UCL Working Papers in Linguistics 12 (2000)
Truthfulness and Relevance
DEIRDRE WILSON & DAN SPERBER
This paper questions the widespread view that verbal communication is governed
by a maxim, norm or convention of literal truthfulness. Pragmatic frameworks
based on this view must explain the common occurrence and acceptability of
metaphor, hyperbole and loose talk. We argue against existing explanations of
these phenomena and provide an alternative account, based on the assumption
that verbal communication is governed not by expectations of truthfulness but
by expectations of relevance, which are raised by literal, loose and
metaphorical talk alike. Sample analyses are provided, and some consequences of
this alternative account are explored.
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