THE STUDY OF SARCASM

IN THE SITUATIONAL
COMEDY SERIES

• MUHAMMAD RAFFIQ
• AINA SURAYA

• ANIS NADHIRAH
• MIRA IDANI
• NUR FATINI
1.0 INTRODUCTION
 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

• Situational comedy or in short sitcom is one of the many comedy

genre that usually focus on regular cast, recurring characters with
plot that revolves around a particular situation in familiar settings.
• The humours in sitcoms are delivered differently. One of it is
through sarcasm.
• Originated from the Greek word sarx which mean “flesh”
derived into sarkazein, “to tear flesh” and in late Greek
the word is sarkasmos meaning “to speak bitterly.

• According to Joshi, Sharma and Bhattacharrya (2015),

“Sarcasm is defined as ‘a cutting, often ironic remark
intended to express contempt or ridicule’.”
TYPES OF SARCASM

• Irony • Self-deprecation
• Flattery • Banter
• Insult • Dry sarcasm
• Passive aggression • Idioms
• Satire
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
People still have difficulties in accepting and using sarcasm as a mean of
communication. In mainstream western media, sarcasms are often used to
criticize political issues or politician. However, these days one of the
problems that are not addressed is that sarcasm in some ways can be
used to intentionally hurt others. It is often misunderstood to be used to
offense while its not. In certain countries, like America and Britain,
sarcasm can be offensive at the same time to be used to criticize. It is
permissible for the people to used it. Conservative country like Malaysia
in particular are prone to take sarcasms as something that is rude and
derogatory. Sarcasms are supposed to be a form of humor but it will not
be as the people keep on misinterpreting its uses.
 1.4 PURPOSE OF STUDY
This study was conducted to examine the types sarcasm used in Seinfeld sitcom
series and the different aspects of linguistic analysis.
1.4.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• To identify the types of sarcasm used in Seinfeld
• To relate with the rules of pragmatics with the sarcasm usage
• in Seinfeld
• To identify how each characters violate politeness norms
1.4.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• What are the types of sarcasm used in Seinfeld?
• How Seinfeld utilised the rules of pragmatics in the convention of sarcasm?
• How do each characters in Seinfeld violate linguistic politeness norms?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
• The research is conducted to investigate the element of sarcasm in
the American sitcom series, Seinfeld that ran from 9 season from
1989 to 1998.
• The elements involved are the types of sarcasm and the rules of
pragmatics.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1.1 SAMPLE OF STUDY
 “THE TRUTH”
• Portrayed on a polite break ups and questions between George and Patrice.
• George has difficulties in trying to provide reasons of why he wanted to break up with Patrice as
he lied before telling his true intention on breaking up.
“THE NOSE JOB”
• Kramer asked Elaine’s help to get his jacket back from the owner in the prison by pretending to be
his daughter.
• In the middle of conversation, Kramer complimented on New York women on how beautiful they
are and Audrey get intimidated with them. Kramer then suggested her to get a nose job
2.1.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
• UiTM Student Wi-Fi
• Youtube.com
• Google Chrome Browser
• Wikipedia
• San Disk 16 GB pen drive
2.3 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

2.3.1 Assignment of the task

2.3.2 Download of the episode chosen
2.3.3 Extraction of audio
2.3.4 Transcription of dialogue
 2.4 DATA ANALYSIS
• Each episodes was watched 5 times to analyzed carefully and specifically
• Each of them were transcribed and was compiled in a Word document
• The script was transcribed and attached in the WhatsApp group so that each members
get the fundamentals of research.
3.0 FINDINGS
THE TRUTH (EXCERPT 1)

PATRICE: And you didn't comment on the chopsticks.

GEORGE: I love the chopsticks. I personally prefer a
fork but they look very nice.
PATRICE:You're not telling me the truth. I must've done
something
THE NOSE JOB (EXCERPT 2)

KRAMER:Well, I was just trying to help out!

ELAINE: Yeah, well you can kiss that jacket goodbye Mr.
Vaughn Navon.
KRAMER: You see what happens when you try to be nice?
 “CAR RENTAL” (EXCERPT 3)

Receptionist : Sorry, we have no mid-size available in the moment.

Seinfeld : I don’t understand. I made a reservation.
Receptionist : Yes, we have the car reservation, but unfortunately, we ran out of car.
Seinfeld : But the reservation keeps the car here. That’s why you have the
reservation.
Receptionist : I know why we have reservation.
Seinfeld : I don’t think you do. If you did, I’d have a car. You know how to keep the
reservation, but you don’t know how to hold it. It is really the most important part of reservation, the
holding. Anybody can just take reservation.
Seinfeld : Hey Mike, see those 2 people over there? They think that I’m talking to you,
So, you pretend like you’re talking to me okay?”
Elaine : Oh, so you mean like this? So, it looks like I’m saying something but I’m not really
saying anything.
Seinfeld : Okay, now you say something else and they won’t yeah make as they thought I was checking
with you.
Elaine : Oh, okay I think that’s enough.
Receptionist : I’m so sorry my supervisor says there’s nothing we can do.
Seinfeld :Yeah. Looks like you were in a real conversation over there.
Receptionist : But we do have a compact if you would like that.
Receptionist : Let me speak with my supervisor.
Seinfeld : Here we go. The supervisor, you know what she’s saying over there.
Elaine : What?
Seinfeld : Fine.
Receptionist : Well we have a blue ford escort for you Mr. Seinfeld.
Would you like insurance?
Seinfeld : Yeah, you better give me insurance because I am
gonna beat the hell out of this car.
 4.0 CONCLUSION

• Sarcasm falls under a genre of literature which to deliver humour.

• Although humour can be delivered through sarcasm but some
people confuse with the differences of irony, sarcasm and cynicism.
• Different types of sarcasms have been identified and the
characters have indicated that in different situations, sarcasms are
used in completely different ways.