PRAGMATICS OF HUMOR AND IRONY

Abstract

Humor and irony are complex communicative phenomena that go beyond literal meaning and require pragmatic competence for both production and interpretation. This article examines humor and irony from a pragmatic perspective, focusing on how speakers use contextual cues, shared knowledge, implicature, and intentional meaning to achieve humorous or ironic effects. Drawing on key theories in pragmatics, including speech act theory, Gricean implicature and relevance theory, the paper explores the mechanisms through which humor and irony function in everyday discourse. Special attention is given to the role of context, social norms, and cultural background in shaping interpretation. The study highlights the importance of pragmatic awareness in understanding non-literal language and argues that humor and irony serve not only as linguistic devices but also as social tools that construct identity, manage relationships and negotiate power.