What is verbal irony? - Christopher Warner

什麼是言辭性反語？ - Christopher Warner

Translator: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

譯者: Jephian Lin 審譯者: Gina Wang

Great weather we're having!

天氣真好！

Awesome job!

做得棒極了！

You're a tremendous athlete!

你真是個很棒的運動員！

Compliments, right?

這是稱讚，對吧？

Well, maybe.

嗯，也許吧

Depending on the attitude

這要取決於

and tone of voice behind these lines,

這些話背後的 態度和語氣

they very well may be compliments.

它們很可能是稱讚

They may also be, though,

但他們也可能是

pointed and attacking lines.

刺耳又具攻擊性的話語

This slight change of attitude behind the lines

句子背後 態度上的微小差異

reveals what we call verbal irony.

透露著我們稱作「言辭性反語」的觀念 （譯註：即第一集所稱之「言辭性諷刺」。）

So when someone says, "Great weather we're having,"

當有人說「天氣真好」時

it is quite possible that the person really means that

很可能這個人 真的是這個意思

if the sun is shining,

前提是陽光很普照

the birds are singing,

鳥兒在唱歌

and the wind is calm.

風很舒爽的時候

But if the weather is horrible,

但如果天氣實在很糟

the clouds are looming,

烏雲出現

and the wind is a raging tempest,

狂風肆虐

and someone says, "Great weather we're having,"

而有人卻說「天氣真好」時

he probably doesn't actually mean that.

他可能就不是這個意思

He probably means that the weather is horrible,

他可能是想說天氣實在很糟

but he has said the opposite.

但他說了反話

This is verbal irony

這就是言辭性反語

when the speaker says the opposite of what he means.

意思是一個人 說的話和他想的是相反的

I know what you're thinking.

Isn't this sarcasm,

我知道你在想什麼

這不是反諷嗎？

isn't the speaker being sarcastic?

不是那個人在挖苦嗎？

Yes.

的確

When a speaker says the opposite of what he means,

當一個人說的和想的相反

that is verbal irony.

這是反語

When a speaker then goes the step farther

但是當他更進一步

to mean the opposite of what he says

在他的反話中

and seeks to be a little pointed and mean,

再加一點點指責與惡意

like he's making fun of something,

彷彿他在嘲笑某件事

then you have sarcasm.

那這就是反諷了

Take the second example:

像是第二個例子：

"Awesome job!"

「做得棒極了！」

Someone accomplishing his life-long dream:

有人完成了他終身的夢想：

awesome!

棒極了！

Someone winning a sports championship:

有人贏了某項運動金牌：

awesome!

棒極了！

Someone rear-ends another car:

有人追撞了別輛車：

not awesome.

不棒了

So when the passenger says, "Awesome job!"

所以當乘客說「幹得好」

they probably mean the opposite

他們可能在說反話

with a hint of poking fun.

帶有一點挖苦的意思

That is verbal irony and that is sarcastic.

這是反語也是反諷

"You're a talented athlete," said to an Olympian:

對著奧運選手說： 「你真是個有天份的運動員」

authentic, no verbal irony present.

發自內心的 不是反語

Said to the klutzy kid tripping into English class

對一位笨手笨腳 跌進英文教室

and spilling his books and pencil case all over the room,

又把書本和筆 散落一地的小孩這麼說

now that is just harsh and verbally ironic

這既說了反話又很惡毒

because what you said is not what you meant.

因為你說的和你想的不一樣

That is verbal irony.

這就是反語

You have said the opposite of what you mean.

你說了和心裡不一致的話

Additionally, since you have the intention

附帶一提，因為你還故意

of mocking this poor person,

嘲笑這個可憐的傢伙

you have not only been verbally ironic,

你不只是說了反話

but sarcastic as well.

你同時也在反諷

Beware, though.

注意這點

While all sarcasm fits the definition of verbal irony,

反語的範圍包含反諷

not all verbal irony is sarcastic.

但是並不是所有反語都是反諷

Verbal irony is where what is meant

反語是指你說的

is the opposite of what is said,

和你想的相反

while sarcasm adds that little punch of attitude.

而反諷則帶有一些敵意

There are times, though,

但有些時候

where another layer of meaning can be present

另一層意涵可能

without that sarcastic tone.

沒有挖苦的意味

Alright, now go out there

好了，現在走出去

and find those examples of verbal irony and sarcasm.

找看看一些反語以及反諷的例子吧

Good luck!

祝你好運！

No, seriously, I mean it, good luck.

不，我是認真的，祝你好運

No, no, really,

不，不，真的

I truly want to wish you luck on this difficult task.

我誠摯地祝福你 在這困難的任務上一切順利

Ok, ok, sincerely good luck.

好，真心地祝服你

You can do it!

你可以做到的！

No verbal irony here.

這不是反語