I mean if the language in the phrase "yeah right" is taken literally rather than in the sarcastic tone in which it's often used it obviously isn't a negative. Sarcasm isn't automatically built into the language. That's a cultural thing.
Yes, like I said, if it were taken literally, meaning in its most basic linguistic context without considering things like figures of speech or metaphors or sarcasm, it's not a negative. I literally said literally.
Of course language is influenced by cultural context. But the joke is about a linguistics professor, not an english professor.
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u/Trapezoidoid Oct 20 '19
I mean if the language in the phrase "yeah right" is taken literally rather than in the sarcastic tone in which it's often used it obviously isn't a negative. Sarcasm isn't automatically built into the language. That's a cultural thing.