EXERCISE

1. If Wyat Earpp meets Doc Holliday in Dodge City and says, “ This town ain’t
bigenough for the both of us”, what does
this town
 refer to”2. If a television news reporter, speaking in Fresno,
California, says, “ This town wasshaken by a major earth tremor at 5
a.m today”, what does
this town
 refer to”3. If, on November 3
rd
 1983, I say, “Everything seemed to go wrong yesterday?”,what day
am I picking out by the word
yesterday
?4. If, on May 4
th
 1983, my daughter says to me, “Yesterday wasn’t my birthday”,what
day am I picking out by the word
yesterday
?

IMPLICATURE EXERCISE: In each of the following dialogues

between Jack and Laura, there is a conversational implicature. What is
it?

a. Jack: Did you make a doctor’s appointment? Laura: Their line was
busy.

b. Jack: Do you have the play tickets? Laura: Didn’t I give them to
you?

C. Laura: Do you own a cat?

Jack: I’m allergic to everything.

d. Laura: Did you mow the grass and wash the car like I told you to?
Jack: I mowed the grass.
EXERCISE 6 Maxims of conversation
Read these short conversations and identify the maxim or maxims of
conversation that are

being followed or flouted.

1. Child: Can I watch television? Parent: You have homework to

do.
The parent’s answer demonstrates the maxim of
_______________ because _____________
2. Visitor in your town: Where is the nearest gas station? You:
About a mile up the road. Your answer violates the maxim of
_______________ because
3. Student: When is the assignment due this week? Teacher: I don’t
understand why students are always asking about their
assignments. Don’t they write it down the first time I tell them?
Don’t they know it’s in the syllabus?

The teacher is violating the maxim of _____________ because

4. Your friend: Hey! Whatcha been doin’? You: Not much. You?
You friend’s answer is acceptable according to the maxim of
___________ because
5. Your parent: Hello. What have you been doing? You: Not much.
Your answer violates the maxim of _______________ because

1. Relevance—Even though the question calls for a yes or no

answer, the parent has a condi- tion (doing homework) to add to
the mix.
2. Quantity—unless this is a very small town with only one road.
Someone asking for the nearest gas station probably needs
specific instructions on how to get there in the shortest amount
of driving.
 3. Manner—All that’s needed to answer the question is the date.
The rest is superfluous— although perhaps demonstrating
affective meaning!
4. Quantity—It’s a part of an informal greeting ritual.
5. Quantity—Your parent isn’t just greeting you but actually wants
to know what (mischief)

you’ve been up to. You haven’t given enough information.

6. Answers will vary, but should mention the difference between

greeting rituals and actual

requests for information, and the difference between the

conversation of friends and the communication between parents
and children.

1. Presupposition: Explain the presuppositions demonstrated by each

of these sentences.

1. This is my friend Barbara; she’s visiting from out of state.

2. What are you doing this weekend?
3. Can I get you something from the snack bar?
4. Max will be leaving tomorrow.

. a.

The person you are speaking to does not know Barbara, and does not
know your rela-

tionship to her or where she lives.

2. I don’t know what you are planning to do during your time off
on Saturday and/or Sun-

day and I’d like to plan to do something with you.

3. There are things at the snack bar that I think you might want that
I’m willing to bring
 to you. Another possible implicature is that I’m simply being
polite in asking you, but I

really don’t expect you to say yes.

4. The person you are speaking to knows Max, so you don’t need
to explain who Max is

and where he is going.

A. We went to the ballpark again.

That her pet turtle ran away made Emily very sad.

Disa wants more popcorn.

Child: Can I watch television? Parent: You have homework to do.

Answer: The parent’s answer demonstrates the maxim of relevance
because even though the question calls for a yes or no answer, the
parent has an extra condition that is doing homework to add to the
answer.

2. Your parent: Hello. What have you been doing? You: Not much.

Answer: Your answer violates the maxim of quantity because

your parent isn’t just greeting you but actually wants to know
what you’ve been up to. You haven’t given enough information.

1. Presupposition: Explain the presuppositions demonstrated by each

of these sentences.

5. This is my friend Barbara; she’s visiting from out of state.

6. What are you doing this weekend?
7. Can I get you something from the snack bar?
8. Max will be leaving tomorrow.

. a.

The person you are speaking to does not know Barbara, and does not
know your rela-
tionship to her or where she lives.

5. I don’t know what you are planning to do during your time off
on Saturday and/or Sun-

day and I’d like to plan to do something with you.

6. There are things at the snack bar that I think you might want that
I’m willing to bring

to you. Another possible implicature is that I’m simply being

polite in asking you, but I

really don’t expect you to say yes.

7. The person you are speaking to knows Max, so you don’t need
to explain who Max is

and where he is going.

1. Disa has had some popcorn already.