反语的幽默属性和语用功能(9)

6.2 Pragmatic functions of Chinese irony
6.2.1 Chinese irony
Chinese irony, to some extent, is equal to the type of English irony, namely verbal irony. Generally speaking, it can be classified as five types: irony for commendation and derogation （褒贬反语），irony for satire (讽刺反语)，irony for fun （趣味反语）, irony for affection（亲热反语） and irony for emphasis（强调反语）.[34] The classification is basically in the light of the pragmatic functions of irony. The detailed demonstration of them will be continued in the following parts.

6.2.2 Pragmatic functions of Chinese irony
(i) Irony for praise and denigration
Irony for praise and denigration is to use praise instead of derogatory term, or vice versa. It is an indirect utterance that can avoid making comments in direct way. It has nothing to do with sarcasm. For instance:
凤姐道：“我那里管得这些事来？ 见识又浅，口角又笨，心肠又直率，人家给个棒槌我就认作针，脸皮又软，搁不住人家两句好话，心里就慈悲了。……”
(“I’m incapabable of running things,” she signed. “I’m too ignorant, blunt and tactless, always getting hold of the wrong end of the stick. And I’m so soft-hearted, anyone can get round me….”)[35]
    Apparently, Wang Xi-feng downgraded herself as “ignorant, blunt and tactless”. However, her personality is well known as talent, quick-tongued and wise. It can be considered that irony is used to be modest in this situation.
(ii) Irony for satire
    Satire plays a role of frequent feature of irony. It seems like a spoiled child to some literature writers. For example:
(1)几个“慈祥”的老板到菜场去收集一些菜叶，用盐一浸，这就是他们难得的佳肴。
    (Some kind-hearted bosses go to the market and pick up some vegetable leaves, coming back and dipping them into salt water, then a god-given cate is ready for them (the women workers)) [36]                                                  
(2) 湘云笑道：“‘主雅客来勤’，自然你有些警动他的好处，他才要会你。”宝玉道：“罢，罢！我也不称雅，我乃俗中又俗的一个俗人，并不愿同这些人来往。”
(“ ‘When the host is cultured, guests frequent his house’,” quoted Hsiang-yun. “He likes seeing you, surely, because he can learn something from you.”
“Don’t call me cultured,” begged Pao-yu. “I’m the most vulgar of the vulgar herd, and I’ve no desire at all to mix with such people.”) [37]                          
    In example (1), the author lent “kind-hearted” to ridicule the bosses who treated the women workers niggardly. In example (2), Pao-yu laughed at himself as “the most vulgar of the vulgar herd”, ironically.

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