WEBVTT

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Great weather we're having!

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Awesome job!

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You're a tremendous athlete!

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Compliments, right?

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Well, maybe.

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Depending on the attitude

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and tone of voice behind these lines,

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they very well may be compliments.

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They may also be, though,

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pointed and attacking lines.

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This slight change of attitude behind the lines

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reveals what we call verbal irony.

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So when someone says, "Great weather we're having,"

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it is quite possible that the person really means that

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if the sun is shining,

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the birds are singing,

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and the wind is calm.

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But if the weather is horrible,

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the clouds are looming,

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and the wind is a raging tempest,

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and someone says, "Great weather we're having,"

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he probably doesn't actually mean that.

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He probably means that the weather is horrible,

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but he has said the opposite.

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This is verbal irony

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when the speaker says the opposite of what he means.

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I know what you're thinking.

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Isn't this sarcasm,

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isn't the speaker being sarcastic?

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Yes.

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When a speaker says the opposite of what he means,

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that is verbal irony.

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When a speaker then goes the step farther

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to mean the opposite of what he says

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and seeks to be a little pointed and mean,

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like he's making fun of something,

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then you have sarcasm.

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Take the second example:

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"Awesome job!"

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Someone accomplishing his life-long dream:

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awesome!

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Someone winning a sports championship:

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awesome!

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Someone rear-ends another car:

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not awesome.

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So when the passenger says, "Awesome job!"

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they probably mean the opposite

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with a hint of poking fun.

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That is verbal irony and that is sarcastic.

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"You're a talented athlete," said to an Olympian:

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authentic, no verbal irony present.

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Said to the klutzy kid tripping into English class

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and spilling his books and pencil case all over the room,

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now that is just harsh and verbally ironic

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because what you said is not what you meant.

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That is verbal irony.

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You have said the opposite of what you mean.

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Additionally, since you have the intention

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of mocking this poor person,

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you have not only been verbally ironic,

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but sarcastic as well.

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Beware, though.

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While all sarcasm fits the definition of verbal irony,

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not all verbal irony is sarcastic.

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Verbal irony is where what is meant

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is the opposite of what is said,

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while sarcasm adds that little punch of attitude.

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There are times, though,

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where another layer of meaning can be present

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without that sarcastic tone.

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Alright, now go out there

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and find those examples of verbal irony and sarcasm.

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Good luck!

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No, seriously, I mean it, good luck.

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No, no, really,

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I truly want to wish you luck on this difficult task.

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Ok, ok, sincerely good luck.

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You can do it!

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No verbal irony here.