6. Acquiring irony
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Deirdre Wilson
Abstract
This paper considers what the literature on irony acquisition can tell us about the distinctive features of verbal irony, and how far they are explained by traditional and more modern theories of irony. Among the widely recognised features of typical cases of verbal irony are (a) the expression of a characteristic (mocking, scornful or contemptuous) attitude, (b) the existence of a so-called normative bias in the uses of irony, and (c) the ironical tone of voice. After surveying some findings on how these features develop, I consider how they might be explained in terms of three current theories of irony: the echoic account, the pretence account, and a much broader approach now frequently used in the literature on irony acquisition, which treats a range of disparate phenomena, including hyperbole, banter, understatement, jokes and rhetorical questions, as forms of irony. I end by suggesting some possible directions for future research.
Abstract
This paper considers what the literature on irony acquisition can tell us about the distinctive features of verbal irony, and how far they are explained by traditional and more modern theories of irony. Among the widely recognised features of typical cases of verbal irony are (a) the expression of a characteristic (mocking, scornful or contemptuous) attitude, (b) the existence of a so-called normative bias in the uses of irony, and (c) the ironical tone of voice. After surveying some findings on how these features develop, I consider how they might be explained in terms of three current theories of irony: the echoic account, the pretence account, and a much broader approach now frequently used in the literature on irony acquisition, which treats a range of disparate phenomena, including hyperbole, banter, understatement, jokes and rhetorical questions, as forms of irony. I end by suggesting some possible directions for future research.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to the handbook series v
- Preface to Developmental and Clinical Pragmatics ix
- Table of contents xi
- 1. Pragmatic competence: Development and impairment 1
-
I. Pragmatic development in a first language
- 2. Pragmatic development in a first language: An overview 33
- 3. Communicative act development 61
- 4. Acquisition of epistemic and evidential expressions 89
- 5. Acquiring implicatures 119
- 6. Acquiring irony 149
- 7. Acquiring prosody 177
- 8. Pragmatic development in the (middle and) later stages of life 209
-
II. Pragmatic development in a second language
- 9. Pragmatic development in L2: An overview 237
- 10. Teaching speech acts in a second language 269
- 11. Learning how to interpret indirectness in an L2 301
- 12. Comprehension of implicatures and humor in a second language 331
- 13. Pragmatic transfer 361
- 14. Developing pragmatic awareness 393
- 15. Developing pragmatic competence in a study abroad context 429
- 16. Testing pragmatic competence in a second language 475
-
III. Pragmatic disorders
- 17. Pragmatic disorders: An overview 499
- 18. Pragmatic competence in autism spectrum disorders 523
- 19. Pragmatic competence in Down syndrome 545
- 20. Pragmatic competence in aphasia 581
- 21. Pragmatics and dementia 611
- 22. Assessing pragmatic competence in developmental disorders 647
- Contributors 681
- Name Index 691
- Subject Index 711
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to the handbook series v
- Preface to Developmental and Clinical Pragmatics ix
- Table of contents xi
- 1. Pragmatic competence: Development and impairment 1
-
I. Pragmatic development in a first language
- 2. Pragmatic development in a first language: An overview 33
- 3. Communicative act development 61
- 4. Acquisition of epistemic and evidential expressions 89
- 5. Acquiring implicatures 119
- 6. Acquiring irony 149
- 7. Acquiring prosody 177
- 8. Pragmatic development in the (middle and) later stages of life 209
-
II. Pragmatic development in a second language
- 9. Pragmatic development in L2: An overview 237
- 10. Teaching speech acts in a second language 269
- 11. Learning how to interpret indirectness in an L2 301
- 12. Comprehension of implicatures and humor in a second language 331
- 13. Pragmatic transfer 361
- 14. Developing pragmatic awareness 393
- 15. Developing pragmatic competence in a study abroad context 429
- 16. Testing pragmatic competence in a second language 475
-
III. Pragmatic disorders
- 17. Pragmatic disorders: An overview 499
- 18. Pragmatic competence in autism spectrum disorders 523
- 19. Pragmatic competence in Down syndrome 545
- 20. Pragmatic competence in aphasia 581
- 21. Pragmatics and dementia 611
- 22. Assessing pragmatic competence in developmental disorders 647
- Contributors 681
- Name Index 691
- Subject Index 711
