Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Generalized Implicature

Definition: 

A generalized implicature is a conversational implicature that is inferable without reference to a special context.

Examples: 

(English)

Expressions with the form an X usually imply that X is not closely related to the speaker or subject, as in the following expression:

  • John walked into a house yesterday and saw a tortoise.

This expression implies that the house is not John’s house.

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