Mar 03 2008
The Getting of Sarcasm
It’s often said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit (and puns are the lowest form of humour). I wasn’t really sure why, so I thought I’d do some investigation.
Thanks to Wikipedia), according to some opinions in this SMH article (if you wade through the sarcastic retorts 😉 ), consensus seems to be that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit because it is designed to get laughs at somebody’s expense and its aim is to hurt or belittle.
Consider this from Dave Buley of Seaforth:
Sarcasm is said to be a low form of humour as its intent is generally to get laughs at someone else’s expense. The pointed humour may not be funny to the victim but its funny to those who understand the barb as it feeds their intellectual egos. This is because sarcasm is a form of humour that is known to require the highest functions of our brains. Areas of the brain that decipher sarcasm and irony also process language, recognise emotions and help understand social cues. Sarcasm is related to our ability to understand other people’s mental state so it’s not just a linguistic form, it’s also related to social cognition.
It’s interesting because I’ve never really considered the “art” of sarcasm that intently. What I do know is that we seem to have a well developed sense of sarcasm (and puns – thanks Dad) in our house.
I remember reading that you really shouldn’t expose young children to sarcasm, because it can be confusing for them. Perhaps because the “higher functions” that Dave speaks of are generally not developed in the young.
Well I guess being immersed in it so early, helped my kids pick it up easily (and I’m not saying this is a good thing – ok).
I mentioned the other day that Miss 4 quipped “I was being sarcastic”. I didn’t think she really understood what she was saying.
But on the weekend I came to realise without a doubt that she does understand sarcasm and can apply it. And let me tell you – sarcasm coming from a four year old can be really funny. I guess because you’re just not expecting it.
Saturday was a pretty chilly morning in Sydney, with a rather frigid wind blowing. Miss 4 was off to her First Official Birthday Party at a local bowling alley. I asked her to get dressed and of course she wanted to wear a dress. I suggested pants would be better since she was bowling and it was a cold day outside. Surprisingly she agreed without too much of an argument and we set off.
In the car, Miss 4 said “Mum, if it’s so cold why are you wearing a skirt”?
Me (thinking quickly and not seeing the well constructed trap): “Well, Mummy’s not really going to be outside”
Miss 4 (without missing a beat): “Oh and I am“?
Burn! She got me good. Can you imagine the intonation? Yep, the kid got a well earned “A” in sarcasm. But it cracked me up nonetheless.
When we got to the bowling alley, lo and behold one of her little friends was wearing a dress. She said quite loudly (well, loud enough for me to hear it) “Oh! You’re wearing a dress”. I swear I was waiting for her to turn around and give me a “look” – but she didn’t.
Advanced Reading
By no means do I consider myself intellectually superior to you. Just because I am trying to teach you something that is usually innate and comes easy to those who are clever and intelligent, or at least quick-witted, does not mean that I presume to think myself your superior, and expect that you genuflect before me.
11 Responses to “The Getting of Sarcasm”
Hi Meg,
my mother was always a great one for “sarcasm is the lowest form of wit” – yet she was a grand master of the art herself
I like to think of sarcasm as the little brother of the lampoon – if you will forgive the link, I wrote about it in The Art of the Lampoon. The warriors of old Ireland apparently feared a bard’s lampoon as much as they did the spears of their enemies – for a spear could kill them once, but the lampoon could kill them in life and leave them open to ridicule even after death.
Thoughtful post, thank you.
Best regards, Andrew
Andrew Boyd’s last blog post..Learning from blogs: OpenCourseWare and plain old course ware
That’s my girl !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Meg,
I really enjoyed reading this, and brings back memories of when my kiddos were little and doing much the same. Out of the mouths of babes, eh? 😉
Lin’s last blog post..Ladies: Why You Need to Know How to Hide Money From Your Husband
Our kids are masters at sarcasm now having learned from Scottish and Australian masters of the art. Sarcasm is the highest form of humour in Scotland for exactly the reasons that you mention. It is mean and at other peoples expense. Exactly right for a nation with a chip on their collective shoulder.
Colin Campbell’s last blog post..Is Mark Nicholas Unctuous?
You’re right in that if you were exposed to sarcasm early enough I think you can develop it along with ordinary language skills, especially humour, as both my brother and I now feed off family dinner conversation topics searching for a funnier angle, with the sole intention of bringing the table into shrieks of laughter. We’d constantly dissect the conversation looking to turn the story into a light-hearted barb at the other person or better yet, use it to launch into Monty Python or other cult-movie skits. I think there’s a point though where you have to watch when someone starts use too much sarcasm as it just starts to sound nasty and bitter. Used sparingly it can help everyone have a good time.
The lowest form? I really enjoy sarcasm and puns. Probably for the reasons you mentioned. Wish I was good at it. It needs a great sense of humor and presence of mind to get it right.
Nicole Price’s last blog post..Trying To Earn Some Extra Cash
At first I though ‘ouch’ cause people call me sarcastic…. But I do see it as a compliment. I don’t think that I go out of my way to hurt someones feelings.
Unless they really really deserve it.
Miss 4 would fit right in around here. Even Boo can be sarcastic and he isn’t even supposed to understand language!
Kelley’s last blog post..I am so a Domestic Goddess….
Hey Andrew – thanks as always for your considered reply (and link). Yes, I can understand the fear of lampoon – it can be very cutting indeed.
Lin – oh, they are precious aren’t they?! I’m just glad I’ve got an organised way of recording the pearls now – you think you won’t forget, but sadly you do (well I do)!
Colin – LOL 😀 Perhaps it’s my Scottish ancestry to blame then?
Hi Dave – thanks for dropping in, and for your original quote 😀
I think we’re on a similar page. In the wrong hands sarcasm can be absolutely nasty and cutting, but when used good naturedly a lot of fun (though that does appear on the surface to be an oxymoron). I think that by exposing children to sarcasm, at the very least they can detect it, and are less likely to be on the receiving end of it from others (by not tolerating it).
Your mealtimes remind me of when my family gets together – we usually try and outdo each other with (bad) puns!
Nicole – sounds like you might benefit from the tutorial (follow the link at the end) 😉
Hey Kelley – you know I thought of Boo when I was “researching” this – I read a couple of studies, and wondered if the subtleness was something he might struggle with.
I never would have guessed you were sarcastic 😀 I guess if you’re not real subtle about it – he couldn’t help but detect it 😉
She is one smart cookie – if she has started at 4 – imagine 14 ! The joys of children .
Babyamore’s last blog post..It’s time .. Ready, Set, Gather your recipes
Our Miss 4 (M&M) has come out with the same statement “I was being sarcastic”. Had me running from the room to hide my laughter.
I think it’s great we’re exposing them to such language skills earlier on. M&M is also turning into a master of thinly veiled insults 😀 – that’s my girl 😉
Kin’s last blog post..School’s Back!