GRICEIANA

Speranza

Grice's Theory of Implicature

Meaning-nn
Said
Implicated
Conventionally
Non-Conventionally
Generally
Particularly
Non-Conversationally
Conversationally
Levinson, 1983:131
Natural meaning - Those spots mean measles
the literal meaning of words used to inform rather than to illicit a response, create a reaction or invoking a belief
Non-Natural meaning - John means to be late
"A uttered x with the intention of inducing a belief by means of a recognition of the intention of the speaker" Grice, 1989: 219
H.P. Grice's Theory of Implicature
Truth conditional content
The truth condition of a statement is the condition the world must meet in order for a statement to be true.
The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
Conventional Implicature depends on the truth conditions encapsulated in words such as
'and', 'but' or 'therefore'
'In some cases the conventional meaning of words used will determine what is implicated, besides helping to determine what is said.'
Grice cited in The Discourse Reader 2006:67
He is an Englishman; he is , therefore, brave.

The conventional meaning of the words used, together with the identity of any references that may be involved
The CP and it maxims
The context, linguistic or otherwise of the utterance
Other items of background knowledge
The fact (or the supposed fact) that all relevant items falling under the previous headings are available to both participants and both participants know or assume this to be the case
The presence of a Conversational Implicature must be capable of being worked out..

To work out that a particular conversational Implicature is present, the hearer will rely on the following data:
Grice cited in The Discourse Reader 2006:71
Co-Operative principle
Grice (2006) points out the need for an expanded view of implicature, with the need for various maxims not encompassed in the Co-Operative Principle, such as
'be polite' and predicts that these will also generate non-conventional implicatures
1. Make your contribution as informative as required (for the current purpose of the exchange)
2. Do not make your contribution more informative than is required
Maxim of Quantity
Maxim of Quality
1. Do not say what you believe to be false
2. Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence
Maxim of Relation
1. Be relevant
Maxim of manner
1. Avoid obscurity of expression
2. Avoid ambiguity
3. Be brief
4. Be orderly
VIOLATE a Maxim
In order for a conversational implicature to be present, the speaker may:
OPT OUT of the Co-operative Principle
be faced with a CLASH
FLOUT a maxim in such a way the s/he EXPLOITS it.
e.g. A: Where is Bill?
B: There is a yellow VW outside Sue's house
B has violated the maxim of Relation and Quantity in order to implicate that Bill is in Sue's house (if Bill has a yellow VW)
e.g by saying something like: "my lips are sealed" or "No comment"
e.g. A: What time is it?
B: Well, the milkman's come
B violates the the maxims of both relevance and quantity (the reply is apparently unrelated and does not connect it to the question) in an effort to adhere to the maxim of quality (having evidence for something that the approximate time can be worked out from)
e.g. Johnny: Hey Sally let's play marbles
Mother: How is your homework coming along Johnny?
The mother exploits the maxim of relevance to implicate that Johnny isn't free to play
cancellability (defeasibilty)
non-detachability (or inference based on meaning rather than form)
calculability
non-conventionality
Levinson 1985: 119
Grice suggested that implicatures exhibit the following four major distinguishing properties:
Therefore, these can also be used as tests for implicature