conversational implicature: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “conversational implicature” mean?
An implied meaning derived from a speaker's utterance based on context, shared knowledge, and the cooperative principle of conversation, rather than the literal meaning of the words.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An implied meaning derived from a speaker's utterance based on context, shared knowledge, and the cooperative principle of conversation, rather than the literal meaning of the words.
A concept in pragmatics describing what a speaker suggests or implies without explicitly stating it, requiring the listener to infer meaning beyond the literal semantic content, often based on Gricean maxims of conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. The spelling 'implicature' is consistent. The concept is used identically in academic discourse in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical, scholarly term with no regional connotative variation.
Frequency
Exclusively high-frequency in linguistics and philosophy departments; extremely rare in general usage in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “conversational implicature” in a Sentence
[Subject] + derives/identifies/infers + a conversational implicature + from [utterance].The [utterance] + carries/has + a conversational implicature + that [proposition].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conversational implicature” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The analyst sought to implicature the hidden meaning.
- Can we implicature that from his vague statement?
American English
- Linguists don't use 'implicature' as a verb; they say 'infer an implicature' or 'generate an implicature'.
adverb
British English
- He spoke implicaturally, hinting at his disapproval.
- The reply was implicaturely rich.
American English
- These forms are extremely rare and non-standard. The typical adverb is 'implicitly'.
adjective
British English
- The implicatural content was clearer than the literal statement.
- She provided an implicatural analysis of the dialogue.
American English
- The implicative force of his remark was strong.
- This is a classic implicature-based example.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. The concept might be explained indirectly in communication training (e.g., 'reading between the lines').
Academic
Core term in linguistics, semantics, pragmatics, and philosophy of language. Used in theoretical discussion and analysis of discourse.
Everyday
Extremely rare. The concept itself is experienced daily, but the technical term is not used.
Technical
Precise, defining term in pragmatic theory. Used in journal articles, textbooks, and conference presentations in relevant fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conversational implicature”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conversational implicature”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conversational implicature”
- Using 'conversational implicature' to mean simply 'implication' in everyday life.
- Confusing it with 'presupposition' (a background assumption) or 'entailment' (a logical consequence).
- Spelling error: 'implication' instead of 'implicature'.
- Treating it as something the speaker actively does rather than something the listener infers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The philosopher H. Paul Grice introduced the concept in his 1975 William James Lectures, defining it as part of his Cooperative Principle and conversational maxims.
Particularized implicature depends heavily on specific context (e.g., 'John has three children' implicates 'no more than three' only if contextually relevant). Generalized implicature is assumed by default without special context (e.g., 'I ate some biscuits' usually implicates 'not all').
No. Lying involves stating something false. Conversational implicature involves implying something true (or false) without stating it directly. It's about meaning beyond the words, not deceit within them.
It helps learners understand why native speakers communicate indirectly and how to interpret 'what is meant' vs. 'what is said'. This is crucial for achieving pragmatic competence and avoiding misunderstandings in social interactions.
An implied meaning derived from a speaker's utterance based on context, shared knowledge, and the cooperative principle of conversation, rather than the literal meaning of the words.
Conversational implicature is usually academic/technical in register.
Conversational implicature: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənəl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪtʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənəl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪtʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IMPLICATURE' as containing 'IMPLY' and 'CREATE' – it's the meaning the listener CREATES based on what is IMPLIED in the CONVERSATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEANING IS A LAYERED STRUCTURE (literal meaning is the surface, implicature is a deeper layer). INFERENCE IS A PATH (the listener follows a logical path from what is said to what is meant).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key property of conversational implicature?