What is the difference between sarcasm and irony? Is sarcasm a subset, is there any overlap? How exactly are the two related?
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Irony has multiple definitions, but I think the most common has to do with an outcome of events that ends up being contrary to what was expected (e.g. an example from the iconic Alanis Morisette “Ironic”: it’s like having 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife). Sarcasm is when you use irony to mock something (although it’s commonly used comedically), and we commonly convey sarcasm through our inflection of certain words/sounds. Example: you receive really poor customer service and you respond by saying “thank you sooo much, you’ve been so helpful” (even though they were not helpful at all)
Irony is just when a situation ends up contradicting itself or going off in a set of events that contrast with the intention. Like a man wanting to be the fastest man in the world, but ends up being killed by speeding in his car or by being hit by the worlds fastest car, thus being flung at speeds faster than anyone ever has been before without some sort of suit or something)
Sarcasm would either be pointing out a contrast in a statement or creating one in a mocking manner. Thus creating irony, or pointing it out. Maybe, I could be oversimplifying or adding in my own spin of things
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