Characteristics of implicature
Non-detachability: (不可分离性) A conversational implicature is attached to the semantic component of what is said, not to the linguistic form. E.g. He is a bad friend.
The maxim of Quantity
E.g. (1)甲：今天中午吃了什么？ 乙：蛋炒饭。 (2)酒馆
The maxim of Quality
E.g. (1) China is a developing country with a large population. (2) Syntax is more abstract than pragmatics.
Paul Grice (1913-1988) philosopher of language
Conversational Implicature
E.g. (1) A: Let‟s go to the cinema this evening. B: We‟ll have the English exam tomorrow. How can the speaker convey more (2) A: Can yousaid and the time? than what is tell me how the hearer can Well, the milkman has come. B: arrive at the speaker’s meaning?
Characteristics of implicature Click to add Title
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TheClick to addprinciple politeness Title
Conversational Implicature
Implicature: is derived from the verb „imply‟, means „to fold something into something else‟. Meaning: the literal meaning the implied meaning Conversational Implicature: something which is implied in a conversation, that is, something which is left implicit in actual language use.
The Cooperative Principle
Contents
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Conversational Implicature Click to add Title
Cooperative Principle Click to add Title Violation to add maxims Click of the Title
Violation of the maxims
“What did you do this afternoon?” Nick asked. “I went for a walk up by the Indian camp.” “Did you see anybody?” “The Indians were all in town getting drunk.” “Didn’t you see anybody at all?” (Quality) “I saw your friend, Prudie.” “Where was she?” “She was in the woods with Frank. I ran on to them. They were having quiet a time.” (Quantity) His father was not looking at him. 文学作品中的对话并不是随意堆砌起来的， “What were they doing?” 而是用来反映人物的心理状态、态度、情 “I didn’t stay to find out.” (Quality) 感和传递会话含义的有效手段。 “Tell me what they were doing.” (Manner) “I don’t know.” his father said, “I just heard them threshing around. (E. Hemingway. Ten Indians)
乙：世界上战争年年有。
甲：第几句了？ 乙 maxims
In daily life, speakers often violate the maxims of CP to express some implied meanings. Whether the speaker follows or violates these maxims, he produces some IMPLICATURE, extra meaning that is not contained in the utterance.
Calculability: (可推导性) speakers can convey implicature and hearers are able to understand them.
• Conversational implicature relies on a number of factors: the conventional meaning of words used, the CP, the linguistic & situational contexts, etc.. • If any of them changes, the implicature will also change.
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Characteristics of implicature
• • • • Calculability----可推导性 Cancellability----可取消性 Non-detachability----不可分离性 Non-conventionality-----非规约性
Characteristics of implicature
The Cooperative Principle
Herbert Paul Grice, the William James lectures, 1967 “logic and conversation” 1975 Make your conversational contribution such as is required, at the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged.
The maxim of Manner
E.g. (1) 他关好门，洗完脸，就上床睡觉了。 (2) 他回到家里就吃饭，用钥匙打开门， 马上生火做饭，洗完碗以后，就上床 睡觉了。
The Cooperative Principle
CP
Content Form
quantity
What to say?
quality quality
E.g. 在一次记者招待会上，西方记者问陈毅外长：中国是用什么武器
把美国的U-2飞机击落的？ 陈毅回答：“是用竹竿捅下来的。”
Violation of the maxims
The violation of the maxim of quantity
E.g. A: I understand you had an argument with your wife. How did it end up? B: She came crawling to me on her knees. A: Is that so? What did she say? B: She said, “Come out from under that bed and fight like a man.”
Violation of the maxims
The speaker does not communicate with the hearer at all. E.g. “I don’t know.” “I don’t want to talk anything about it.” To tell lies. To violate one maxim in order to obey another maxim. E.g. A: Where does Joy live? B: Somewhere in the suburbs of the city. To express some special meaning.
manner
relation
How to say it?
The Cooperative Principle
语用中，交际双方总是受隐性的合作原则支 配，合作原则潜移默化地影响着我们的思维 和话语。 E.g. 甲乙约定答非所问，谁如果在四个回合中违约便是输了。
甲：你早，饭吃了吗？
乙：今天天气真好。 甲：天气好准备上哪儿玩？
Violation of the maxims
The violation of the maxim of quality E.g. He is a machine.
北京的红叶都枫(疯)了。
The violation of the maxim of relation E.g. Boys are Boys. The violation of the maxim of manner E.g. A: let‟s get the kids something. B: O. K. But I veto I-C-E-C-R-E-A-M.