Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Medium
Implicature is a concept in pragmatics that refers to the meaning conveyed indirectly or implicitly in a conversation. It involves the inferences made by the listener based on what is said by the speaker, but not explicitly stated. Conversational implicature inference, on the other hand, is the process by which these implied meanings are derived.
Conversational implicature inference is guided by the cooperative principle, which suggests that speakers and listeners have a shared goal of effective communication. This principle is further supported by four maxims proposed by philosopher Paul Grice: the maxim of quantity (providing enough information), the maxim of quality (being truthful), the maxim of relation (being relevant), and the maxim of manner (being clear and concise).
When a speaker violates one of these maxims, it often leads to implicatures. For example, if someone asks, "Do you have any plans for the weekend?" and the listener responds, "I have a lot of work to do," the implicature is that the listener does not have any social plans. This implicature is derived from the violation of the maxim of quantity, as the listener did not provide enough information about their plans.
Conversational implicatures can also be derived from the context, background knowledge, and shared assumptions between the speaker and listener. For instance, if someone says, "I saw John at the library yesterday," the implicature may be that John was studying or reading, as libraries are typically associated with those activities.
It is important to note that implicatures are not explicitly stated by the speaker but are inferred by the listener. They rely on the listener's ability to recognize the violation of the cooperative principle or to make inferences based on the context and shared knowledge.
In conclusion, implicature is a crucial aspect of pragmatics, involving the indirect meanings conveyed in a conversation. Conversational implicature inference is the process by which these implied meanings are derived, often through the violation of the cooperative principle or through contextual and background information. Understanding implicatures enhances our ability to interpret and engage in effective communication.