Philosophy Pragmatics Questions Medium
Implicatures are inferences that go beyond the literal meaning of a statement. In pragmatics, there are two main types of implicatures: conventional implicatures and conversational implicatures.
1. Conventional Implicatures: These implicatures are based on conventional meanings associated with certain words or phrases. They are derived from the conventional meaning of a particular expression rather than the context of the conversation. For example, when someone says "John is a bachelor," the conventional implicature is that John is unmarried.
2. Conversational Implicatures: These implicatures are derived from the context of the conversation and the speaker's intentions. They are not explicitly stated but are inferred by the listener based on the speaker's choice of words, tone, or other contextual cues. Conversational implicatures are often associated with the cooperative principle, which suggests that speakers and listeners cooperate to make conversations meaningful. For example, if someone says "I have a lot of homework tonight," the conversational implicature may be that they are busy and may not be available for other activities.
It is important to note that implicatures can be canceled or strengthened depending on the context or the speaker's intentions. Additionally, implicatures can vary across different languages and cultures, highlighting the role of pragmatics in understanding the implied meaning behind statements.