(Non-)propositional irony in Japanese – Impoliteness behind honorifics

Abstract

The present paper investigates how honorifics function in yielding irony, and what effects they bring about in ironic utterances. We suggest that in some cases irony can be achieved even when the speaker means what his/her utterance literally means; we call this “non-propositional irony”. This type of irony can be achieved through violating what is normatively expected in the use of honorifics, for example, by using unnecessary levels of honorifics, by incorporating impolite expressions in the honorific utterance, and by repeating the other's honorific utterance which in turn exalts the speaker or downgrades the other. This means that irony can be a product of some imbalance in and/or around the honorific utterance even when the communicated proposition accords with the literal meaning of that utterance. We also discuss the way in which honorific irony, due to the nature of honorifics, protects the speaker from counter-attack and maintains his/her social stance or dignity, and implies more than a literal accusation. Honorifics, therefore, serve as a linguistic armour when attacking the other person. We conclude by suggesting that the definition of irony may have to be revised to encompass both propositional and non-propositional forms of honorific irony.