Priming pragmatic enrichments

The work presented in this thesis uses structural priming to investigate pragmatic enrichment. Chapter 2 looks at the role the alternative plays in the derivation of scalar implicatures. We investigate whether the salience of the alternative is sufficient for the derivation of scalar implicatures or whether an additional usage mechanism is required. Chapter 3 focuses on the derivation of one particular category of implicature known as ad hoc implicatures. Ad hoc implicatures are different from traditional scalar implicatures in that they do not have a predefined scale from which to draw alternatives. We test whether specific alternatives are used in the derivation of ad hoc implicatures or whether a general anything else alternative is used. Chapter 4 investigates interlocutor alignment in the production of implicatures. Since implicature comprehension can be primed we extend this by investigating implicature production. The findings of the work presented here demonstrate that structural priming can be extended beyond its traditional application to syntax and semantics and can be used to. provide insight into pragmatic enrichment