Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we analyzed the ways adolescents use jocularity and sarcasm in their interactions. Although verbal irony is pervasive in adolescents’ conversations, there has been little observational research on their use of verbal irony, with almost no attention to the influences of the interaction partner. Based on what we know about adolescents’ social and linguistic behaviors with siblings and friends, we expected that interaction partner would make a difference in how adolescents used verbal irony.Fifty-three adolescents (26 girls) were videotaped at home in separate 15-minute cooking sessions with a sibling and a same-gender friend; 30 of the sibling dyads were same-gender. The videotapes were transcribed and coded for verbally ironic utterances. Each instance of verbal irony was further coded as sarcastic or jocular, as being used primarily to mitigate or to intensify the impact of an utterance, and for form of counterfactual statement and communicative function. Despite adolescents’ reputation for sarcasm, jocularity was considerably more common in both sibling and friend interactions. Interaction partners clearly played a role in the use of sarcasm and jocularity, but individual differences were also important. Further analysis is needed to determine the contexts in which adolescents use sarcasm and jocularity with siblings and with friends.
Recommended Citation
Edmondson, Grant, "053-Sarcasm and Jocularity in Adolescent Sibling and Friend Interactions" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 16.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/16
053-Sarcasm and Jocularity in Adolescent Sibling and Friend Interactions
As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we analyzed the ways adolescents use jocularity and sarcasm in their interactions. Although verbal irony is pervasive in adolescents’ conversations, there has been little observational research on their use of verbal irony, with almost no attention to the influences of the interaction partner. Based on what we know about adolescents’ social and linguistic behaviors with siblings and friends, we expected that interaction partner would make a difference in how adolescents used verbal irony.Fifty-three adolescents (26 girls) were videotaped at home in separate 15-minute cooking sessions with a sibling and a same-gender friend; 30 of the sibling dyads were same-gender. The videotapes were transcribed and coded for verbally ironic utterances. Each instance of verbal irony was further coded as sarcastic or jocular, as being used primarily to mitigate or to intensify the impact of an utterance, and for form of counterfactual statement and communicative function. Despite adolescents’ reputation for sarcasm, jocularity was considerably more common in both sibling and friend interactions. Interaction partners clearly played a role in the use of sarcasm and jocularity, but individual differences were also important. Further analysis is needed to determine the contexts in which adolescents use sarcasm and jocularity with siblings and with friends.