THE LINGUOPRAGMATIC ESSENCE OF IMPLICATURE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
implicature, framework, sentence, meaning, dynamic, interlocutors.Abstract
This paper explores the multifaceted nature of implicature as a fundamental phenomenon in linguopragmatics. Moving beyond the literal decoding of language, the study investigates the cognitive and social mechanisms that allow speakers to convey meaning that exceeds the semantic boundaries of their utterances. Central to this analysis is the Gricean framework of the Cooperative Principle and the strategic "flouting" of conversational maxims, which serves as the primary trigger for inferential processing. The research further examines Neo-Gricean developments and Relevance Theory, highlighting how implicature functions as a tool for communicative economy and "face-saving" in social interactions. By analyzing the gap between sentence meaning and speaker meaning, the paper demonstrates that the essence of implicature lies in a dynamic, context-dependent negotiation between interlocutors.
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References
1.Grice, H. P. (1975). "Logic and conversation." In Syntax and Semantics, Vol. 3, Speech Acts, edited by P. Cole and J. L. Morgan. Academic Press. (The foundational text for the Cooperative Principle).
2.Levinson, S. C. (2000). Presumptive Meanings: The Theory of Generalized Conversational Implicature. MIT Press. (Focuses on the I, Q, and M principles).
3.Sperber, D., & Wilson, D. (1995). Relevance: Communication and Cognition. Blackwell. (The definitive work on Relevance Theory).
4.Horn, L. R. (2004). "Implicature." In The Handbook of Pragmatics, edited by L. R. Horn and G. Ward. Blackwell Publishing. Social & Applied Pragmatics
5.Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge University Press. (Crucial for the link between implicature and "Face").
6.Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. Longman. (Excellent for practical examples of flouting maxims).
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