Gricean Program

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

SoSe 10

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Table of Content

Gricean Program

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Conversational Implicature

Example 1 A: Excuse me, Sir. Can you tell me, what time it is? +> And if you can, please tell me. B: Yes, I can. It is half past ten. An Implicature is something meant distinct from what is said A conversational Implicature arises, if the Cooperative Principle is contravened supercially

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Cooperative Principle and & the Maxims

Cooperative Principle Make your conversational contribution such as required, at the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged. Conversational Maxims Quality: Make your contribution true; do not convey what you believe false or unjustied. Quantity: Be as informative as required. Relevance: Be relevant. Manner: Be perspicuous; avoid obscurity and ambiguity and strive for brevity and order.

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Qualitative Implicature

Qualitative Implicature
1 2

Do not say what you believe to be false. Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence.

Example 2 A: Teheran is in Turkey, isnt it, teacher? B: And London is in Armenia, I suppose. +> What you said is incorrect.

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Quantitative Implicature

Quantitative Implicature Q1 : Make your contribution as informative as required. Q2 : Dont make your contribution more informative than required. Example 3 Q1 : Nigel has 14 children. +> Not more than 14. Q2 : I broke a nger yesterday. +> It was one of mine.

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Relevance Implicature

Relevance Implicature Be relevant. Example 4 A: Are you going to Pauls Party? B: I have to work. +> Thus I have no time to go. Example 5 A: I am out of petrol. B: There is a garage round the corner. +> The garage is open.

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Manner Implicature
Manner Implicature M1 : Avoid obscurity. M2 : Avoid ambiguity. M3 : Be brief (avoid unnecessary prolixity). M4 : Be orderly. Example 6 M1 : No I-C-E-C-R-E-A-M for the children today. +> The children shouldnt understand the word icecream. M3 : Miss Singer produced a series of sounds corresponding closely to the score of Country Road. +> Miss Singer sang Country Road badly. M4 : Alfred went to the store and bought some whisky. +> First he went to the store, then he bought some whisky there.
Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally??

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Conventional Implicature
Conventional implicature is an implicature that is part of a lexical items or expressions meaning, rather than derived from principles of language use not part of the conditions for the truth of the item or expression. Example 7 A speaker using the word but between coordinate clauses thinks that some contrast or concession relation is relevant between the clauses. This restaurant is expensive but really good. +> There is a contrast between expensive and really good. A conversational implicature is non-conventional, because its not part of the expressions meaning but part of the truth condition
Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Features of conversational implicatures

1

Non-conventionality: Not part of the expressions meaning but part of the truth condition. Cancellability: Implicatures can be denied without self-contradiction. Non-detachability: Any way you had expressed the proposition you uttered would have given rise to the same implicatures. Calculability: You can trace a line of reasoning leading from the utterance to the implicature.

Example 8 I broke a nger yesterday. +> It was one of mine. I broke a nger yesterday, it was Mike Tysons nger. Example 9 I broke a digit yesterday. +> It was one of mine. broke/fractured, yesterday/Tuesday.
Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Generalized and particularized implicature

A generalized implicature is a conversational implicature that is inferable without reference to a special context. Example 11 A: Can you pass me the salt?. +> Please pass me the salt. B passes the salt. A particularized implicature is inferable only with reference to a special context. Example 12 Context: A and B have to attend a talk at 5 pm. A: Its 5 pm. +> Its time for the talk.

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley

Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics

Gricean Program

Signication subtypes
total signication

said

implicated

conventionally

conversationally

generalized

particularized

Abbildung: Grice suggestion of a partial picture of signication subtypes (Levinson 2000)

Roland M uhlenbernd Michael Franke Jason Quinley Game Theoretic Pragmatics: Introduction to Pragmatic Topics