Бердақ атындағы Қарақалпақ Мәмлекетлик университети шет тиллери факультети

Irony is not bitter, it does not seek to undercut everything that seems worthy or serious.

Sarcasm is in a sharp, bitter, cutting, caustic manner.

Wit`s desire is to be funny.

When the above cases of use of the language units acquire generalized status, they become a stylistic device. When used too often a stylistic device may become trite, then it stops being stylistic device.

In most cases the sentence suffices to make irony clear, as in the examples above. In certain case a much wider context is needed to understand that the word is used ironically and to perceive its stylistic effect.

Irony may be expressed by any part of speech, most often by a noun, adjective, adverb.

Irony mustn’t be confused with hum our, although they have very much in common. Hum our always causes laughter. In this respect irony can be likened to hum our. But the function of irony is not to produce a humorous effect only. In some case the irony expresses a feeling of irritation, displeasure, pity or regret.

Richard Altin says “The effect of irony lies in the striking disparity between what is said and what is meant”. This “striking disparity” is achieved through the intentional interplay of the two meanings, which are in opposition to each other:

Stoney smiled the sweet smile of an alligator. (Steinbeck)

A word used ironically may sometimes express very subtle, almost imperceptible nuances of meaning:

1. 
   I like a parliamentary debate,