Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Long
In Levinson's pragmatics, implicature plays a crucial role in understanding the underlying meaning of utterances beyond their literal interpretation. Implicature refers to the additional meaning that is conveyed indirectly through the use of language, often relying on context, shared knowledge, and conversational implicatures.
Levinson argues that implicature is an essential aspect of communication, as it allows speakers to convey more nuanced and complex meanings while still adhering to the cooperative principle of conversation. The cooperative principle, proposed by philosopher Paul Grice, suggests that in conversation, participants are expected to be cooperative and contribute information that is relevant, informative, truthful, and clear.
Implicatures can be categorized into two types: conventional implicatures and conversational implicatures. Conventional implicatures are associated with specific words or phrases and are generally agreed upon by the language community. 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 speaker's intention to convey a particular meaning. These implicatures are not explicitly stated but are inferred by the listener based on the context and the speaker's communicative intentions. For instance, if someone says, "It's hot in here," the conversational implicature might be that they want someone to open a window or turn on the air conditioning.
Levinson emphasizes that implicatures are not arbitrary or random but are guided by certain principles. One such principle is the maxim of relevance, which suggests that speakers should provide information that is relevant to the ongoing conversation. By adhering to this maxim, speakers can convey implicatures that are contextually appropriate and contribute to the overall meaning of the discourse.
Furthermore, Levinson highlights the importance of the Gricean maxims, which include the maxims of quantity, quality, relation, and manner. These maxims serve as guidelines for effective communication and help in the generation and interpretation of implicatures. For example, the maxim of quantity suggests that speakers should provide enough information to make their contribution informative but not excessive. Violations or flouting of these maxims can lead to the generation of implicatures.
Overall, implicature plays a significant role in Levinson's pragmatics by allowing speakers to convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of their words. It enables speakers to communicate more efficiently, convey subtle nuances, and engage in cooperative and meaningful conversations. Understanding implicatures is crucial for comprehending the intended meaning of utterances and for successful communication in various social and cultural contexts.