A PRAGMATIC STUDY OF CONVERSATIONAL IMPLICATURE IN THE DIALOGUES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

Abstract

This study aims to analyze conversational implicature found in the dialogues of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes based on Grice’s Cooperative Principle. Conversational implicature plays an important role in conveying implied meanings beyond the literal utterances in daily communication as well as in literary works. This research employed a qualitative descriptive method. The data were taken from selected dialogues in Sherlock Holmes that contain conversational implicature. The data were collected using documentation and note-taking techniques and analyzed by identifying the types of implicature, classifying the flouted maxims, and interpreting the implied meanings based on the conversational context. The findings show that conversational implicature in Sherlock Holmes is mainly generated through the flouting of Grice’s maxims of Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner. The maxim of Relation is found to be the most frequently flouted, indicating the characters’ tendency to convey meanings indirectly. These implicatures function to express politeness, irony, and strategic communication among characters. In conclusion, the study reveals that conversational implicature significantly contributes to the richness of meaning in literary dialogue and demonstrates the relevance of pragmatic analysis in understanding implied meanings in classic literary works.