Who invented sarcasm

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Username or Email Address. Remember Me. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Privacy Policy. Password recovery. By Aditi Bhardwaj. August 28, Definition of word sarcasm in dictionary. Via — www. Table of Contents show. Leave your vote 4 points. Tags: lowest form of wit rhetorical device sarcasm vikings.

Follow us. Fowler ["Modern English Usage," ] may be of use:. Entries linking to sarcasm humor n. Others are reading. Harper, D. Etymology of sarcasm. The students were better able to solve problems creatively when the complaints were sarcastic as opposed to just plain angry. Sarcastic statements are sort of a true lie.

This dual nature has led to contradictory theories on why we use it. Some language experts suggest sarcasm is used as a sort of gentler insult, a way to tone down criticism with indirectness and humor. But others researchers have found that the mocking, smug, superior nature of sarcasm is perceived as more hurtful than a plain-spoken criticism. The Greek root for sarcasm, sarkazein , means to tear flesh like dogs. According to Haiman, dog-eat-dog sarcastic commentary is just part of our quest to be cool.

Sarcasm is also a handy tool. Most of us go through life expecting things to turn out well, says Penny Pexman, a University of Calgary psychologist who has been studying sarcasm for more than 20 years. Otherwise, no one would plan an outdoor wedding. When things go sour, Pexman says, a sarcastic comment is a way to simultaneously express our expectation as well as our disappointment.

But among strangers, sarcasm use soars if the conversation is via an anonymous computer chat room as opposed to face to face, according to a study by Jeffrey Hancock, a communications professor at Cornell University. He also noted that conversations typed on a computer take more time than a face to face discussion. People may use that extra time to construct more complicated ironic statements. Kids pick up the ability to detect sarcasm at a young age.

Pexman and her colleagues in Calgary showed children short puppet shows in which one of the puppets made either a literal or a sarcastic statement. The children were asked to put a toy duck in a box if they thought the puppet was being nice.

If they thought the puppet was being mean, they were supposed to put a toy shark in a box.