Exhaustiveness

Definition

Exhaustiveness refers to a quality of a statement or expression where it conveys all relevant possibilities or options within a given context. This concept plays an important role in understanding how information is communicated, especially regarding the implications that arise from scalar implicatures and generalized conversational implicatures, leading to the recognition of what is included or excluded in the meaning of an utterance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Exhaustiveness plays a crucial role in determining how listeners interpret the completeness of information provided by speakers.
2. In the context of scalar implicatures, an exhaustive interpretation can imply that other alternatives are excluded based on the use of specific terms.
3. Generalized conversational implicatures often depend on exhaustiveness to communicate meaning beyond what is explicitly stated.
4. The lack of exhaustiveness in an expression can lead to misunderstandings or assumptions about omitted options or possibilities.
5. Understanding exhaustiveness helps clarify how conversational norms shape the interpretation of statements in everyday communication.

Review Questions

• How does exhaustiveness influence the interpretation of scalar implicatures in conversation?
  • Exhaustiveness influences scalar implicatures by guiding listeners to infer what is not explicitly stated. When a speaker chooses a weaker term from a scale, it can imply that stronger terms are not applicable, thus affecting how the listener interprets the completeness of the information. For example, if someone says, 'Some students passed the exam,' it might imply that not all students passed, showcasing how exhaustiveness shapes understanding.
• Discuss how generalized conversational implicature relies on the concept of exhaustiveness to convey meaning.
  • Generalized conversational implicature relies on exhaustiveness by suggesting that the listener understands the broader context of a statement. This implicature emerges from conversational principles that assume speakers provide complete information unless otherwise indicated. For instance, if someone says, 'She has two pets,' it implies she has no more than two pets, and this reliance on exhaustiveness affects how listeners draw conclusions about the intended meaning.
• Evaluate the role of exhaustiveness in preventing misunderstandings in communication and its implications for pragmatics.
  • Exhaustiveness plays a significant role in preventing misunderstandings by ensuring that all relevant alternatives are considered in communication. By recognizing what is included or excluded based on the utterance's context, listeners can better grasp the speaker's intentions. This understanding has profound implications for pragmatics, as it emphasizes how conversational norms shape meaning and highlights the importance of clarity and precision in effective communication.

Related terms

Scalar Implicature: A type of conversational implicature that arises when a speaker uses a term from a scale, suggesting that a stronger alternative is not true.

Generalized Conversational Implicature: Implicatures that arise from general principles of conversation, rather than specific contextual clues, leading to inferred meanings.

Presupposition: An assumption made by the speaker that must be accepted for the utterance to make sense, often related to what is taken for granted in communication.