THE PRAGMATIC MODELS OF UNDERSTANDING SARCASM

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to analyze the pragmatic theories of irony and sarcasm, namely, the Cooperative Principle, the Standard Pragmatic Model, the Echoic Mention Theory, the Pretense Theory, and the Echoic Reminder Theory to demonstrate the pragmatic understanding of sarcasm in theoretical studies, and to develop a relevant model for sarcasm interpretation applicable in various contexts. The introduced features of the presented models allow us to highlight some challenging aspects of the pragmatic insights of sarcasm. Several examples from academic studies, fiction, TV series, and TedTalk videos are analyzed to examine the suggested frameworks in terms of pragmatic comprehension of sarcastic language and single out a combined model of sarcasm analysis to assist further practical research.