This post includes a detailed explanation of the concept of Conversational Implicature in Discourse along with relevant examples.
We’ve all been there; you have watched five episodes of a TV show on Netflix and are just about to fall asleep when the screen has a pop-up message asking ‘Are you still watching…?’.
Netflix is implying that you don’t want to lose your place, but the question also implies that it should power down for the night.
This is an example of Conversational implicature, which is a term used to describe instances of conversation when the speaker means more than they say.
The Meaning of Conversational Implicature
The philosopher HP Grice first suggested that in conversation we often convey information beyond that which we say and that this added meaning is inferred and predictable. He referred to this as ‘conversational implicature‘.
Since Grice’s initial proposal and work, conversational implicatures have become one of the major research areas in pragmatics.
Example 1
Conversational implicature is also known as Implication: this happens when the speaker says something that requires interpretation and is an indirect way of saying something.
For instance, a mother says to her daughter who is about to go to the beach: ‘Better put some sunscreen on before you go.’
From this, we understand: ‘It is hot and sunny outside, so you might get sunburned ‘.
Example 2
Here is another example of conversational implicature:
A couple of housemates are getting ready to go to a party;Â one of them asks the other:
‘ Are you going to be much longer?’
To which the other replies:
‘You can mix yourself another drink.’
In the question, the implied meaning could be: ‘It’s time to go / We’re going to be late / What is taking you so long?’
In the answer, the implied meaning could be: ‘I don’t know, maybe / I will be ready soon, you have time for another drink.’
Explanation of Example
These are indirect exchanges, where the original information or query is ‘encoded’; by doing this, we imply something (which means we don’t explicitly state it). Exchanges like this rely on context, situation, and inferences to be understood.
More Examples of Conversational Implicature
| Conversational Implicature: Question | Conversational Implicature: Answer | Implied Meaning |
| Have some cake? | Thanks, but I’m gluten intolerant. | So I won’t have any cake |
| Where can I get fresh fruit here? | There’s a daily market in the square. | You can buy fresh fruit there |
| Do you have a rolling pin I can borrow? | Sorry, I don’t bake. | So I don’t have a rolling pin) |
Types of Conversational Implicatures
There are 2 types of conversational implicatures:
- Particularized implicature
- Generalized Implicature
- Particularized implicature
The most common conversational implicatures only happen in specific contexts and we call them particularized. Many of the examples we have looked at so far require some kind of context; this makes them particularized implicatures.
2. Generalized Implicature
Other conversational implicatures can be inferred without reference to a special context and these are called generalized. Usually, the indefinite article ‘a’ / ‘an’ will imply that there is no close connection to the speaker or subject.
Example
Terry walked through a park and saw a parakeet in a tree.
Generalized conversational implicaturesÂ
• independent of the context •
Ex.: Indefinites
A car collided with John’s foot. (not John’s car / not the speaker’s car)
the speaker assumes to follow the maxim of quantity, if he wants to be more specific/informative he would have said my car or John’s car
Generalized conversational Implicatures inferred without a special reference to context:
John walked into a house yesterday.
Infer that the house was not John’s house
Yesterday there was a naughty boy throwing my windows with stones.
Conclusion
This post has explained the concept of conversational implicatures. There are two types of conversational implicatures that are termed as generalized implicature and particularized implicature.
