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Implicatures in Stylistics

The document discusses implicatures, which are implied meanings that arise from a speaker's language choices beyond the literal content. It provides examples of implicatures including irony, sarcasm, understatement, implicatures of politeness, and implicatures of informativeness to convey additional layers of meaning in stylistic analysis.

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Zahid Gujjar
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36 views3 pages

Implicatures in Stylistics

The document discusses implicatures, which are implied meanings that arise from a speaker's language choices beyond the literal content. It provides examples of implicatures including irony, sarcasm, understatement, implicatures of politeness, and implicatures of informativeness to convey additional layers of meaning in stylistic analysis.

Uploaded by

Zahid Gujjar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Implicatures in Stylistics with examples

Implicatures, a concept developed by philosopher H.P.


Grice, refer to the inferences or implied meanings that
arise from a speaker's or writer's use of language beyond
the literal or explicit content. In stylistics, the analysis of
implicatures focuses on the additional layers of meaning
conveyed through indirect or implied language choices.
Here are some examples of implicatures in stylistics:

1. Irony: Irony is a common form of implicature in which


the intended meaning is the opposite of what is explicitly
stated. For example, if someone says, "What a lovely
day!" during a heavy rainstorm, the implicature is that
the speaker actually finds the weather unpleasant,
despite the literal content of the statement.

2. Sarcasm: Sarcasm is a type of irony that involves


mocking or expressing contempt through exaggerated
praise or positive statements. For instance, if someone
says, "Great job!" to someone who made a mistake, the
implicature is that the speaker believes the opposite—
that the job was poorly done.

3. Understatement: Understatement is a form of


implicature where the speaker intentionally downplays
or minimizes the significance of something. For example,
if someone says, "It's just a flesh wound," when referring
to a severe injury, the implicature is that the injury is
more serious than stated, creating a humorous effect.

4. Implicatures of Politeness: Politeness implicatures


occur when speakers use indirect or vague language to
convey a particular meaning in order to maintain
politeness or avoid direct confrontation. For instance, if
someone says, "I'm not sure that's quite right," when
disagreeing with a statement, the implicature is that the
speaker thinks the statement is incorrect, but they soften
the disagreement to maintain politeness.

5. Implicatures of Informativeness: In some cases,


implicatures arise from the principle of informativeness,
which suggests that speakers provide the most
informative and relevant information in a given context.
For example, if someone says, "I saw a bird in the sky,"
the implicature is that the bird is not a common or
ordinary one, as the speaker opted for the more specific
detail of its location.

These examples illustrate how implicatures add depth,


nuance, and layers of meaning to language use in
stylistics. By analyzing the implicatures in a text, one can
uncover the speaker's or writer's intentions, attitudes, or
stylistic choices beyond the literal meaning of the words
used.

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