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Full Idea
Only what I may call the primary intention of an utterer is relevant to the (non-natural) meaning of an utterance.
Gist of Idea
Only the utterer's primary intention is relevant to the meaning
Source
H. Paul Grice (Meaning [1957], p.47)
Book Ref
'Philosophical Logic', ed/tr. Strawson,P.F. [OUP 1973], p.47
A Reaction
This sounds okay for simple statements, but gets really tricky with complex statements, such as very ironic remarks delivered to an audience of diverse people.
7751 | Meaning needs an intention to induce a belief, and a recognition that this is the speaker's intention [Grice] |
7752 | Only the utterer's primary intention is relevant to the meaning [Grice] |
7753 | We judge linguistic intentions rather as we judge non-linguistic intentions, so they are alike [Grice] |