WHAT IS SARCASM AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
Much like Irony, sarcasm is used to express true meanings through opposite words and phrases. However, differently from irony, which simply is used to say one thing with the word of the opposite meaning, sarcasm can be deceitful and much more twisted. Sarcasm also has much more derogatory qualities, which allows for the person using it to make fun of the other people in a certain manner.
Usually sarcasm is used with the purpose of mocking someone, making someone feel bad, annoying or upsetting them. It can be both used harshly in order to cause harm or indirectly in order to avoid allowing the person who is being made fun of to understanding what is happening. However, it is extremely context-dependant and can be a fun and entertaining way of communication for people who are comfortable with that and are in on the joke.
HOW TO UNDERSTAND SARCASM?
Understanding sarcasm requires a deeper knowledge of intonations, verbal intricacies, cultural backgrounds and of course context. It goes without saying that sarcasm can be modified and adapted to each person’s style and grasp of it, therefore making it unique and sometimes indistinguishable in each person’s case.
Understanding sarcasm also requires exploration of negative e connotations that it holds as it is usually the key in this language’s usage. For a young speaker or a person who is new to a language understanding negativity in one’s words might be an extremely difficult or even impossible task given the hidden nature of sarcasm. Usually, the understanding comes with time and many encounters with this phenomenon.
You might find yourself wondering whether or not you have encountered sarc asm and simply slipped by you, but do not bother yourself with such thoughts as not every sarcastic comment is worth the thought. Some instances of sarcasm can be great fun and entertaining but many of them are quite derided.