Both irony and sarcasm are easily misunderstood, especially when you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, when there’s already some heightened emotion in the exchange, or when you’re emailing or texting. As explained in an overview of neurological findings related to irony and sarcasm, “researchers suggest that the successful comprehension of irony depends on the perceiver’s ability to infer other people’s mental states, thoughts, and feelings.” Which is exceptionally difficult over text and email.
