The evaluative palette of verbal irony
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Laura Alba-Juez
Abstract
In this chapter we present the results of both a theoretical and empirical study on the evaluative character of verbal irony. Our main research concern was to provide evidence as to whether all cases of verbal irony are ‘critical’ in nature or not, both by means of theoretical reflection and by presenting the results of a survey whose questions were mainly oriented toward the identification of ironical situations by English native speakers. For our analysis of the evaluative content of ironic utterances we draw on the findings of studies such as Thompson and Hunston (2000), Martin and White (2005), or Bednarek (2008a). The results of the survey show that the great majority of speakers recognized the different evaluative shades of the ironical situations presented, which gave grounds for accepting our hypothesis that the essence of verbal irony is not to be found in its possible implied criticism, but in a finer, more subtle aspect of the phenomenon which has to do with a clash or contradiction at different linguistic/discursive levels.
Abstract
In this chapter we present the results of both a theoretical and empirical study on the evaluative character of verbal irony. Our main research concern was to provide evidence as to whether all cases of verbal irony are ‘critical’ in nature or not, both by means of theoretical reflection and by presenting the results of a survey whose questions were mainly oriented toward the identification of ironical situations by English native speakers. For our analysis of the evaluative content of ironic utterances we draw on the findings of studies such as Thompson and Hunston (2000), Martin and White (2005), or Bednarek (2008a). The results of the survey show that the great majority of speakers recognized the different evaluative shades of the ironical situations presented, which gave grounds for accepting our hypothesis that the essence of verbal irony is not to be found in its possible implied criticism, but in a finer, more subtle aspect of the phenomenon which has to do with a clash or contradiction at different linguistic/discursive levels.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
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Section 1: Introduction
- The many faces and phases of evaluation 3
-
Section 2: Theoretical considerations and approaches to evaluation
- The emergence of axiology as a key parameter in modern linguistics 27
- AFFECT and emotion, target-value mismatches, and Russian dolls 47
- Appraising Appraisal 67
- The evaluative palette of verbal irony 93
- The implementation of the axiological parameter in a verbal subontology for natural language processing 117
- The evaluative function of situation-bound utterances in intercultural interaction 137
- Prosody, information structure and evaluation 153
- The evaluation of intonation: pitch range differences in English and in Spanish 179
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Section 3: Evaluation in different contexts
- “An astonishing season of destiny!” Evaluation in blurbs used for advertising TV series 197
- Graduation within the scope of Attitude in English and Spanish consumer reviews of books and movies 221
- Register diversification in evaluative language: the case of scientific writing 241
- The role of negative-modal synergies in Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species 259
- Exploring academic argumentation in course-related blogs through ENGAGEMENT 281
- Multimodal analysis of controversy in the media 303
- The expression of evaluation in weekly news magazines in English 321
- Evaluative phraseological choice and speaker party/gender 345
- Evaluation in emotion narratives 367
- Evaluative discourse and politeness in university students' communication through social networking sites 387
- Index 413
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Preface xi
-
Section 1: Introduction
- The many faces and phases of evaluation 3
-
Section 2: Theoretical considerations and approaches to evaluation
- The emergence of axiology as a key parameter in modern linguistics 27
- AFFECT and emotion, target-value mismatches, and Russian dolls 47
- Appraising Appraisal 67
- The evaluative palette of verbal irony 93
- The implementation of the axiological parameter in a verbal subontology for natural language processing 117
- The evaluative function of situation-bound utterances in intercultural interaction 137
- Prosody, information structure and evaluation 153
- The evaluation of intonation: pitch range differences in English and in Spanish 179
-
Section 3: Evaluation in different contexts
- “An astonishing season of destiny!” Evaluation in blurbs used for advertising TV series 197
- Graduation within the scope of Attitude in English and Spanish consumer reviews of books and movies 221
- Register diversification in evaluative language: the case of scientific writing 241
- The role of negative-modal synergies in Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species 259
- Exploring academic argumentation in course-related blogs through ENGAGEMENT 281
- Multimodal analysis of controversy in the media 303
- The expression of evaluation in weekly news magazines in English 321
- Evaluative phraseological choice and speaker party/gender 345
- Evaluation in emotion narratives 367
- Evaluative discourse and politeness in university students' communication through social networking sites 387
- Index 413
