Re: OT: Negation as the indicative standard

This is called irony, consisting of letting understand
the contrary of what's been said. The tone can help to
detect irony, but what if it's a written texte (with
no smileys, of course) ?

It has been proposed sometimes to use a special
typographic sign call an "irony point". In my opinion,
it's not a good idea: it's much more fun to use blank
irony, without any clues. So they will be the ones to
understand it, and the ones who don't (and the ones
who wonder: is he joking ? is he not ?). Much more
exciting.

(Is what I just wrote some kind or irony ? Well, it's
up to you...)

--- Gary Shannon <fiziwig@...> wrote:
> --- Doug Dee <AmateurLinguist@...> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > OTOH, I now seem to recall reading somewhere about
> a
> > language (in Africa?)
> > that allegedly expressed negation solely by a
> change
> > of tone (on the verb, I
> > think).
> >
> > Doug
>
> What about the sarcastic tone in English.  "Yeah,
> sure, I believe you."  Meaning "I do NOT believe
> you."
>
> --garyyou."  Meaning "I do NOT believe you."
>
> --gary

=====
Philippe Caquant

"Le langage est source de malentendus."
(Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

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