Ironic Used In A Sentence

How to use irony in the English language linguistic communication

23 July, 2014

English language speakers love to use irony, but do you know how to use irony correctly? It'southward 1 of the near popular of our linguistic tricks, and we ofttimes apply it to make a point, make fun of something, or but to make our friends laugh.

However, irony is often misunderstood by both native speakers and linguistic communication learners. Permit'south expect at the standard definition of the give-and-take 'irony', before talking about some unlike types and uses.

Definition: Irony (noun)

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of what is actually said; "Wow, I just Dear getting newspaper cuts at work."

When used in this way, irony is a powerful tool that nosotros tin can employ to express a great range of different emotions. In this case, the ironic annotate emphasizes the speaker's annoyance.

Types of irony: Fine art and dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet

Ironic sentences don't just communicate the contrary of what is said – they oft add together an actress level of accent or depth of meaning to a statement. A good example of this is when irony is used in fine art.

In books, movies, plays, poems and paintings, artists can employ different types of irony to make powerful or emotional statements. The best known of these is dramatic irony, which occurs when the audience knows something that the characters practice non.

A bang-up instance of dramatic irony is in Shakespeare'due south Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo believes that Juliet is expressionless, just the audience knows that she has only drunkard a sleeping potion.

Romeo and Juliet also contains an example of some other type of irony; tragic irony. Tragic irony occurs when the audience knows of an impending tragedy or catastrophe, merely characters are not aware. In Romeo and Juliet, this happens right at the kickoff of the play, when the narrator explains that both characters will die at the finish.

Kaplan students laughing about irony

HOW TO Employ Situational irony

Situational irony is the nigh circuitous blazon of irony and is ofttimes misunderstood.

Canadian pop singer Alanis Morissette famously confused the significant of the term in her 1995 song Ironic:

"It's like rain on your wedding mean solar day… Isn't it ironic, don't yous think?"

Actually no Alanis, it'south not. You don't know how to utilize irony correctly.

Situational irony occurs just when the effect of an action or situation directly contradicts what is expected by the people carrying out the action. For case, a weatherman caught in a flash flood is an ironic situation – the weatherman is expected to exist able to predict such things! For anyone else caught in the inundation nonetheless, the situation is not ironic, just unfortunate.

HOW TO Utilize IRONY WITH Sarcasm

Sarcasm is a blazon of irony. Information technology is when the pregnant of a sentence is the opposite of what is spoken. However, sarcastic remarks are ironic sentences that are used only to criticize, insult or tease somebody else. Be careful when using sarcasm, you lot can really hurt someone's feelings with a badly-worded sarcastic remark! Maybe examination how to use irony and sarcasm with a few shut friends first.

Definition: Sarcasm

A grade of irony intended to tease, criticize or insult; "Did you remember of that idea ALL by yourself? We should get you a MEDAL."

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author: Mikhail Hanney (15 Posts)