Research Paper on:
Defining Irony

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
meaning, which means a more complex maneuver than simply understanding metaphor. The obvious problem then with irony is that it often elicits more confusion and is responsible for more  mis-communication than is metaphor. Many notable theorists have also arrived at the conclusion that there is clearly a difference in the way metaphor and irony are understood. Put  most simply, irony is more complicated in that it takes more interpretation on the part of the listener. Whereas metaphor only requires the listener to make an association between  two clearly defined things, irony on the other hand requires the listener to make judgment calls and to interpret. Anytime all of the complete information is not given, there  is room for error. So is the case with irony. Introduction Metaphor and irony are often so closely linked and so closely likened to each other.  And yet, many scholars maintain that there actually is a definite difference between the two. In fact, it appears that the research shows subtle, but distinct differences in  the way irony is understood versus the way metaphor is understood. These studies and their results are certainly interesting but also very important in terms of understanding language  and its complexities. If everything were taken at face value - that is on a very literal level - then language would be extremely straight forward with no need  for any interpretation. But language and communication isnt like that at all. There are indeed many levels of meaning and interpretation weaved throughout our conversations and peppered in  between meanings of various sorts. This is part of what makes communication and our language so very rich. It is also what makes trying to figure each other