Title: Social Communication | Sarcasm
Headings: 
Features of Sarcasm
Sarcastic Tone of Voice
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Sarcastic Facial Expressions, Eye Rolls, and Postures
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Hyperbole in Sarcasm
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Sarcasm in Writing
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Polite (!) Uses of Sarcasm
More Aggressive Uses of Sarcasm
Using Sarcasm in an Argument
Using Sarcasm to Insult
Using Sarcasm to Establish Power Differences
Particular Phrases
Responding to Sarcasm
If you’re not sure whether or not a speaker is being sarcastic….
If the sarcasm is self-directed…
If the sarcasm expresses frustration with a situation
If the sarcasm is directed towards you
Exercises
Scholarly Sources
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Recommended Reading
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Content: the speaker expects you to share their frustration with the situation, and this “shared gripe” is common ground, showing that you’re in this situation together. It is a risky strategy to be sarcastic with someone you don’t know well, as it can be misinterpreted as hostile. Once you have established a habit of being sarcastic-in-a-friendly-way with a particular friend, however, using sarcasm with that person underlines the specialness of your relationship. In those cases, even sarcasm that might seem hostile to an outside observer may be interpreted within the relationship as friendly teasing. More Aggressive Uses of Sarcasm
Sarcasm frequently expresses frustration on the part of the speaker, and it can be used to actually aggravate rather than minimize face-threats. If the frustration is directed towards the hearer, it appears to push him or her away. ( For this reason, the sarcastic tone is sometimes referred to as biting, cutting, sharp, stinging, caustic, scathing, having an edge, etc.). It can imply “I shouldn’t even have to tell you this – you should know it already” and thus be used to insult the intelligence or common sense of the person spoken to. Using Sarcasm in an Argument
If you just want to win an argument and you don’t care about the other person’s feelings, you can respond to what they’ve said sarcastically (e.g., “Suuuure. THAT makes sense!”, “