A cognitive-pragmatic account of axiological neutrality in ironic constructions

Abstract

The constructional element of irony has been noted by Veale (2012) and Veale & Hao (2010), who claim that ironic interpretation can be triggered by conventionalized constructions that bear a high ironic potential, as is the case of about as X as Y (About as fun as watching paint dry). In inferential pragmatics, Attardo (2000) identifies indices of irony (e.g. agreement markers such as yeah , right , sure ), which, in our view, can be regarded as contributing factors or constraints on the characterization of potentially ironic constructions. The present paper addresses the constructional dimension of irony, with special emphasis on the axiological element of potentially ironic constructions, and it explains implicational constructions and attitudinal and denotational figures of speech in relation to irony. Axiology relates to the positive or negative evaluation of the various elements of an utterance and is based on its explicit content and its additional meaning implications. For instance, in the example mentioned above, the axiological load of the construction depends largely on the meaning implications of the monotonous and uneventful activity of observing paint dry. The heavy attitudinal element of irony makes this figure of speech a particularly fertile ground for the study of axiological neutrality and non-neutrality. The present paper provides a preliminary approach to the strategies that serve the purpose of triggering the ironic interpretation of utterances.