Irony explained: There are different types of irony (verbal, dramatic and situational) but lets stick to the verbal irony for the purpose of this research. Irony is described in Wikipedia as ‘..the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect’. Or in other words, ‘..verbal irony is when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect’.

The British don’t display much patriotic boasting, however, they do like to pride themselves on their ability in their expert use of irony. In fact, they feel superior to other nations in this area. It’s a subtle kind of humour that can work well in day to day life, but when doing international business, it can be a bit of a hindrance as the other party never knows whether the British are being ironic or for real. When negotiating big contracts, this isn’t always beneficial to making deals.

A good example of being ironic would be:

“How is your day?” with the answer being “Oh, just perfect!” A foreigner might think it is perfect, whereas perhaps the ever so slight intonation might have given away the irony in the statement.