LINGUISTIC MECHANISMS OF IMPLICIT MEANING AND PRESUPPOSITION IN DISCOURSE

Implicit meaning and presupposition are fundamental mechanisms that shape how meaning is constructed and interpreted in discourse. Rather than relying solely on explicitly stated information, speakers frequently communicate indirectly by depending on shared knowledge, contextual inference, and pragmatic principles. This article examines the linguistic mechanisms that generate implicit meaning and presupposition in discourse. Particular attention is given to the theoretical contributions of prominent scholars who have extensively investigated these phenomena, including H. P. Grice, Stephen C. Levinson, George Yule, Robert Stalnaker, Dan Sperber, and Deirdre Wilson. The study reviews major theories in pragmatics and discourse analysis and analyzes the role of presupposition triggers, conversational implicatures, contextual inference, and common ground in the interpretation of discourse. The findings show that implicit meaning and presupposition function as essential tools for efficient communication and play a crucial role in discourse coherence and interpretation.