THE STYLISTIC FIGURES OF HUMOUR IN THE MAGDA SZABÓ’S BOOK OF LETTERS

Abstract

In this study the author describes linguistic means of expressing humour, irony and sarcasm based on texts in Magda Szabó’s book of letters entitled Dear Kumacs! Letters to Éva Haldimann. Dealing with terminology issues in the beginning of the study, the author states that, since they appear together in humorous texts, in many cases notions of humour, irony and sarcasm are treated as synonyms in literature. The style of the letters by Magda Szabó is characterised by varied tone adequate to the given topics: elaborate, humorous, playful, ironic or sarcastic. The study primarily focuses on playful, humorous and ironic names in the address forms and closing formulas of the texts of the letters. The author chooses from the letters those repetitive figures expressing humour which have text-cohesive function.