Sarcasm and Irony

Content

• Sarcasm and irony, are they the same?
• When is irony used?
• Examples of sentences with irony (humor)
• Examples of (paradoxical) ironies
• Examples of sarcasm

The irony and sarcasm they are literary devices that seek to convey the exact opposite of what is being said. The ironic character fulfills a comic function since it is expressed in a ridiculous way, but sometimes it crosses that barrier and borders on the aggressive and the offensive. For example: I see you studied a lot ... (to someone who just failed an exam)

Both irony and sarcasm are tools that can be used in oral and written communication, they require a good command of the language and certain communication skills that must be shared by the sender and the receiver.

Sarcasm and irony, are they the same?

On many occasions the concepts of sarcasm and irony tend to be confused.

The irony it is an argumentative and characteristic resource of language. Body language and intonation are often part of the speech of an irony, because with this it becomes evident that what is being said in reality does not have the objective of referring to that same thing but to something else.

The sarcasm It is the use of irony as a resource to offend or insult another person. When irony is used to denigrate or offend someone, masking the message, it becomes a kind of insult called flame sarcasm.

• See also: Irony

When is irony used?

There are some comedians who use the resource of speaking in an ironic way, but without the minimum gesture that shows this: when it is known that one is in front of a humorist, this generates a special form of laughter.

There is a particular case of irony that also has to do with humor. In everyday life there are some situations in which the result is opposite to the expected one, generating a kind of contradiction that as a concept is a somewhat comical situation. The irony is similar to the paradox, because the feeling is that no one could expect that just in that situation would happen.

• It can help you: Paradoxes (explained)

Examples of sentences with irony (humor)

1. You won't be very tired, will you? (To someone who has been sleeping)
2. I've never heard anything so accurate. (When the other has said something that does not contribute anything)
3. What good luck I have! (When things go wrong)
4. The food is very ugly. (When it is rich and has been completely eaten)
5. How did you spend it on Auntie's birthday? (When he has broken his promise to go to the birthday)
6. I was having a bad day and they fired me. Just what I needed.
7. My afternoon was really beautiful. (When she's been crying)
8. Are you not tired of working? (For someone who hasn't worked for a long time)
9. The party was a success. (When no one has attended)
10. Luckily I followed your advice. (When you've followed them and everything went wrong)

Examples of (paradoxical) ironies

1. A wall on which it is written: 'Forbidden to write on the wall'
2. A repair house that boasts of being able to fix everything, where the doorbell does not work.
3. At school, language is the subject that cost him the most. This week he published his third book.
4. A person who goes by car to the gym, to do a stationary bike there.
5. A van from the traffic office, stopped over a place where stopping is prohibited.
6. The largest and safest ship in the world ended up sinking.
7. The president said that he would not rest until peace was achieved. Since he took office, with that objective he declared several wars.
8. The fire department has caught fire.
9. The son of a policeman is accused of robbing an apartment.
10. Whoever was the quietest became a renowned announcer.

Examples of sarcasm

1. The truth is that you are a genius. (To someone who gave a little brilliant idea)
2. You are a very pretty girl, and today you are especially beautiful. (To one who is not pretty and unkempt)
3. I had forgotten that you were the smartest, and that all the rest of us were fools.
4. Speak louder, I can't hear you! (To someone who is speaking very loud)
5. How attentive you are! (To someone who doesn't care about others)
6. Do what you want, don't worry about me. (Expressing that he should care more)
7. I like your perfume, how long have you been immersed in it? (To someone who has an exaggerated perfume)
8. Don't speak so loud that you might stun me. (To someone who is speaking very slowly)
9. Ma'am, I don't know if you noticed that you have some makeup on your face. (Someone who has very noticeable makeup).
10. Thank you, I expected no less from you. (When it has caused you any harm)

• Continue with: Rhetorical or literary figures