Irony, Sarcasm and...

[lathany]

Is there a word for when you tell the truth but it isn't believed by the person you're speaking to? Particularly if it's obvious to the audience that it's the truth.

Comments

[wimble.livejournal.com]

I've always believed that's known as Explaining to managers why it doesn't work like that

[dracunculus.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who told me three very improbable things that I refused to believe, and they all turned out to be true! Now anything he tells me, no matter how unlikely, I'm kind of obliged to believe.

[cuthbertcross.livejournal.com]

Not believing someone when you know they are actually right = "denial", surely?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

Wrong person. I want to know what the act of the speaker would be called. Sort of the opposite of sarcasm. Also another point is that the responder doesn't know the speaker is actually right.

[ealuscerwen.livejournal.com]

I think the situation would generally be termed dramatic irony? Again, not the word you are looking for. Can't think of an English word that describes that act, haven't got anywhere with other languages so far.

Btw, hello! First time I've looked at LJ in... um... a while, and there's a great language related question!

*smiles*

[lathany.livejournal.com]

If you can't think of one, then I suspect there isn't one. Dramatic irony will fit the general situation though.