Functions of ironic utterances in the dialogic interaction (based on the texts of German portrait interviews)

The phenomenon of irony is considered within the cognitive and pragmatic approach to language, which puts the pragmatic potential of the investigated phenomenon to the foreground. The irony is interpreted as a context-dependent linguistic phenomenon, as it expresses the evaluating attitude to the object of irony, the correct interpretation of which is firmly linked to the speech situation. The semantic origin of irony is a contradiction between the actual and expected situation. The study showed that in German portrait interviews the object of ironic impact can change: both a journalist and their interlocutor widely use the irony as a communicative means. From the perspective of a journalist the study revealed the following functions of ironic utterances: logical and psychological impact, emancipation of an interlocutor, strengthening the credibility of the journalist's position (function of the hidden ridicule), establishing contact with an interlocutor. Moreover, the basic three types of the addressee's response to the journalist irony were established: an ironic response-surprise; an ironic response-evasion; direct response-ignoring. Therefore, from the perspective of the interlocutor, the irony functions as a means of stress relief, or may become a protective function of self-affirmation. Laugh response of the addressee directly proves the correct decoding of ironic subtext in journalist's questions and accompanies the response-surprise and the response-evasion.