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Tracye · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Wynnewood, PA

I'd teach the etymology if students were having a hard time grasping the concept. I got this from etymonline.com.

sarcasm:

1579, from L.L. sarcasmos, from Gk. sarkasmos "a sneer, jest, taunt, mockery," from sarkazein "to speak bitterly, sneer," lit. "to strip off the flesh," from sarx (gen. sarkos) "flesh," prop. "piece of meat," from PIE base *twerk- "to cut" (cf. Avestan thwares "to cut"). Sarcastic is from 1695. For nuances of usage, see humor.

When I learned that the original meaning of sarcasm was "to strip off the flesh," it really deepened my understanding of the word. Granted, I was a native English speaker who was already familiar with the way sarcasm is used when I learned this (as an undergraduate), but I think it could be useful to anyone. I am not a big fan of sarcasm, myself (because I think it often is used to "strip off the flesh," or cut others down), and can understand why people in some cultures have a problem with it. Nonetheless, it is important that anyone wishing to converse with English-speakers understand that sometimes, obviously untrue statements, especially when made with a mocking tone, are meant to be sarcastic.