Type of evaluation and marking of irony: The role of perceived complexity and comprehension

C.F. Burgers, M.J.P. van Mulken, P.J.M.C. Schellens

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This paper reports on two experiments which demonstrate that textual characteristics of irony (type of ironic evaluation and irony markers - e.g., hyperbole, quotation marks) can influence comprehension, perceived complexity and attitudes towards the utterance and text. Results of experiment 1 show that explicitly evaluative irony is perceived as less complex and is more appreciated than implicitly evaluative irony. In experiment 2, irony markers were found to increase comprehension, reduce perceived complexity and make attitudes towards the utterance more positive. Both experiments also demonstrate that the influence of irony on attitudes depends on comprehension and complexity; if irony is understood or perceived as relatively easy, it is better liked than when it is not understood or perceived as relatively difficult. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-242
JournalJournal of Pragmatics
Volume44
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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Burgers, C.F. ; van Mulken, M.J.P. ; Schellens, P.J.M.C. / Type of evaluation and marking of irony: The role of perceived complexity and comprehension. In: Journal of Pragmatics. 2012 ; Vol. 44, No. 3. pp. 231-242.
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Burgers, CF, van Mulken, MJP & Schellens, PJMC 2012, 'Type of evaluation and marking of irony: The role of perceived complexity and comprehension' Journal of Pragmatics, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 231-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2011.11.003

Type of evaluation and marking of irony: The role of perceived complexity and comprehension. / Burgers, C.F.; van Mulken, M.J.P.; Schellens, P.J.M.C.

In: Journal of Pragmatics, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2012, p. 231-242.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Burgers CF, van Mulken MJP, Schellens PJMC. Type of evaluation and marking of irony: The role of perceived complexity and comprehension. Journal of Pragmatics. 2012;44(3):231-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2011.11.003

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