Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Long
In Recanati's pragmatics, the concept of implicature refers to a type of inference that goes beyond the literal meaning of an utterance. Implicatures are derived from the context in which the utterance is made and the shared knowledge between the speaker and the listener. They involve the speaker conveying additional information indirectly, rather than explicitly stating it.
According to Recanati, implicatures are generated through a process of pragmatic enrichment. This process involves the listener going beyond the literal meaning of the words and considering the speaker's intentions, the context, and the background knowledge shared between them. By doing so, the listener is able to infer the speaker's intended meaning, which may go beyond what is explicitly said.
Recanati distinguishes between two types of implicatures: conventional and conversational implicatures. Conventional implicatures are derived from conventional meaning associated with certain words or phrases. For example, when someone says "John is a bachelor," the conventional implicature is that John is unmarried. This implicature is derived from the conventional meaning of the word "bachelor."
Conversational implicatures, on the other hand, are derived from the cooperative principle of conversation. According to this principle, speakers are expected to be cooperative and provide relevant and truthful information. When a speaker violates this principle, the listener may infer an implicature. For example, if someone says "I have a lot of work to do," the conversational implicature may be that the person is too busy to engage in a particular activity. This implicature is derived from the assumption that the speaker is providing relevant information about their availability.
Recanati also emphasizes the importance of context in generating implicatures. The context includes not only the immediate linguistic context but also the broader situational and cultural context. Different contexts can lead to different implicatures, as the same utterance can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is made.
Overall, Recanati's concept of implicature highlights the importance of pragmatic enrichment in understanding the intended meaning of an utterance. By going beyond the literal meaning and considering the context and shared knowledge, listeners are able to infer additional information conveyed indirectly by the speaker. Implicatures play a crucial role in communication, allowing for more nuanced and efficient exchanges of information.