Assignment

23.

Below is a discourse between Daniel and Amy. They are in the kitchen at their home. Following the
discourse is a list of questions. None of the questions is directly answered in the discourse, but all of the
answers are implicated by something that either Daniel or Amy says.

Answer each question. Then tell which line of the discourse contains the implicature that answers the
question and which Gricean maxim you had to appeal to in order to figure out the implicature.

a. Daniel: Would you like me to make chocolate chip cookies this afternoon?

b. Amy: Sure. That would be great! Do you have all of the ingredients?

c. Daniel:Well, I meant to go to the bank this morning, and then I was going to stop at the store on the
way home, but I wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t go.

d. Amy: That’s too bad. What did you need to buy?

e. Daniel: Just a few things. Do you know whether we have any eggs?

f. Amy: After breakfast, there were two left.

g. Daniel: Then I guess I’ll have to borrow some. Are the neighbors home?

h. Amy: (Looks out the window) I don’t see their car out front.

i. Daniel: That’s too bad. Maybe I should make cookies some other day.

i. What kind of cookies is Daniel planning to make?

Daniel was planning to make chocolate chip cookies. Maxim of quality

ii. What kind of store had Daniel meant to go to this morning?

A. shoe store B. grocery store C. book store maxim of manner

B. iii. What did Amy eat for breakfast this morning?
She ate eggs for breakfast .maxim of quantity.
C. iv. How many eggs does Amy think there are in the house?

D. A. fewer than two B. exactly two C. more than two maxim of quantity

v. How many eggs does the cookie recipe call for?

A. fewer than two B. exactly two C. more than two maxim of quantity

vi. From where does Daniel hope to get eggs now?

He hope from the neighbors maxim of relevance

vii. Are Daniel and Amy’s neighbors at home?

No they aren’t

viii. Why does Daniel decide not to make cookies today?

Because he dosent have all the ingredients to make cookes . Maxim of quantity

ix. Which of these activities is Daniel most likely to have wanted to do at the bank?

A. give blood B. go fishing in the river C. withdraw cash

x. How was Daniel feeling this morning?

A. healthy B. a little sick C. extremely ill

2.

Two basketball players are close friends. One is a very good player and makes every shot that he
attempts. The other is not as good. Their coach has instructed them to try a new and very difficult drill.
Both players try the new drill ten times. Of course, the first player puts the ball through the hoop all ten
times. Afterwards, the friends get together to discuss how their practice went and have the following
conversation:

1st Player: How did you do?

2nd Player: Well, I made it on my fifth try. I bet you did a lot better than me.

1st Player: Well, yeah, but don’t feel too bad. I made it on my fourth shot.

Of the ten tries, how many times did the first player make the shot?

After the fifth try he made the shot.

ii. What inference is the first player hoping that the second player will draw, counter to this fact, by
saying, “I made it on my fourth shot”?

he was hoping that the first player will feel a little more goodabouthis shoot

. Which maxim is the first player using in order to create this implicature?

iv. Why has the first player chosen to give this answer?

v. Is the first player violating a maxim of quality by saying, “I made it on my fourth shot”?

vi. Has the first player violated any other maxims? Justify your answer.
Joana shqepa