Children's understanding of the meaning and functions of verbal irony.
We investigated children's understanding of irony and sensitivity to irony's meanness and humor. In Study 1, 89 participants (5-6-year-olds, 8-9-year-olds, adults) heard ironic and literal criticisms, and literal compliments. Comprehension of irony emerged between 5 and 6 years of age. Ratings of humor increased with age; ratings of meanness did not (showing that all ages perceived irony as more muted than literal criticism). In Study 2, results from 135 participants (6-7-year-olds, 8-9-year-olds, and adults) replicated these findings and revealed the role of form and intonation. Thus, comprehension of irony emerges between 5 and 6 years of age, and sensitivity to the muting function develops prior to sensitivity to the humor function.
Dews
S
S
Boston College, USA.
Winner
E
E
Kaplan
J
J
Rosenblatt
E
E
Hunt
M
M
Lim
K
K
McGovern
A
A
Qualter
A
A
Smarsh
B
B
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D013067:Speech Perception; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic