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《Some issues in the treatment of irony and related tropes》

※ Traditional views of irony

 ①  Irony conveys the contradictory of what is literally said.

      Irony is seen as a figure of speech where the intended meaning is

      the opposite of what is literally said.

 ② Irony is one of those figures of speech that flout the maxim of quality (by Grice).

【反論①】

→ The ironic meaning cannot be appropriately predicted

    by simply negating or reversing the apparent literal meaning.

(5) You are the cream in my coffee.

(8) Bill in another Chomsky.

【反論②】

→ The intended ironic meaning is that 

    the literal meanings of the main and relative clauses are both reversed.

(11) We admire those who honest.

(14) We despise those who dishonest.

※ Echoic interpretation of irony

Counterexamples to claim that irony communicates the contradictory or opposite of what is literally meant:

ironical understatement, ironical quotation, ironical interjection, etc.

※ Irony is a kind of echoic utterance,

   which is used to indicate the speaker's attitude to the opinion echoed.(Sperber and Wilson)

ex:

(15) a. Peter: Ah, the old songs are still the best.

        b. Mary (fondly): Still the best.

       →　positive, agree

(16) a. Peter: Ah, the old songs are still the best.

        b. Mary (contemptuously): Still the best.

       → negative, dissociate

(18) An officer and a gentleman, indeed.

       →　All that is needed is a realization that it is echoic,

            and a recognition of the type of attitude expressed towards the thought that is echoed.

The reasons that the echoic approach is better than the traditional approaches to irony:

① The echoic approach consists in the relationship between the notion of echoed thought (or opinion).

② The questions which arises here is to whom the speaker's negative attitude is directed.

Unless the target of criticism is specified,

the appropriate interpretation of ironic meaning cannot be said to be achieved.

※ Mark Antony's repeated utterance "Brutus is an honorable man."

    → Antony is using one and the same proposition to convey a whole range of emotions and attitudes. 

       The recognition of these attitudes and emotions are crucial to ironic and non-ironic interpretations.

※ Ironic utterances are often characterized by some linguistic or extralinguistic markers:

   special tone of voice,

   switch in register or style

        (22) That's done it - you've broken the vase. I hope you're satisfied, my lady.

   repetition of phrases

         (23) MARk: What do you think of the cut?

                   LEN: What do I think of the cut? The cut? The cut? What a cut!...

※ Irionies are not always characterized by such markers.

※ The speaker is not always intentionally ironic in utterance which are interpreted ironically.