Dragaera

A question about language terminology

J A 'Dusty' Sayers dusty at sayersnet.com
Wed Jun 9 17:43:38 PDT 2004

I hate to ask a question that I feel may make me look ignorant, but I am 
trying to fight my way through a common mis-conception, and to correct 
it where possible.

The problem is the word irony, which I bring to this mailing list 
because irony plays such a large role in Vlad's vocabulary.  I also 
mention it here because I have seen people on this list complain about 
how the word is mis-used a great deal in American culture.  Heretofore I 
did not much care, as I could use the word well enough for my own 
satisfaction, but since I have begun teaching high school, I want to be 
able to correct my students properly.  (I should mention that I don't 
teach English, but I do teach some pretty writing-intenseive history 
courses, and I try to encourage good language usage among the little 
weasels.)

Could someone, perhaps Dr Mandel, provide a good definition of what 
irony in its proper usage?

Perhaps even more important, could someone please provide some good 
words that mean what most people seem to think irony means (i.e. poetic 
justice or odd, interesting coincidences)?

I am sort of embarassed to ask, since I feel like a man with two 
master's degrees ought to know this sort of thing by now, but now that I 
am, in however small a sense, a public figure, I want to be very correct 
in my diction.

Thanks much!

J A Dusty Sayers