Researchers from the University of Montreal monitored 39 two-child families for their use of four types of non-literal language: hyperbole, euphemism, sarcasm and rhetorical questions.
They found that certain forms of irony, such as hyperbole, were understood at the age of four and that children had a complete grasp of non-literal language by six.
The study, published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology, found that hyperbole and sarcasm were most often used during positive interactions with children, while euphemisms and rhetorical questions were mostly used in arguments. Mothers were more inclined to use rhetorical questions and fathers preferred sarcasm.
Co-author Stephanie Alexander of Montreal's department of social and preventive medicine said, 'Previous studies concluded that irony wasn't understood before the age of eight or ten. However, these studies were mostly done in a laboratory setting and mostly focused on sarcasm.'
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