A Study On English Verbal Irony From The Perspective Of The Echoic Theory Of Irony

The purpose of this study aims to explore English verbal irony in the sitcom Friends based on the echoic theory of irony.Using Wilson and Sperber’s (1992) the echoic theory of irony developed from relevance theory as the research framework, this study raises two research questions:(1) How do people understand ironic utterances in the sitcom with the help of the echoic theory of irony?(2) What pragmatic functions of irony can be inferred from understanding irony in the sitcom?This study uses the framework of understanding irony to analyze the40instances of irony collected from the first and second seasons of the sitcom Friends.Major findings of the study are illustrated from two aspects. Firstly, with the help of the echoic theory of irony, results indicate that when people understand ironic utterances in the sitcom, at first an utterance in the sitcom is recognized as echoic, and then the source of the opinion echoed is identified, including direct and immediate echoes, echoes of attributed thoughts or opinions, and echoes of norms or standard expectations, and finally, the speaker’s attitude to the opinion echoed is recognized as one of rejection or dissociation. Secondly, based on the framework of understanding irony, results indicate that four pragmatic functions of irony can be inferred from understanding irony in the sitcom. They are making criticism, showing power, saving face, and humor.To conclude, the echoic theory of irony has a strong explanatory power in the analysis of irony in the sitcom.