Introducing Language in Use: a Coursebook
Activities
Gricean Implicature
In each of the following, think of an appropriate utterance for B so that B's reply conveys the indicated message to A without explicitly stating it:
- A: Meet me at Piccadilly Circus at midnight.
B:
Intended message: Piccadilly Circus is not a safe place to be at midnight - A: How much do I owe you?
B:
Intended message: A's debt is rather large - A: Let's try that new German restaurant in town.
B:
Intended message: I'd rather go somewhere else because German restaurants are unlikely to serve an interesting variety of vegetarian food - A: Would you like a piece of chocolate?
B:
Intended message: I would very much indeed like a piece of chocolate
Think of four more examples like these.