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Topic 12 - Meaning between the lines (Session A) > Conversational implicature and The Dumb Waiter > Task C

Conversational implicature and The Dumb Waiter

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Conversational implicature and The Dumb Waiter

Task C - Gricean analysis of turns 3-15

Try to characterise what is going on in Gricean terms in turns 3-15. How do their different assumptions create the argument between them?

3. BEN	Go and light it.
4. GUS	Light what?
5. BEN	The kettle.
6. GUS	You mean the gas.
7. BEN	Who does?
8. GUS	You do.
9. BEN	(his eyes narrowing) What do you mean, I mean the gas?
10. GUS	Well, that's what you mean, don't you? The gas.
11. BEN	(powerfully) If I say go and light the kettle I mean go and light the kettle.
12. GUS	How can you light a kettle?
13. BEN	It's a figure of speech! Light the kettle. It's a figure of speech!
14. GUS	I've never heard it.
15. BEN	Light the kettle! It's common usage!


	Next: Task D - Gricean analysis of turns 18-19

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