语言学chapter 8 part two.ppt

Help ss get a general knowledge of the theory of conversational implicature. The theory of conversational implicature 1. The cooperative principle Try to make your contribution one that is true. Be perspicuous. The CP is descriptive rather than prescriptive. That is , when we speak we generally have something like the CP and its maxims in our mind to guide us, though subconsciously, or even unconsciously. Speakers will try to say things which are true, relevant, as well as informative in a clear manner. Hearers will also try to interpret what is said to them. 2. Violation of the maxims Examples: 3. Characteristics of implicature A) 通过附加一个分句来取消含义的例子： a. John has three cows. b. John has only three cows and no more. c. John has three cows, if not more. d. John has at least three cows. B) 话语的语用含义在特定的语境中可被取消的例子： School staff member: Has John got 50 credits? Teacher: Yes, he has got 50 credits all right. 3) Non-detachability 不可分离性 A conversational implicature is attached to the semantic content of what is said, not to the linguistic form. An implicature will not be detached, separated from the utterance as a whole, even though the specific words may be changed. 如果话语在特定的语境中产生了语用含义，则无论使用什么样的同义结构，含义始终存在。 假如大家都知道Jack is an idiot,但偏要嘲笑说Jack is a genius，含义为“杰克非常愚蠢。”改说下面任何一种同义结构，含义不变： Jack is a mental prodigy. Jack is an exceptionally clever human being. Jack is an enormous intellect. Jack is a big brain. A: What did you think of the lecture? B: Well, I thought the lecture hall was big. Well, I believed the lecture hall was large. Well, I reckoned the lecture hall was great. A: Shall we go the cinema tonight? B: There’ll be an exam tomorrow. I’ll take an exam tomorrow. Isn’t there an exam tomorrow? 4) Non-conventionality Conversational implicature is by definition different from the conventional meaning of words. It is context-dependent. It varies with context. 会话含义是通过合作原则中各项准则，通过话语的字面意义，结合语境推导出来的。先有字面意义，才有语用含义。含义不是字面意义，也不是字面意义的一部