Difference between sarcasm and irony
- So, what is the difference between sarcasm and irony? The most “benevolent” form of criticism is humor, followed by irony , which hides ridicule behind the apparent seriousness of what is said, similar to a hint rather than an open denunciation. And only then sarcasm , ridiculing it quite harshly, uncompromisingly and caustically.
Thus, in an ironic statement there is more goodwill, friendly banter. Sarcasm is a rather evil and merciless means of expressing one’s emotions.
What is sarcasm
Sarcasm is the highest degree of verbal irony, which ridicules something or someone or expresses contempt. You say the opposite of what you mean (verbal irony), and you do it with a special intonation.
Sarcasm comes from the Greek words “sark,” meaning “flesh,” and “asmos,” which translates to “tear.” So literally the term sounds like “flesh-tearing”—a pretty gory image for the type of speech we use all the time!
Psychology of sarcasm and irony
- Psychologists say that irony is most often used in communication by people who are self-confident, endowed with fairly high intelligence and are kind by nature. Perhaps they are experiencing minor complexes, and irony in this case is a means of self-defense.
- people who lack self-confidence tend to resort to sarcasm And in this case, the self-defense mechanism - to play proactively and incapacitate a potential enemy by unleashing a barrage of evil ridicule on him.
Ironic and sarcastic statements
When is sarcasm used?
Sarcasm, by definition, can only be used in dialogue. It can have a wide range of effects, but usually shows that the speaker is being impatient or contemptuous.
It is also a sign of disrespect for the person being addressed, so can be used as a way of responding to insults with humor. The broader category of verbal irony has other uses, but sarcasm, in particular in literature, is often a quality of speech of a character, and therefore its function is to reveal aspects of that character's personality.
More often than not, sarcastic characters in culture are cynical, a little bitter, lonely, and perhaps arrogant. Think of Dr. Cox from Scrubs - he often uses verbal irony to make fun of other characters in the show, especially the main character, J.D.
However, like many sarcastic characters, Dr. Cox is often more brutally honest than offensive. Therefore, with sarcasm you can not only answer the question of your interlocutor (especially an enemy), but also express your displeasure, disappointment or negative attitude towards some situation or person in a slightly veiled form.
Still doesn't sound very clear? Then let's look at specific examples of how you can respond with sarcasm.
How do irony and sarcasm affect a person?
- According to recent studies, the use of sarcasm in communication has a positive effect on the development of a person’s creative abilities. According to researchers representing Harvard University, to produce a sarcastic expression of thought, the human brain “turns on” both hemispheres, along with the frontal lobes and the cortex, while abstract thinking is also activated, which affects the work of creativity.
- In addition, in order to formulate a sarcastic thought, as well as for the interlocutor to understand it, both participants in the dialogue are required to have a sufficiently high intellectual level , which is also important for creativity.
Signs and examples
Some people can't tell the difference between satire and serious conversation. But it's very easy to tell the difference. Signs of a sarcastic statement:
- rude, aggressive and angry tone of voice;
- fluctuations in the sound and timbre of speech;
- sharpness;
- brevity (only one word can be said);
- indifference of the speaker (he doesn’t care whether he offends a person or not);
- hidden meaning (seemingly an expression of gratitude, but said in a rough voice);
- absence of even a hint of laughter or smile (a sarcastic remark is always delivered as a serious speech, sometimes with a sad, strained or disappointed smile);
- Schadenfreude (after the statement, a person can laugh, as if he were a villain from some cartoon).
So, sarcasm is a caustic joke with evil intentions that helps to express hostility. Aphorisms are built on its basis. Also, a satirical technique helps to win an argument and avoid assault or confrontation.
Examples of sarcasm in literature and life:
- “Where, tell us, are the fathers of the Fatherland whom we should recognize as models? Aren’t these the ones who are rich in robbery…” (A.S. Griboyedov).
- “Well, thank you, I helped, so to speak.”
- “We are rich, barely from the cradle, in the mistakes of our fathers and their late minds. The bitter mockery of a deceived son over a squandered father” (M. Yu. Lermontov).
