Reading: Reading for Inference & Implied Meaning
B2 Lesson 1: Understanding Implied Information, Sarcasm, and Humor
When Writers Don't Say What They Mean
At the B2 level, we learn that writers don't always say things directly. They often imply meaning, expecting the reader to be a "detective" and understand the real message. This is especially true with sarcasm2 and humor3.
Understanding these forms of verbal irony5 requires you to look at the situation and understand the author's true feeling, which might be the opposite of the words they use.
Part 1: Understanding Sarcasm
Sarcasm is when a person says the opposite of what they really feel, usually to be funny or to complain about a bad situation. The context is the most important clue.
Situation: Rithy is riding his moto home from work when he gets a flat tire. At the same moment, a heavy rainstorm begins.
Rithy says to himself: "Oh, this is a perfect end to my day. I was hoping this would happen!"
Analysis: Is the situation "perfect"? No, it's terrible. Is he really "hoping" for this? No, it's the opposite. By using overly positive words for a clearly negative situation, Rithy is expressing his frustration sarcastically. His implied meaning is, "This is a terrible situation."
Part 2: Understanding Humor through Exaggeration
One of the most common ways to create humor in writing is through exaggeration4 (also called hyperbole). This means describing something as much bigger, smaller, better, or worse than it really is to create a funny image.
Example: "My friend dared me to eat one of those tiny red chilies. When I did, it felt like a volcano had erupted inside my mouth. I think I drank an entire river of water, but my face was still on fire!"
Analysis: Did a volcano literally erupt? Did he drink a whole river? No. The author is exaggerating to show how incredibly spicy the chili was. The humor comes from the impossible, extreme comparison.
Your Turn! Read Between the Lines.
Practice Quiz
Read the situation and choose the best interpretation of the implied meaning.
1. You ask your friend to help you with your homework. He spends five minutes looking at it and then says, "Wow, this is as clear as mud."
What does your friend mean?
- A. The homework is very easy and clear.
- B. The homework is about mud.
- C. The homework is very confusing and difficult to understand.
Answer: C. Mud is not clear, it's the opposite of clear. This is a common sarcastic expression to say something is confusing.
2. After walking up all the stairs to the top of the temple at Bokor, the man said, "I'm so tired, I could sleep for a year."
What does this exaggeration mean?
- A. He plans to sleep for exactly one year.
- B. He is extremely tired.
- C. He did not enjoy the view from the top.
Answer: B. He is exaggerating the amount of time to show how very, very tired he feels.
Vocabulary Glossary
-
Implied Meaning (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: អត្ថន័យបង្កប់
A meaning that is suggested by the author but not stated directly. ↩ back to text -
Sarcasm (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: និយាយផ្ទុយពីអ្វីដែលអ្នកពិតជាមានន័យ ដើម្បីជាការលេងសើច ឬរិះគន់
Saying the opposite of what you really mean in order to be funny or critical. ↩ back to text -
Humor (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការលេងសើច
The quality of being funny or amusing. ↩ back to text -
Exaggeration / Hyperbole (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការនិយាយបំបោ៉ង
Describing something as much more extreme (bigger, smaller, worse, etc.) than it really is for effect. ↩ back to text -
Verbal Irony (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ពាក្យទូទៅសម្រាប់ពេលដែលអត្ថន័យដែលមានបំណងរបស់អ្នកនិយាយគឺផ្ទុយពីន័យត្រង់។ Sarcasm គឺជាទម្រង់ទូទៅនៃពាក្យសំដី
The general term for when a speaker's intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning. Sarcasm is a common form of verbal irony. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Practice Your Wit!
- Think of a common, frustrating situation (e.g., waiting a long time for a bus, your internet stopping). Write one sarcastic sentence about it.
- Think of something from your day. Write one sentence about it using exaggeration to make it funny.
Example 1 (Sarcasm): "My internet stopped working during my online class. What perfect timing!"
Example 2 (Exaggeration): "I had to carry so many books home from school, my bag weighed a thousand kilograms!"