Irony and Double Irony

[cantb2serious]

Irony

Let's be a bit bookish for a moment, and talk about the definition of irony.


The term irony (and ironical) has many different meanings, and is used in many different ways. Here are just three of them.

1. Alanis Morrisette seems to be on her own when she uses it to simply mean "bad luck". For example:
• "It's like rain on your wedding day"


2. There's the incongruous definition, which means "it is unexpected that this event happened, given the circumstances." For example:
• "Isn't it ironic that the Psychic's Convention was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances?"
• "The irony is that Alanis Morrisette wrote a whole song about the definition of "ironic" without once using it correctly? Nice one, Einstein!"
• "Isn't it ironic that I started out to be descriptive, rather than prescriptive, in my definitions of irony, but end up failing, by attacking its use in a pop song?"


3. Then, there's the definition that interests me more: It's the "I actually meant the opposite of what I said." definition. Often used for humourous effect, it is when the words you say are intended to be interpreted different from (and generally in direct contrast to) what you said. For example:
   
   • "Nice one, Einstein"

Sarcasm is one form of irony (in the third sense, above) - one in which there is a level of ridicule and contempt. However, it is not the only form of irony.

Double Irony

I once coined the term double irony to mean when you say something that sounds like irony (in the third sense) but is actually literally true. It is an ironical use of irony.

I then set about to find some examples. I found it harder than I thought, and the best I could come up with was this:

• Australians often given red-haired friends the ironical nickname "Bluey". However, if you found someone with blue hair, and nicknamed *them* Bluey, that would be double irony.

Coincidentally, a couple of months later, I met a woman at a party whose hair had been dyed a bright royal blue. I asked her if anyone had ever called her Bluey. "All the time" was her response.

Ironically, I found this somewhat disappointing.