It must be very challenging for computer scientist trying to program a computer to make sense of human speech containing sarcastic remarks. The machine has to know when we say something while meaning the complete opposite.
Yet our brain seems to pick it up, even when it happens in the middle of an otherwise normal exchange, and detect its usage through tone of voice, facial expression, body language, and context.
Even humans get it wrong sometimes, not knowing all the time when the speaker really mean what they say or whether it is meant to be funny, or sarcastic.
Not to mention the times when life throw its curves at us with ironic situations which also tend to illicit sarcastic comments from us.
Do we use sarcasm to break the monotony of speech? To hide something that may be too harsh to say directly? To give us an out if the listener responded very negatively to it?
Does sarcasm lighten the conversation or poison the exchange?
Do we feel closer or more distant to someone who uses sarcasm in their conversation exchange with us?
Would it be more useful to avoid it altogether in order to lessen confusion in communications?
Does it massage the ego of the speaker to use sarcasm? Are they assuming the superior position when they become sarcastic?
Then there is sarcasm in literature and art. Do they highlight the author's message or hide the author's inability to make their prose interesting?
Are caricatures and political cartoons helpful? Do they call our attention to the situation or do we risk skewing the overall picture by impressions from these cartoons?
You may find this link helpful in looking more into sarcasm in relationships: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/communication/valerie.htm
Looking forward to your remarks in our discussion on Wednesday.
Comment from Ingeborg:
ReplyDeleteSarcasm, a sub-category of verbal Humor, is best understood when perceived via ears (/sound/intonation) and eyes (body language).
Sarcasm is closely tied in with its cultural and linguistic environment.
(Apparently, in Israel they managed to produce a computer program for recognizing this type of 'humor'; certain cerebrally deviant humans (e.g., Asperger's) have difficulty perceiving this oral speech patron.)
Sarcasm ('vitriolic, biting humor')' could be classified in the middle between its other Humor 'relatives' : Irony (often expressing the opposite of what speaker means) and Cynicism (often expressing helplessness, disappointmen).
Examples from the office world -- a worker consistently arriving late in morning;
Colleagues' comment: 'Wow, you're on time again!' (irony, wink, wink)
'Please arrive same time tomorrow!' (sarcasm, angry intonation)
'No, it doesn't matter you're late, as long as I get my bonus! (cynicism,
resigned disappointment)
(Were I this incorrigibly late worker, I would cheerfully enter my workplace in the morning:
'Good afternoon, everyone --- wow, you guys are still here')
I had a high school English teacher who suggested that all humour serves to put someone down and possibly raise someone up. Sarcasm is when we put the knife in and twist it. H. P. Grice gave around four simple maxims that guide conversation. Definitely too simple. There are reasons we use more words than necessary: politeness, power differentials, risky requests, and negotiating understandings in general. It is sometimes good to know if the other person one is speaking with is on the same page. To quote Kafka: "There is hope; but, not for us." Probably a most murderous quote -- but, oh well. Can people trade sarcastic remarks to even show their ability to take humble pie when necessary? Or, do power differentials make some people receivers of sarcasm but not givers? Does sarcasm, among other things, help establish a discourse space where power is structured in interpellating ways? CL
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see if there were any case studies on police-criminal/suspect uses of sarcasm and prison guard/inmate uses of sarcasm. Do each of the parties sarcastically remark past one anothers fields of consiciousness? Does this also happen with medical personnel and patients? I imagine Freud or perhaps a neo-freudian would have something to say about sarcasm and dealing with unwanted anxiety. Would insight even help? CL
ReplyDelete