Abstract

The current study thoroughly explores and delves into various compelling instances of banter that not only thrive but also flourish from explicitly encoded sarcasm, establishing a direct correlation with individuals possessing exceptional cognitive abilities that involve an intricate understanding of the theory of mind. The analytical perspective approaches this subject matter from two distinct yet interrelated positions- cognitive and interactional, which seamlessly unveil both shared and interconnected layers in the comprehensive interpretations of the same empirical material. Through an in-depth analysis, we concentrate on carefully collected and meticulously examined data derived from the remarkable body of work crafted by the renowned children's author, Judy Blume. In her literary creations, a myriad of captivating banter instances is teeming, effectively encompassing far beyond mere non-rhetorical metaphors and unapproved sarcasm, while simultaneously incorporating an array of meta-communication devices intrinsic to accentuate and augment the communicative intentions. This study investigate banter pragmatically through theory of speech act, politeness and other pragmatic perspectives. Many techniques of banter are shown in collective books of Judy Blume.