What is a particularized implicature?

Definition
	A particularized implicature is a conversational implicature that is derivable only in a specific context.

Examples (English)

A: What on earth has happened to the roast beef?

B: The dog is looking very happy.

In the above exchange, A will likely derive the implicature "the dog ate the roast beef" from B’s statement. This is due to A’s belief that B is observing the conversational maxim of relation or relevance in the specific context of A’s question.

Source:

Levinson 1983 126

Generic
	A particularized implicature is a kind of
	What is conversational implicature?

Sources
	Levinson 1983 126
	Grice 1975 56

Context for this page:

Concept module: particularized implicature
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): P
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