Abstract
The paper explores the
conversational implicature with the view to determine the conversational maxims
that are flouted during Doctor-Patient conversations in Federal Medical Centre
Gusau. The paper has analyzed the various instances where implicature could
occur and the type of maxim flouted as a result of such implicature, ranging
from the maxim of quantity, quality, relation and the maxim of manner. The data
comes from interviews, observations and recordings while books and journals are
consulted. The research uses Grice’s theory of implicature but limits its scope
to particularized implicature which is evident in its analysis since the study
is context-based. The study also adopts the descriptive approach in its
analysis and this has helped in describing how the conversational maxims are
flouted as Doctor-Patients converse. The findings of this study show that
during Doctor-Patient conversations, the doctors, in about 90% of the data
presented, flout the maxim of manner while the patients on their part, flout
virtually all the conversational maxims; maxim of quality, maxim of quantity, maxim
of manner and maxim of relation.
Keywords: Implicature, Maxims, flout, particularized and Conversational, Doctor-Patient Conversation
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/tjllc.2024.v03i01.015
author/Bala, Y. & Kofar Kaura, H.A.
journal/Tasambo JLLC | 15 February 2024 | Article 15
