On Conversational Implicatures In The American Documentary Fahrenheit 911

Language helps people to present a personal image to others as well as meet socialexpectations, and this finds expression in cinematic productions, too. The popularity of amovie cannot be achieved without ingredients of effectively manipulated language such asconversational implicature. This thesis aims to analyze conversational implicature occasionedby the Cooperative Principle quantity maxim's violation in the language of Americandocumentary Fahrenheit 911, expecting some suggestions for future relevant research andmovie appreciation.Chapter one is a general introduction of the whole thesis, which finds three hypotheses ofmovie language to be proved, a brief introduction of theories and method to be usedafterwards, and also a preliminarily case analysis.Chapter two reviews most relevant researches and the imperfections of the CooperativePrinciple. Grice's proposal and all his ideas of the CP are comprehensively presented, plusmost relevant theoretical contributions by other linguists.The core of the whole thesis is Chapter three, as it includes selected samples analyzed throughthe CP quantity maxim in two groups. In group one conversational implicatures caused byproviding less information are construed, revealing the use of conversational implicature inhelping the director to publish sensitive comments in a roundabout way. In group twoconversational implicatures brought about by flouting quantity maxim by more informationprovided are analyzed to demonstrate the function of conversational implicature in assistingto voice some otherwise forbidden opinions.Chapter four concludes the whole thesis. This final part presents the theoretical and practicalsignificance of the thesis, points out the possible limitations and puts forward suggestions forfuture relevant research in movie language.