Navigating Implicit Meanings: The Pragmatic Function of Presuppositions in Communication

Abstract

The present research delves into the function of presuppositions in communication, emphasizing how social, cultural, and situational elements impact their application and comprehension. The presupposition is a phenomenon in which speakers presume that the audience already knows or accepts particular information before making an utterance. Although earlier studies have looked at the grammatical characteristics of presuppositions, further study is needed to fully grasp how they interact with contextual factors. This research attempts to offer a greater understanding of presuppositions' pragmatic functions by examining how they work in various social and cultural situations. The study uses a qualitative approach that combines a survey of the literature with case study analysis to investigate actual cases of presupposition usage. The results emphasize the significance of cultural sensitivity in communication as cultural origins have a big impact on how presuppositions are interpreted. Furthermore, to clarify how presuppositions in nonliteral language—like metaphor and sarcasm—work to transmit implicit meanings, the study looks at their function. The findings have consequences for fostering better understanding in a variety of social contexts and enhancing cross-cultural communication.