Implicit Communication
Implicit Communication Models: Presupposition and Implicature
In many conversations, what is left unsaid can be as significant as what is openly expressed. Implicit communication models explore how meaning is conveyed indirectly, often through shared assumptions and inferred implications. Two central concepts in this area are Presupposition Theory and the distinction between entailment and implicature.
Presupposition Theory
Philosopher Robert Stalnaker’s Presupposition Theory emphasises that speakers often build their utterances on assumptions they believe to be shared knowledge between themselves and their listeners. These presuppositions are not stated directly but are embedded within the structure of the utterance.
For example, the sentence: “Even John managed to finish” presupposes that John is usually incompetent or unlikely to finish tasks. The speaker does not explicitly claim this; instead, it is woven into the background context of the statement.
In therapeutic settings, presuppositions can be powerful tools for guiding the conversation. For instance, a therapist might say, “When you next feel calm, we can explore this further,” presupposing that the client will indeed feel calm in the future. This can subtly influence expectations and frame future experiences.
Manipulative Potential of Presuppositions
Presuppositions can also be used to introduce ideas without inviting direct challenge, which is why they feature prominently in discussions of manipulative underspecification. By embedding assumptions in an utterance, a speaker can smuggle in content that bypasses explicit evaluation, potentially influencing beliefs or decisions without conscious scrutiny.
Entailment and Implicature
In addition to presupposition, it is important to distinguish between entailment and implicature when analysing implicit meaning:
- Entailment – A logical relationship where, if the original statement is true, the entailed statement must also be true. Example: “She is a qualified IEMT practitioner” entails that she has completed the required training.
- Implicature – An implied meaning derived from conversational context, which could be cancelled or denied without contradiction. Example: “She’s an IEMT practitioner” might imply that she is skilled, but this is an assumption rather than a logical necessity.
Therapeutic Relevance
For IEMT practitioners, being able to identify presuppositions, entailments, and implicatures is vital for:
- Clarifying assumptions – Ensuring that both practitioner and client share the same understanding.
- Challenging unhelpful frames – Bringing implicit assumptions into awareness so they can be examined and reframed.
- Ethical communication – Avoiding unintentional manipulation by making key assumptions explicit when necessary.
Implicit communication models remind us that much of human interaction operates below the surface of explicit statements. By becoming more attuned to presuppositions, entailments, and implicatures, IEMT practitioners can sharpen their interpretive skills, improve precision in language use, and maintain ethical integrity in the therapeutic process.
References:
- Stalnaker, R. (1974). Pragmatic presuppositions. In Munitz, M., & Unger, P. (Eds.), Semantics and Philosophy (pp. 197–213). New York: NYU Press.
- Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and Conversation. In Cole, P., & Morgan, J. L. (Eds.), Syntax and Semantics, Volume 3 (pp. 41–58). New York: Academic Press.