PROBLEM PRACTICE 20 (APRIL 10)
In each situation below, something is being implicated either by observing one of Grice's maxims, or flouting it. Discuss this. Example 1: Question: How long did you watch TV today? Answer: I watched for three hours. (When in fact it had been 5 hours.) Implicature: You didn't watch for more than three hours. If, in fact, it had been 5 hours, the Maxim of Quantity has been violated or flouted (the latter, if the answer is given e.g., with a big smile). Example 2: I love it when you make me wait for you outside in the cold weather. Implicature: The speaker is annoyed that s/he has been waiting in the cold. Flouting the Maxim of Quality. Presumably this is not true, and it is intended that the hearer knows that it is not true and the linguistic effect of flouting will be sarcasm. Example 3: Question: When can you pay me back what you owe me? Answer: I wonder how the Expos will do this year. Implicature: the answerer wants to avoid the question the Flouting/violating Maxim of Relevance. If flouting, it is intended that the conversational partner will notice the lack of relevance. Example 4: Question: Can you pick the kids up at school this afternoon? Answer: I have piano lessons at 3pm. Respecting the Maxim of Relevance. The assumption is that the answer is relevant therefore an indication of whether or not picking up the kids is possible or not. Whether or not it is depends on when the kids get out, where the piano lessons are, etc. presumably information known to both conversational partners. Example 5: Not all...