- "My condolences. He will live a long time and will get you to the fullest” (from the movie “House M.D.”).
- “Many people complain about their appearance, but no one complains about their brains” (Faina Ranevskaya).
- “I remember one artist spoke at our meeting and talked about nothing for about an hour. When he finished, they applauded him out of politeness and immediately heard the voice of Arnold, who with inimitable intonation said about the speaker: “Why do I love him? For brevity!” (Yu. Nikulin “Almost Seriously”).
- “Thank you for being on time” (when the person was late).
- And here is an interesting sarcastic expression about the meaning of the word sarcasm: “Sarcasm is the ability to praise a person so that he is very offended by you.”
A sarcastic phrase begins with a positive statement (the first part), and ends with an expression of ridicule, anger, anger towards some phenomenon or hero, his actions (in the second part). The basis is a heightened contrast between the spoken words and the hidden meaning.
In simple words, this is hidden mockery aimed at humiliation and humiliation. The technique is especially often used in journalism, since this genre itself is aimed at hooking people to the living, pointing out the pain and depth of some problem.
Often sarcastic expressions are on the verge of a foul. They offend and touch people's heartstrings and can ruin friendly, love and business relationships, so in real life it is recommended to use this technique with great caution. If you want to point out the shortcomings of a loved one and maintain a relationship with him, then it is better to choose another method.
How to learn sarcasm and irony?
- First of all, you need to formulate for yourself a clear definition of both concepts and the differences between them. It is advisable to look for examples of sarcasm and irony in literary works, and take an interest in phrases that are given as examples on the Internet (below you can read a list of such statements).
- When you clearly understand in what cases this or that type of satire is necessary, try to apply your knowledge to those interlocutors who, in case of failure, will not be offended and will not laugh - relatives or friends. The main thing is not to seriously offend them. If the learning process is successful, you can move on to using sarcastic statements towards those people who are unpleasant to you.
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Examples of sarcasm from everyday life
“Oh yes, you were sooooo helpful! Thank you so much for your invaluable help!”
Imagine someone saying this, drawing out syllables in an exaggerated manner, repeating words, and perhaps rolling their eyes. Thanks to intonation and facial expressions, you will quickly understand that in fact the person means the exact opposite and wants to convey his dissatisfaction to the interlocutor without resorting to direct criticism of his work.
- Money and career How to criticize an employee’s work without crossing the line: 6 tips for bosses It is important not only to be able to praise subordinates, but also to correctly point out their mistakes.
“I made a GREAT decision by selling my car right before I decided to move!”
Sarcasm is not always mean or offensive. It can also be absurd, playful, or (as in this example) self-deprecating. Again, the verbal irony, plus the tone of voice, makes this phrase an example of sarcasm.
Sarcasm can not only respond to insults addressed to you and joke about yourself, but also be used as a friendly barb.
“That parsley between your teeth attracts all eyes to your smile!”
Just be careful: such mocking phrases can only be said to people you know well and so that others do not hear it, otherwise your sarcasm will be perceived as rudeness.
You can point out to a close friend the abuse of perfume using a phrase pronounced with emphasis on politeness:
“What a great cologne! Do you like marinating in it?”
Let's give another clear example of how to respond funny and with sarcasm to an awkward situation in which you unwittingly found yourself through someone else's fault. Imagine that you are sitting in a restaurant and the waitress accidentally spills a glass of water on you.
She is probably embarrassed, it may be difficult to remain silent, but screaming and loudly expressing your anger is very ugly and indecent of you. What can be done? Sarcasm will help you!
“Oh thank you, I was just getting ready for the wet T-shirt contest.”
Want more examples? Then scroll below to find out how characters in books, films and TV series used sarcasm to defend and attack when communicating with enemies, friends or even strangers.
What is the difference between irony and post-irony?
Irony
- this is a kind mockery, a mocking expression attributing to someone or something qualities that are opposite to reality.
Post-irony
is a condition in which it is difficult to distinguish irony from sincerity.
... post-irony,
as it were, includes irony and denotes a broader concept.
