A course of modern english lexicology

Pun
- Did you hit a woman with a child?
- No, I hit her with a stick…
polysemantic words: Her nose was sharp, but not so sharp as her voice, or the suspiciousness with which she faced Martin.
homonyms: We called him Tortoise because he taught us. (Lewis Carrol)

16. IRONY

Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
The device is based on the interaction of two logical meanings: dictionary and contextual.
Modern theories of rhetoric distinguish between three types of irony: verbal, dramatic and situational.
Verbal irony is a disparity of expression and intention: when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect.
Dramatic irony is a disparity of expression and awareness: when words and actions possess a significance that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not.
Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result: when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect.
Irony can be understood in two senses: broad and narrow.
In a narrow sense irony is the use of a word having positive connotative meaning to express a negative evaluation of something.
In a broad sense an utterance is considered ironical if testifying to a positive or neutral attitude of the speaker towards some fact it implies his negative evaluation of it.
Some words and phrases have a definite ironical connotative meaning, which they preserve in all contexts.

Irony narrow sense: “A fine friend you are, Martin!” he muttered to himself. broad sense: He smiled the sweet smile of an alligator. ironic words: to orate, to oratories, to speechify, speechmaker, head cook and bottle-washer, a young hopeful