Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Long
In Jaszczolt's pragmatics, implicature plays a crucial role in understanding the meaning and interpretation of utterances. Implicature refers to the additional meaning that is conveyed indirectly through the use of language, beyond the literal meaning of the words used. It involves the inferences made by the listener based on the context, shared knowledge, and the speaker's intentions.
Jaszczolt emphasizes that implicatures are not arbitrary or random, but rather they are guided by certain principles and rules of communication. These principles include the Cooperative Principle, which states that speakers and listeners have a shared goal of effective communication and should cooperate in achieving this goal. Grice's Maxims, which are part of the Cooperative Principle, further specify the rules of conversation, such as the Maxim of Quantity (providing enough information but not too much) and the Maxim of Relevance (staying on topic).
Implicatures can be categorized into two types: conventional implicatures and conversational implicatures. Conventional implicatures are associated with specific words or phrases and are part of their conventional meaning. For example, when someone says "John is a bachelor," the conventional implicature is that John is unmarried. Conversational implicatures, on the other hand, are context-dependent and arise from the violation or exploitation of the Gricean maxims. These implicatures are not part of the conventional meaning of the words used but are inferred by the listener based on the context and the speaker's intentions.
Jaszczolt also introduces the notion of default and optional implicatures. Default implicatures are the inferences that are most likely to be drawn by the listener in a given context, while optional implicatures are additional inferences that can be drawn but are not necessary for the interpretation of the utterance. The distinction between default and optional implicatures helps in understanding the pragmatic processes involved in implicature generation.
Furthermore, Jaszczolt highlights the importance of context in implicature interpretation. Context includes not only the immediate linguistic and situational context but also the broader cultural and social context. The shared knowledge and assumptions between the speaker and the listener play a significant role in determining the implicatures that are likely to be inferred.
Overall, implicature is a central concept in Jaszczolt's pragmatics, as it provides insights into how meaning is conveyed indirectly through language. By considering the principles of communication, the distinction between conventional and conversational implicatures, and the role of context, Jaszczolt's framework offers a comprehensive understanding of the role of implicature in pragmatic interpretation.