Interpersonal &

Non-literal meaning

Unit 6
Unit 6 – Interpersonal & Non-literal meaning

I. Conversational Implicature
II. Co-operative principles
Part 1 video (unit 6)
 Definition
• a concept of utterance meaning,

• in parallel with, but unrelated to entailment

E.g.
(a) Mary bought three dresses.
→ Mary bought some garments.
(b)
John: “Did Mary buy three books for her study?”
Jane: “Mary bought three dresses.”
+> Mary didn’t buy any books.

Social rule
> speakers try to be as helpful to the
listeners as possible
>
Part 2 video (unit 6)

- Maxims
- Cancellation of implicatures
A. Co-operative principle
1. the overriding social rule which speakers try to
follow in conversation
2. suggested by Herbert Paul Grice (1913 ⎼ 1988)
3. components of co-operative principle =

How an implicature arises:

> The maxim is flouted >

> It is assumed that the speaker is always obeying

the social rules.
B. Maxims of Conversation

1. Relevance

A: Can you tell me the time?

B: Well, the TV game show has been over.

Father: How are you doing at school?

Son: What a beautiful day today!
2.
Informativeness
C: Is today the 23rd of July?
D: The 24th.

E: Are you going to work tomorrow?

F: I am on jury duty, but I’ll have to go to the doctor in
the evening. I have asked the manager for
permission.
3. Clarity

Bill: Who’s Alan?

Ann: He’s the male offspring of my parents.

Husband: Let’s get the kids something.

Wife: Yes. But not the I.C.E.C.R.E.A.M.
Practice – p.321
Practice – pp.321-322
Practice – pp.322-323
Part 3 video (unit 6)

- Cancellation of implicatures
 C. Cancellation of implicature p.323
An implicature is cancelled when
- another part of the utterance
- or a following utterance explicitly contradicts it.
E.g.
John: “Did Mary buy three books for her study?”
Jane: “Mary bought three dresses. Then she bought
three books at the bookstore.”
 p.324
NOTE on cancellation of Entailment
(a) Mary bought three dresses, but she didn’t buy any
garments.
(b) I killed the parrot very carefully so that it didn’t
die.
 Practice – p.325
3. Identify the maxims that have been flouted.
 Further practice

Give an implicature of the second speaker in

each of the following situations.

(1)
Rick: Hey, coming to the wild party tonight?
Tom: My parents are coming.
+> …………………………………………………………….

(2)
Sam: Where are you going with the dog?
Ann: To the V.E.T.
+> …………………………………………………………
 Further practice

(3)
Students: Miss, how did we do on the test?
Teacher: Five or six got 5.
+> ………………………………………………………….

(4)
(On the phone)
Lucy: What’s the weather like over there?
Tom: I’m going to die!
+> ………………………………………………………….
 Further practice
(5)
Student: Professor, will you write a letter of
recommendation for me?
Teacher: OK. I’ll say that you were always
neatly dressed and unfailingly polite.
+> ………………………………………………………….

(6)
Student: Professor, will you write a letter of
recommendation for me?
Teacher: Is the Pope Islamic?
+> ………………………………………………………….