Humor, Wit et al

This table is from Fowler's Modern English Usage. It succinctly draws the distinctions between such various forms of linguistic manuever as wit and sarcasm. While not always applicable, it is none the less, charming and insightful.

	MOTIVE OR AIM	PROVINCE	METHOD OR MEANS	AUDIENCE
humor	discovery	human nature	observation	the sympathetic
wit	throwing light	words and ideas	surprise	theintelligent
satire	amendment	morals and manners	accentuation	the self satisfied
sarcasm	inflicting pain	faults and foibles	inversion	victim and bystander
invective	discredit	misconduct	direct statement	the public
irony	exclusiveness	statement of facts	mystification	an inner circle
cynicism	self justification	morals	exposure of nakedness	the respectable
the sardonic	self relief	adversity	pessimism	self