Intentionality and irony
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Salvatore Attardo
Abstract
The paper makes two central claims: the first is that irony a prototypical and perhaps exemplar category, there are some types of irony that are more “central” than others. The second claim is that irony is processed and produced largely subconsciously and that its meaning is indeterminate. Implications for the theory of irony and irony processing are examined. Furthermore, the existence of canned or idiomatic irony facilitates automatic/subconscious processing. This paper assumes a number of facts about irony, which are discussed at length elsewhere. I also assume, without further discussion, the model of irony I presented in Attardo (2000), which can be summarized as follows: an ironical situation is a sextuple (S, H, C, u, p, p’).
Abstract
The paper makes two central claims: the first is that irony a prototypical and perhaps exemplar category, there are some types of irony that are more “central” than others. The second claim is that irony is processed and produced largely subconsciously and that its meaning is indeterminate. Implications for the theory of irony and irony processing are examined. Furthermore, the existence of canned or idiomatic irony facilitates automatic/subconscious processing. This paper assumes a number of facts about irony, which are discussed at length elsewhere. I also assume, without further discussion, the model of irony I presented in Attardo (2000), which can be summarized as follows: an ironical situation is a sextuple (S, H, C, u, p, p’).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The pragmatics of irony and humor 1
-
1. Irony and humor
- The power of inversion 17
- Intentionality and irony 39
- An inference-centered analysis of jokes 59
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2. Irony and humor in mediated discourse
- Discursive mechanisms of informative humor in Spanish media 85
- Narrative strategies in Buenafuente’s humorous monologues 107
- Cartoons in Spanish press 141
- Phonological humor as perception and representation of foreignness 159
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3. Irony and humor in conversational interaction
- Failed humor in conversational utterances in Spanish 191
- Humor and argumentation in everyday talk 219
- Tackling the complexity of spontaneous humorous interaction 243
- Subject index 269
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The pragmatics of irony and humor 1
-
1. Irony and humor
- The power of inversion 17
- Intentionality and irony 39
- An inference-centered analysis of jokes 59
-
2. Irony and humor in mediated discourse
- Discursive mechanisms of informative humor in Spanish media 85
- Narrative strategies in Buenafuente’s humorous monologues 107
- Cartoons in Spanish press 141
- Phonological humor as perception and representation of foreignness 159
-
3. Irony and humor in conversational interaction
- Failed humor in conversational utterances in Spanish 191
- Humor and argumentation in everyday talk 219
- Tackling the complexity of spontaneous humorous interaction 243
- Subject index 269
