Communicative Subtleties: A Pragma-Discourse Analysis of Conversational Implicatures in Americanah and Purple Hibiscus
Keywords:
Conversational Implicature, generalized conversational implicature, particularized conversational implicature, scalar conversational implicatureAbstract
Conversational implicatures and their communicative significance play a crucial role in enriching the depth and meaning of any literary work. This study is based on the three categories of conversational implicatures: generalized, particularized, and scalar conversational implicatures in the selected novels “Americanah” and “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Based on the theoretical framework given by Grice, the research provides a detailed look at how these implicatures function in the scope of the selected novels. This research is qualitative in nature by applying a phenomenological interpretivist approach to data, allowing for an in-depth interpretation. Three excerpts from each novel are selected through the purposive sampling technique. The analysis and discussion reveal how characters in the selected novels utilize implicatures to convey latent information and build connections in society and culture. In examining the role of generalized, particularized, and scalar implicatures, the study reveals their importance in conveying subtleties in communication that go beyond the literal meanings of words. Thus, this research not only demonstrates the significance of Gricean theory in interpretation of literary texts but also reveals how conversational implicatures become an effective tool of character building and manifestation of selected themes in Chimamanda Adichie’s literary works.
References
Breheny, R., Ferguson, H. J., & Katsos, N. (2013). Taking the epistemic step: Toward a model of on-line access to conversational implicatures. Cognition, 126(3), 423-440.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage (No. 4). Cambridge university press.
Carston, R. (1998). Pragmatics and the explicit-implicit distinction. University of London, University College London (United Kingdom).
Chen, X., Li, J., & Ye, Y. (2024). A feasibility study for the application of AI-generated
conversations in pragmatic analysis. Journal of Pragmatics, 223, 14-30.
Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S., & Giardina, M. D. (2006). Disciplining qualitative research. International journal of qualitative studies in education, 19(6), 769-782.
Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and Power. London: Longman
Fairclough, N., & Wodak, R. (1997). Critical Discourse Analysis. In T. A. van Dijk, Discourse as Social Interaction. London: Sage.
Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and conversation. In P. Cole & J. L. Morgan (Eds.), Syntax and semantics (Vol. 3) Speech Acts (pp. 41-50). New York: Academic Press.
Gumperz, J. (1982). The linguistic bases of communicative competence. Analyzing discourse: Text and talk, 323-334.
Heller, M., Watts, R. J., & Rindler Schjerve, R. (Eds.). (2003). Diglossia and power: language policies and practice in the 19th century Habsburg Empire. Mouton de Gruyter.
Horn, L. (2009). WJ-40: Implicature, truth, and meaning. International review of pragmatics, 1(1), 3-34.
Ikramullah, Ramzan, M. & Javaid, Z. K. (2023). Psychological Factors Influencing Pashto Speaking ESL Students’ Pronunciation of English Vowels. Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language (PJSEL), 9(2), 52–63.
Iqbal, S., Kamran, M., & Javaid, Z.K. (2024). Impact of Television News Violence: A Critical Analysis of Sensitization Effects on Mental Well-Being of University Students. Journal of Educational Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences, 4 (1), 69-80. https://jepps.su.edu.pk/article/38
Javaid, Z. K., & Mahmood, K. (2023). Efficacy of Expressive Writing Therapy in Reducing Embitterment among University Students. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 2(02), 136-145.
Javaid, Z. K., Andleeb, N., & Rana, S. (2023). Psychological Perspective on Advanced Learners’ Foreign Language-related Emotions across the Four Skills. Voyage Journal of Educational Studies, 3 (2), 191-207. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58622/vjes.v3i2.57
Javaid, Z. K., Ijaz, S., Latif, E., & Azam, S. (2024). A Qualitative Study on Student-Teacher Interaction: Student Engagement and Teacher Feedback. International Journal of Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences, 3(2), 1670–1683.
Javaid, Z. K., Mubashar, M., Mahmood, K., Noor, A., Javed, N., Akhtar, K., & Ali, A. L. (2024). Effect of Emotional Intelligence and Self-concept on Academic Performance: A Systematic Review of Cross-Cultural Research. Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), 13(2), 189-199. https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00315
Javaid, Z.K., Chen, Z., & Ramzan, M. (2024). Assessing stress causing factors and language related challenges among first year students in higher institutions in Pakistan. Acta Psychologica, 248, 104356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104356
Javaid, Z.K., Ramzan, M., Ijaz, S. (2024). A systematic review on cognitive and motivational impact on English language learning through artificial intelligence. International Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Translation Studies, 4 (1), 44-71.
Mey, J. L. (2006). Pragmatics: overview. Concise encyclopedia of pragmatics, 786-797.
Nieuwland, M. S., & Kuperberg, G. R. (2008). When the truth is not too hard to handle: An event-related potential study on the pragmatics of negation. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1213-1218.
Nurhidayah, N. (2023). changing topic as an effective refusal strategies: new insight on conversational implicature. Universitas Hasanuddin
Phillips, L., & Jorgensen, M. (2002). Critical discourse analysis. Discourse Analysis: As Theory and Method. New York: Sage Publications Limited.
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., & Ali, A. A. (2023). Perception of Students about Collaborative Strategies Employed by Teachers for Enhancing English Vocabulary and Learning Motivation. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 2(02), 146-158
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., & Fatima, M. (2023). Empowering ESL Students: Harnessing the Potential of Social Media to Enhance Academic Motivation in Higher Education. Global Digital & Print Media Review, VI (II), 224-237. https://doi.org/10.31703/gdpmr.2023(VI-II).15
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., & Khan, M. A. (2023). Psychological Discursiveness in Language Use of Imran Khan’s Speech on National Issues. Global Language Review, VIII (II), 214-225. https://doi.org/10.31703/glr.2023(VIII-II).19
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., Kareem, A., & Mobeen, S. (2023). Amplifying Classroom Enjoyment and Cultivating Positive Learning Attitudes among ESL Learners. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 11 (2), 2298-2308. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2023.1102.0522
Ronderos, C. R., & Noveck, I. (2023). Slowdowns in scalar implicature processing:
Isolating the intention-reading costs in the Bott & Noveck task. Cognition, 238, 105480.
Searle, J. R. (1969). Speech acts: An essay in the philosophy of language (Vol. 626). Cambridge university press.
Titscher, S., Wodak, R., & Meyer, M. (2000). Methods of text and discourse analysis: In search of meaning.
Tomlinson Jr, J. M., & Ronderos, C. R. (2021). Does intonation automatically strengthen scalar implicatures?. Semantics and Pragmatics, 14, 4-1.
Van Dijk, T. A. (1977). Text and context. London: Longman.
Wilson, D. (2004). Relevance and lexical pragmatics (Vol. 16, pp. 343-360). UCL Working Papers in Linguistics.
Wilson, S. R., Kim, M. S., & Meischke, H. (1991). Evaluating Brown and Levinson's politeness theory: A revised analysis of directives and face. Research on Language & Social Interaction, 25(1-4), 215-252.
Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford university press.
Yule, G., & Widdowson, H. G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford university pre
