brazilian writer Gabito Nunes:
When I use humor as a shield, it's irony. When I use humor as a weapon, it's sarcasm.
It is worth remembering that mockery is another term that is also related to irony and sarcasm. However, it is used in speech with the intention of belittling or embarrassing the recipient of the message.
Definition of Sarcasm
Sarcasm is an expressive resource used, above all, with a provocative, malicious and critical sense. In other words, he always presents a provocative, biting and mocking tone, which appeals to humor or laughter.
For some scholars of the subject, sarcasm corresponds to a kind of irony with a provocative content.
Example: Your makeup looks beautiful, but your face is so much more. (Sarcasm)
Definition of Irony
THE irony it is a figure of thought that expresses the opposite of what the author intends to assert. Regarding sarcasm, she has a less harsh tone.
This is because it deals with a contradiction in the literal meaning of the words, being used in a lighter, more subtle way.
Example: Rosana is so smart that she missed every test question. (Irony)
Types of Irony
Irony can be classified in three ways:
- oral irony, which expresses the difference between speech and intention;
- dramatic or satirical irony, which indicates the difference between expression and understanding;
- situation irony which corresponds to the difference existing between the intention and the result of the action.
Curiosity
Sarcasm and irony are two terms from the Greek language. The word sarcasm (sarkasmos) means mockery, mockery; while the word irony (european) means to dissemble, to pretend.
Discover some textual genres in which sarcasm and irony are used:
- speech figures
- thought figures
- Anecdote textual genre
- Textual genre cartoon
- textual genre cartoon
