아이러니의 위계성과 담화기능

Abstract

This study examines irony as a discourse form structured by hierarchy, proposing that it serves two distinct functions based on the speaker’s relative status. When the speaker holds a higher status than the target, irony enables them to criticize, ridicule, or even reprimand the target, often by blending explicit positive language with underlying negative terms to obscure the intended meaning. This strategy allows the speaker’s status to elevate as the target interprets the actual intent, thus lowering the target’s position. Conversely, when the speaker occupies a lower hierarchical status, irony functions as an act of resistance, wherby the speaker confronts the perceived injustice of the target, demanding justification and reinforcing self-defense. In such cases, the speaker intensifies or exaggerates their statements, creating a symbolic reversal of hierarchy. Through this process, the speaker asserts their agency and counters the target from a stance of self-affirmation.