An analysis of students’ perceptions of irony as a rhetorical strategy used by Noam Chomsky and Jonathan Swift in their essays „A Modest Proposal” [Articol]

Abstract

The present article aims to compare the way non-native readers react to the use of irony as a rhetorical strategy in the essays written by Noam Chomsky and Jonathan Swift. The paper is based on observation and assessment data collected during the classes in Discourse Analysis held at Alecu Russo Balti State University of Moldova. The findings suggest that students found it rather difficult to appropriately decode the authors’ intended meanings, as they needed help in the process of discussion. Moreover, it appears that Noam Chomsky’s essay did not impact the students at all, even though they are part of the 21st context to which the essay refers. Thus, while decoding Jonathan Swift’s essay, irony created a sense of solidarity and inclusion; whereas, irony in Noam Chomsky’s essay created a sense of total exclusion in the readers.