Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Long
In Carston's pragmatics, implicature plays a crucial role in understanding the meaning conveyed in communication. Implicature refers to the additional meaning that is inferred or implied by a speaker beyond the literal meaning of their words. It involves the recognition of indirect meaning, which is not explicitly stated but is understood by the listener based on contextual cues and shared knowledge.
Carston's approach to implicature is influenced by the Gricean framework of implicature, proposed by philosopher H.P. Grice. Grice argued that implicatures arise from the cooperative principle, which suggests that speakers and listeners have a shared goal of effective communication. According to Grice, speakers are expected to follow four maxims: the maxim of quantity (providing enough information), the maxim of quality (being truthful), the maxim of relevance (staying on topic), and the maxim of manner (being clear and concise).
Carston builds upon Grice's framework by introducing the concept of explicature. Explicature refers to the explicit meaning conveyed by the speaker's words, which is derived from the literal meaning and the context. It represents the primary meaning that is directly communicated. On the other hand, implicature refers to the additional meaning that is indirectly conveyed and is derived from the explicature.
Carston argues that implicatures are generated through a process called pragmatic enrichment. Pragmatic enrichment involves the use of contextual information, background knowledge, and reasoning to derive the intended meaning beyond the explicit content. This process allows the listener to go beyond the surface-level meaning and understand the speaker's intended message.
Carston also emphasizes the role of context in implicature. Contextual factors such as the speaker's tone, gestures, facial expressions, and the shared knowledge between the speaker and listener contribute to the generation and interpretation of implicatures. The context provides the necessary information for the listener to make inferences and understand the speaker's intended meaning.
Furthermore, Carston distinguishes between generalized and particularized implicatures. Generalized implicatures are derived from general conversational principles and are applicable in various contexts. For example, the statement "Some students passed the exam" implicates that not all students passed. Particularized implicatures, on the other hand, are specific to a particular context and rely on specific knowledge or assumptions shared between the speaker and listener.
In summary, implicature plays a significant role in Carston's pragmatics by allowing speakers to convey additional meaning beyond the literal content of their words. It involves the recognition of indirect meaning through the process of pragmatic enrichment, which relies on contextual cues and shared knowledge. By understanding implicatures, listeners can grasp the speaker's intended message and engage in effective communication.