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In:What makes a Figure: Rethinking figurativity
Edited by Herbert L. Colston
[Figurative Thought and Language 19] 2025
► pp. 222–247

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Chapter 8
What makes a verbal irony?

On the development of a psycholinguistic irony comprehension task

 | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
 | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
Published online: 28 October 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ftl.19.08dua
Abstract
Verbal irony comprehension involves a set of interrelated phenomena. It is the aim of this chapter to present the development and validation processes of a verbal irony comprehension task. This study includes three pilot studies and was conducted according to psychometrics parameters, specifically through the investigation of a major validity evidence source: content validity. Considering the theory adopted, Allusional Pretense Theory of Discourse Irony, two dimensions were initially accounted for (1) allusion to failed expectations and (2) pragmatic insincerity. Our results suggest that for a stable version of the task, it is necessary to consider not only these two dimensions but also the Theory of Mind ability and the speech act included in the ironic speech.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical overview of verbal irony
    • 2.1The traditional view
    • 2.2Echoic assumptions
    • 2.3Graded salience hypothesis
    • 2.4Allusional pretense approach
  • 3.On the development of psychometric instruments
  • 4.Contextualizing the development of the Verbal Irony Comprehension Task
  • 5.Development overview of the Verbal Irony Comprehension Task
    • 5.1Pilot 1
    • 5.2Pilot 2
    • 5.3Pilot 3
  • 6.Final remarks
  • References
References (41)
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