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Types of irony
For many decades, different authors in different countries of the world have been trying to divide irony into different types and present them to society. Here we present one of these versions.
Verbal irony
The words used mean something different from what the person actually says.
Example: “I can’t wait to read this seven hundred page report.”
Verbal irony is also divided into:
- exaggeration - when a person exaggerates something;
- understatement - when a person minimizes something.
Dramatic irony
When the audience knows about something that the characters in action are not aware of. This type of irony is popular in art (films, books, poems and plays).
It takes place in three stages:
Setup - The audience learns about something the character doesn't know about.
Elaboration is the use of this information to develop curiosity among the audience.
The denouement is the events that happen when the character finally learns the truth.
A special category of dramatic irony is tragic irony. An example of tragic irony is when a character orders poisoned food that will kill him or her, and the audience already knows that the character is destined to die from poisoning.
Situational irony
There is a discrepancy between what is expected and what actually happens, i.e. the exact opposite of what is supposed to happen.
An example would be when someone buys a gun to protect themselves, but it is used to their detriment in the future.
Techniques of sarcasm in the works of Russian classics
M. Yu. Lermontov used open sarcasm in the poem “Duma” when he says how “rich” their generation is. The wealth was made up of the mistakes of the fathers, who were able to leave their sons without inheritance and ranks. Famous orators of Rome and Greece Demosthenes, Cicero and Juvenal used sarcastic statements when describing the political life of the country.
Some examples of such statements are so loved by historians, cultural experts and writers that some of them have become aphorisms. Theater and film lovers remember the beautiful actress Faina Ranevskaya.
Colleagues were afraid of Faina Georgievna for her “sharp” tongue. It seems that she deliberately introduced statements into her speech that were called sarcasm. As an example, we can cite the following statement that the patient can decide his fate himself:
“If a patient really wants to live, doctors are powerless.”
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Definition in literature
Sarcasm in literature is a type of artistic trope (figure of speech), a means of satire - a style that ridicules the shortcomings of society. Sarcasticity is a property of a person or his speech. For the author, this is an opportunity to express his condition, to express a stable and categorical objection. Through satire, he conveys his worldview, values, beliefs and attitudes.
Literature is attractive because it reflects the lives of people with all their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to come to terms with something or notice something is to make fun of it. Literature knows many artistic means of comic description of situations:
- humor - good jokes about something or someone;
- irony - mockery hidden under the guise of a serious conversation or compliment;
- sarcasm is a harsh and direct criticism of the shortcomings of a person, situation, and other objects of reality.
This is the highest degree of evil irony, the so-called black humor. The mockery is both hidden and exposed. The contrast in what a person means or says is so strong that genuine criticism cannot be overlooked.
Sarcasm, as a rule, touches on issues of morality and morality. It is a judgmental, harsh and negative assessment of something. Character flaws, vices, unworthy life position - all this is exposed by sarcastic statements.
In literature, the technique is used to draw attention to a problem or to expose the bad actions of heroes. It helps to cause public condemnation, to turn readers against something.
Authors who use sarcasm see the world differently. They give harsh names to events taking place in society, criticize the actions of rulers, and point out people’s mistakes. For this, writers, poets and publicists are often themselves subject to criticism, persecution and punishment. Their works are prohibited or authors are persuaded to reprint books in a new form, in a censored edition.
Good or bad?
If they openly laugh at a person, that’s bad! If everyone in the company is having fun with a joke, that’s good! How to find this line in order to thin out the situation in communication? The main thing is not to go too far, so as not to be branded as an ignorant and rude person.
To understand how the word “sarcasm” can be replaced, you need to refer to its synonyms according to the Dictionary of the Russian Language, edited by A. P. Evgenieva:
irony (subtle, hidden mockery), mockery (sarcastic, evil phrase), ridicule (offensive joke), malice (subtle, evil sarcasticity), gloating (malicious joy at the misfortune or failure of another person).
Eduardo Zamacois Zabala "Return to the Monastery", 1868 Location: Carmen Thyssen Museum, Malaga, Spain
