Implicature vs. Presupposition

Attribute	Implicature	Presupposition
Definition	Meaning that is suggested or implied by an utterance, but not explicitly stated	Assumption that is taken for granted in an utterance, often necessary for the utterance to make sense
Speaker's intention	Implicature is often based on the speaker's intention to convey additional meaning	Presupposition is not necessarily based on the speaker's intention, but rather on shared knowledge or assumptions
Types	Conversational implicature, conventional implicature	Existential presupposition, presupposition triggers
Pragmatics	Implicature is a pragmatic phenomenon that goes beyond the literal meaning of words	Presupposition is also a pragmatic phenomenon, but it involves assumptions about the context or background knowledge

Definition

Implicature and presupposition are two important concepts in the field of pragmatics. Implicature refers to the additional meaning that is conveyed by an utterance beyond its literal meaning. This additional meaning is inferred by the listener based on the context of the conversation. Presupposition, on the other hand, refers to the assumptions that are made by the speaker and taken for granted by the listener in a conversation.

Characteristics

One key characteristic of implicature is that it is not explicitly stated by the speaker but is instead inferred by the listener. This can lead to different interpretations of the same utterance depending on the context. Presuppositions, on the other hand, are usually background assumptions that are necessary for the utterance to make sense. They are often triggered by certain linguistic expressions such as "too" or "again."

Types

Implicatures can be categorized into two types: conventional implicature and conversational implicature. Conventional implicatures are associated with specific linguistic expressions and are part of the conventional meaning of those expressions. Conversational implicatures, on the other hand, arise from the context of the conversation and are not part of the conventional meaning of the words used. Presuppositions can also be divided into different types, such as existential presuppositions, presuppositions triggered by factive verbs, and presuppositions triggered by certain linguistic expressions like "again" or "stop."

Generation

Implicatures are generated through the process of reasoning and inference by the listener. The listener takes into account the context of the conversation, the speaker's intentions, and the conventional meaning of the words used to arrive at the implicature. Presuppositions, on the other hand, are generated by the speaker and are often triggered by specific linguistic expressions or structures. The speaker assumes that the listener shares these presuppositions and does not explicitly state them.

Cancelability

One important difference between implicature and presupposition is their cancelability. Implicatures are usually cancellable, meaning that they can be explicitly denied by the speaker without causing a contradiction. For example, if someone says "Some of the students passed the exam," it implicates that not all students passed. However, this implicature can be canceled by saying "Actually, all the students passed." Presuppositions, on the other hand, are typically not cancellable. If a presupposition is denied, it can lead to a contradiction or an infelicitous utterance.

Pragmatic Enrichment

Implicature is often seen as a form of pragmatic enrichment, where the listener goes beyond the literal meaning of the utterance to infer additional information. This process of enrichment is crucial for effective communication as it allows for more nuanced and efficient exchanges. Presuppositions, on the other hand, are seen as background assumptions that are necessary for the conversation to proceed smoothly. They provide the shared knowledge and context that is essential for successful communication.

Examples

For example, consider the sentence "John stopped smoking." This sentence presupposes that John used to smoke in the past. If someone were to say "John stopped smoking, and he never smoked before," it would be infelicitous because it contradicts the presupposition. In contrast, implicatures can be more flexible. If someone says "Some of the students passed the exam," it implicates that not all students passed. However, this implicature can be canceled by providing additional information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, implicature and presupposition are both important concepts in pragmatics that play a crucial role in communication. While implicature involves the additional meaning inferred by the listener based on the context, presupposition involves the assumptions made by the speaker and taken for granted by the listener. Understanding the differences between implicature and presupposition can help in analyzing and interpreting the subtleties of language use in everyday conversations.