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Co-Text and Implicature in Bi. Msafwari’s Topical Discussions
Frida A. Miruka
Abstract
Decoding meaning in communication depends on semantic properties assigned by grammar and the speaker's intended meaning. Therefore, it is necessary to infer the intended meaning from the cues the speaker provides in the utterance. In such a case, context bridges the explanatory gap between sentence meaning and the speaker's meaning. Context is fundamental for language comprehension because meaning is dependent on it. This implies that context makes clear the intended meaning of any communicative act. This study sought to demonstrate the role of co-text in adding additional meaning. The study focused on Bi. Msafwari’s topical discussions. Data was collected through content analysis. It was analyzed through the interpretive method. The findings reveal that grammatical linguistic levels can be used to communicate indirectly through a shift in the motive of the sentence. The findings highlight the use of co-text in communicating indirectly. The study will also contribute literature to the critical discourse analysis of African languages.
