Functions of irony in court speeches
https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2026-84-2-7-14
Abstract
The article examines the functions of irony and the specifics of its application in judicial discourse. Due to the nature of the judicial speech, each of its components is maximally utilized by the speaker to achieve the strategic goal setting. Therefore, it is important to analyze the role and functions of irony in judicial discourse, the specifics of its application in court proceedings, and its impact on convincing the audience of the speaker’s position. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of irony functioning in the judicial speech, which is part of judicial discourse. Based on the court speeches of famous Russian prosecutors and defense attorneys of the 19th and 21st centuries, such as A. Koni, V. Zhukovsky, Ya. Kiselev, and A. Kupriyanov, the article argues that irony is an important tool for achieving the speaker’s communicative goals, primarily the main goal of effectively persuading the audience. The use of irony in various functions is influenced by the speaker’s communicative intention, individual style, and the listener’s perception. The effectiveness of ironic techniques depends on the comprehensive consideration of both the speaker’s intentions and the specific circumstances and features of the case at hand. It is also crucial to take into account the characteristics of the audience and anticipate their potential reactions to ironic remarks. As a result of the study, we revealed that irony performs a number of functions in the judicial speech: expressing an opinion about someone or something; expressing the speaker’s attitude towards the object of evaluation; drawing the addressee’s attention to someone or something; informing the addressee; persuading the addressee; exposing deception; weakening or refuting the opponent’s arguments; harmonizing relations with the addressee, creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust. All of these functions are aimed at achieving the key goal of the judicial speech, which is to convince the audience of the speaker’s position.
About the Author
Z. V. Baisheva
Ufa University of Science and Technology
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Baisheva Zilya Vagizovna, Doctor of Philology, Professor
131 Dostoevsky Str., Ufa, 450005
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Review
For citations:
Baisheva Z.V. Functions of irony in court speeches. Philology and Culture. 2026;(2):7-14. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2026-84-2-7-14
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