S

Scalar Implicature A scalar implicature is a conversational implicature that is derived from a set of salient contrastive alternates ordered in informational strength. The derivation of a scalar implicature is the result of Grice’s (1989) first sub-maxim of Quantity or Horn’s (1984) and Levinson’s (2000) Q[uantity]-principle, hence a scalar implicature is also called a Q-scalar implicature or a scalar Q-implicature. In its narrow sense, a scalar implicature is

engendered from a Q-or Horn-scale. There are two types of Horn scale: (i) positive Horn scales, and (ii) negative Horn scales. A prototype positive Horn scale is defined in (1) (Levinson 2000: 82; see also Horn 1972; Ducrot 1972; Gazdar 1979a; Matsumoto 1995).