What is a scalar implicature?

Definition
	A scalar implicature is a quantity implicature based on the use of an informationally weak term in an implicational scale.
	The use implicates that all similar utterances using an informationally stronger term are not true because, according to the conversational maxim of quantity, a speaker would ordinarily be required to make a stronger, more informative utterance if a true one were available.

Example (English)

In the utterance some of the boys went to the party, the word some implicates "not all of the boys went to the party."

The words none, some, and all form an implicational scale, in which the use of one form implicates that the use of a stronger form is not possible.

Source:

Levinson 1983 133

Generic
	A scalar implicature is a kind of
	What is a quantity implicature?

Sources
	Levinson 1983 133–134
	Gazdar 1979 56–59

Context for this page:

Concept module: scalar implicature
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): S
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004