Background
Implicature and Grice's Maxims
Implicature refers to the implied meaning behind an utterance, beyond the literal words spoken. A
speaker can convey more than what is explicitly stated. This concept was introduced by H.P. Grice.
Scenario:
Situation: Your friend recently posted on Facebook about her favorite cat dying. The next day,
you see her in class with a puffy face, suggesting she cried. You ask, "Are you okay?"
Response: "I'm okay." (said with a sigh)
Direct Communication:
The literal meaning of "I'm okay" is that she is alright.
Implicature:
The combination of the puffy face (visual clue), the sigh (auditory clue), and the context of her
cat's death strongly implies that she is not okay. The "I'm okay" is a polite way of downplaying
her sadness and grief, but the accompanying nonverbal cues reveal the truth of her feelings. The
implicature is something along the lines of: "I'm trying to be okay, but I'm actually very upset
about my cat."
H.P. Grice's Conversational Maxims
H.P. Grice proposed guidelines for effective communication known as the Cooperative Principle. These
guidelines include four conversational maxims:
1. Quantity: Provide the right amount of information—not too much, not too little.
2. Quality: Ensure the information is truthful and based on evidence.
3. Relation: Keep the information relevant to the conversation.
4. Manner: Be clear, orderly, and avoid ambiguity
Personal Info:
Name: Manalili, Samantha Krischelle
Course: Bachelor of Elementary Education
Section: 2-A
Linguistics, Pragmatics, and Implicature Knowledge
Example: In a pragmatics class, you might learn about speech acts, which
are actions performed via utterances, like making promises, giving orders, or
offering apologies. Understanding how this work can help in recognizing
implicature in conversations.
1. Have you ever studied linguistics, pragmatics, implicature or any
related subjects? YES/NO If so, what topics did you find most
interesting?
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2. Are you familiar with H. P. Grice’s Maxims? Quality, Quantity, Relation,
and Manner? YES/NO
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Understanding Indirect Communication
Example: If someone says, "It's cold in here," they might be implicitly asking
someone to close a window or turn up the heat, rather than just stating the
temperature.
3. Have you ever understood something someone said that wasn't
directly stated? Can you give me an example?
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4. If someone says, "Wow, that's a nice shirt," but their tone of voice is
sarcastic, how would you know? What would they really mean?
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5. Can you think of a time when someone used humor or a joke to
communicate something serious? What was said, and what was the
underlying message?
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6. You see a friend looking glum. They say, "It's fine." What might they
actually be feeling, and how do you know?
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Real-life Examples and Implicature
Example: In a conversation, if you say, "I could really use a coffee right
now," you might be hinting that you want someone to get you a coffee
without directly asking for it.
7. Think about your daily conversations. Have you ever used a hint or
indirect statement to communicate something? Can you give an
example?
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8. If someone asks, "Do you have a pen?" when they clearly need to
borrow one, what is the implied meaning?
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Communication Rules and Clarity
Example: In a work environment, there may be an unspoken rule about not
discussing salaries with colleagues. While it might not be explicitly stated,
discussing salaries can create tension and lead to conflicts among
employees. For instance, if someone asks, "How much do you make?" it
might be understood that discussing this topic is inappropriate and could
lead to discomfort.
9. When you talk to people, are there unspoken rules about what you
should or shouldn't say? Can you give an example?
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10. Do you think it's important to be clear and direct in your
communication, or is it sometimes okay to be indirect? Why?
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11. Have you ever misunderstood someone because they weren't
clear enough, or because they said something indirectly? YES/NO
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Critical Thinking on Implicature
Example: People might use implicature to soften a rejection, such as saying
"I'm not sure if that will work" instead of a direct "no." This can make the
refusal feel less harsh but may also lead to misunderstandings.
12. Why do you think people sometimes use implicature instead of
being direct? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
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13. Can misinterpreting implicature lead to conflict or
misunderstanding? YES/NO
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14. Do you think implicature is more common in some types of
communication (like texting or informal conversations) than others
(like formal speeches)? YES/NO
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Tone of Voice and Body Language
Example: If someone says, "Great job" with a flat tone and rolling their eyes,
their body language and tone of voice suggest they are being sarcastic and
do not actually mean the compliment.
15. How important is tone of voice and body language in
understanding the implied meaning of what someone says?
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16. Have you ever used sarcasm to express the opposite of what you
literally said? What was the effect?
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Cultural Background and Communication
Example: In some cultures, saying "no" directly can be considered rude.
Instead, people might use more indirect language to imply refusal, such as
saying, "I'll think about it" or "Maybe later." For instance, in Japanese culture,
saying "I'll consider it" might actually mean "no."
17. Do you believe that cultural background influences how
implicature is used or interpreted? How might different cultural
contexts affect their understanding of indirect communication?
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18. Do you think people from different cultures communicate
differently? Can you give an example?
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