Abstract:

This paper presents a detailed characterization of implicature-drawing in pragmatic inference in terms of "rhetorical syllogism", which is less known in linguistic circles. Revealed through the inference models is the nature of implicature communication: its implicitness, probability and acceptability. The model on irrelevant utterance also suggests that there may exist a potential type of rhetorical syllogism, which could constructively widen the normal types. The findings demonstrate the beneficial interface of rhetoric and pragmatics.