The Theory of Conversational Implicature会话含义理论

The Cooperative Principle (CP) 合作原则
to explain the mechanisms( 机 制，原 理 ) by which people interpret conversational implicature or to explain why people often mean more than what they say, Grice proposed the Cooperative Principle and introduced 4 conversational maxims. And the violations in the second half of Grice's “Logics and Conversation”.
Cancellability 可取消性
Also known as defeasibility (可废除性) The presence of a conversational implicature relies on a number of factors: the conversational meaning of words used, the CP, the lingistic and situational contexts, etc. So if any changes, the implicature will also change. e.g: 通过附加分句来取消句子含义 a. John has 3 cows. b. John has only 3 cows. c. John has 3 cows, if not more. d. John has at least 3 cows.
Be perspicuous (明白易懂的). 1. Avoid obscurity of expression; 2. Avoid ambiguity; 3. Be brief (avoid prolixity); 4. Be orderly. e.g: A: Let's get the kids something. B: Ice cream would bLeabharlann Baidu nice. (√) B: Okey, but I veto I-C-E C-R-E-A-M-S. (×)
1) quantity maxim 数量准则
1. Make your conteibution as informative as required (for the current purpuses of the exchange); 2. Do not make your contribution more informative than is required. e.g: A: What date is your birthday? B: December 26. (√) B: December 26, the day after the Christmas Day. (×)
Characteristics of Implicature 含义的特征
Calculability 可推导性 Speakers try to convey conversational implicatures and hearers are able to understand them suggests taht implicutures are calculable. 5 lists; e.g: the case of the reference letter.
2) quality maxim 质量准则
Try to make your contribution one that is ture. 1. Do not say waht you believe to be false; 2. Do not say that for which yu lack adequate evidence. e.g: Suppuse B is a chinese. A:What contry are you from? B:I come from China. (√) B: I come from America. (×)
The Theory of Conversational Implicature 会话含义理论
• Brief Introduction • The Cooperative Principle & Violation and Maxims • Characteristics of Implicature
Brief Introduction
The theory of conversational implicature is the second theory in pargmatics(语用学). Herbert Paul Grice began to formulate his ideas of this theory in the fifties. He delivered lectures at Harvard in 1967. Part of the lectures - “Logics and Conversation” was published in 1975.
3) relation maxim 关联原则
Be relevant. e.g: A: I am out of petrol. B: There is a garage at the corner. (√) B: It is sunny today. (×)
4) manner maxim 方式准则
Non-detachablity 不可分离性
A conversational implicature is attached to the semantic content of what is said, not to the linguistic form; implicatures do not vanish if the words of an utterances are changed for synonyms. e.g: a. John's a genious. b. John's a mental prodigy. John's an idiot. c. John's a big brain. · · · · · ·
Non-conventionality 非常规性
Conversational implicature is different from its conventional meaning of words . It is context-dependent. It varies with context. Entailment (衍推) e.g: I saw a boy. I saw a child.