The Levinsonian System

1
The Levinsonian System
2
Introduction

• Horns proposal to reduce the Gricean system to
  the Q- and R-Principle is called into question by
  Levinson
• In Levinsons view Horn failed to recognize the
  distinction between semantic minimization and
  expression minimization

3
Introduction

• Semantic minimization semantically general
  expressions are preferred to semantically
  specific expressions
• Expression minimization shorter expressions are
  preferred to longer expressions

4
Introduction

• ? argues for a clear separation between pragmatic
  principles governing an utterances surface form
  and principles governing an utterances
  informational content
• ? proposes to reduce the original theory (the
  maxim of quality apart) to three neo-Gricean
  principles

5
Introduction

• Q(uantity) I(nformativeness) M(anner)
• each of them consists of two sides
• Speakers maxim specifies what the principle
  enjoins the speaker to say
• Recipients corollary dictates what it allows
  the addressee to infer

6
Q-Principle

• Speakers maxim do not provide a statement that
  is informationally weaker than your knowledge of
  the world allows, unless providing a stronger
  statement would contravene the I-Principle
• Recipients corollary take it that the speaker
  made the strongest statement consistent with what
  he knows

7
Q-Principle simplified

• Speaker Do not say less than is required
  (bearing the I-Principle in mind)
• Addressee What is not said is not the case

8
I-Principle

• Speakers maxim the maxim of minimization ? say
  as little as necessary produce the minimal
  linguistic information sufficient to achieve your
  communicational ends (bearing the Q-Principle in
  mind)
• Recipients corollary the rule of enrichment ?
  amplify the informational content, by finding the
  most specific interpretation, up to what you
  judge to be the speakers intended point, unless
  the speaker has broken the maxim of minimization
  by using a marked expression

9
I-Principle simplified

• Speaker Do not say more than is required
  (bearing the Q-Principle in mind)
• Addressee What is generally said is
  stereotypically and specifically exemplified

10
M-Principle

• Speakers maxim indicate an abnormal,
  non-stereotypical situation by using marked
  expressions that contrast with those you would
  use to describe the corresponding normal,
  stereotypical situation
• Recipients corollary what is said in an
  abnormal way indicates an abnormal situation, or
  marked messages indicate marked situations

11
M-Principle simplified

• Speaker Do not use a marked expression without
  reason
• Addressee What is said in a marked way is not
  unmarked

12
Bibliography

• Huang, Yan. Pragmatics. Oxford Oxford
  University Press, 2006.