Lost in Translation

Recognizing Sarcasm When it Bites You

Sarcasm can be used to victimize, self deprecate or even woo. "People use sarcasm, and irony in general, for a wide variety of reasons," says Bryant. "They're trying to be funny, trying to soften a blow, salt a wound or help get a point across. Some people use it display how clever they are. You'll see this when men try to impress women." Sarcasm can also used as a coping mechanism. "Some people consider it offensive or taboo to use sarcasm during a tragic event," says Bryant. "People who often deal with tragedy, such as paramedics or emergency crews, will sometimes use it as a coping strategy."

Those who have trouble detecting sarcasm can look for physical cues. A few Bryant says to watch for are:

• Rolling of the eyes.
• Laughter, smiling or over-the-top expressions of happiness.
• Certain body gestures or exaggerated body movements.
• Vocal changes like slower or faster speech, lower or raised pitch or changed volume.
• Contextual cues such as the repetition or echoing of something previously said or alluding to something.

Cues can also be used in various combinations or not used at all. "Sometimes people are deadpan," explains Bryant. "They want to see if you get their sarcasm without any cues."

So Misunderstood

Get the cues down and it's still possible to be thrown a curve ball. Such is the case when traveling to a different place or experiencing a different culture. One's ability to home in on sarcasm can also determine whether they're considered part of the "in group" or "out group." "Southern California people go to England and don't get the jokes," states Bryant. "English people think they're stupid or that they're dripping in sarcasm." Not surprisingly, Americans, says Bryant, even go so far as to express sarcasm through their clothing, like making statements through intentionally ironic t-shirts.

Another place sarcasm can be misconstrued — email. "People tend to take one another literally on email. Thus the birth of...the emoticon or winky face. "In emails, communication can be easily misunderstood," says Bryant. "All you have is context without physical cues. Using sarcasm in emails is a risky strategy in communication. We can be slippery, though, and deny sarcastic interpretation if we have to."

If there's still a question as to whether someone is using sarcasm, keep one rule of thumb in mind — any utterance can be made sarcastic. Ya think?

Published Aug 28, 2007 2:57 PM