The role of information technologies in linguistic studies is unparalleled, as they not only contribute to the development of novel linguistic concepts but also offer fresh perspectives on language usage. In particular, they have fostered the growth of internet discourse and facilitated information accessibility. The prevalence of complaint-based comments has surged, especially on social media platforms. Considering the adverse effects of such complaints on public opinion formation, users have increasingly turned to humor as a primary tool for mitigation.
This article aims to investigate humor as a means of complaint in Armenian Internet discourse and analyze its linguistic features. To achieve this objective, the study includes the examination of various classifications of humor, their application in expressing complaints, and the linguistic devices employed for providing humourous effect. The topicality of this research lies in the significance of humor in Internet discourse as a means of expressing complaints and its potential impact on public opinion.
The study shows that when expressing their complaint users often resort to various forms of humour either to soften the severity of the utterance, sometimes to sound funny, or to make it more offensive.