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In linguistics, these kinds of implicatures (e.g. Can you pass the salt?) are called pragmatics. Sometimes people like to play dumb but with rare exception they
by NoSorryCannot 6y ago
In linguistics, these kinds of implicatures (e.g. Can you pass the salt?) are called pragmatics. Sometimes people like to play dumb but with rare exception they do understand what is being implied. This can be irritating.
- pimlottc 6y agoThanks for this example! It’s interesting to compare these two questions: - “Can you pass the salt?” - “Would you like to stop for coffee?” Neither is explicitly a direct request, but somehow the salt one is more clear than the other —- for me. It just shows how different social conventions and expectations can play into one’s understanding.
- account42 6y ago> Neither is explicitly a direct request, but somehow the salt one is more clear than the other —- for me. It just shows how different social conventions and expectations can play into one’s understanding. The difference is that for the second one the literal interpretation is not an unreasonable question whereas for the first, the fact that you can pass the salt should be given.