Silences that Speak: A Gricean Analysis of Implicature and Interpersonal Conflict in The Holdovers (2023)

Abstract

This study examines how conversational implicature is constructed through verbal and non-verbal communication in The Holdovers (2023) and how it contributes to the development of interpersonal conflict. Although previous studies have extensively examined conversational implicature in film discourse, they have primarily emphasized spoken dialogue, while the pragmatic role of silence remains relatively underexplored. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study analyzes seven purposively selected conflict-related scenes based on Grice's (1975) Cooperative Principle, particularly the flouting and violation of conversational maxims. The findings indicate that conversational implicature is generated through the interaction between verbal utterances and silence, with silence functioning as an active pragmatic strategy rather than merely the absence of speech. Rather than functioning merely as the absence of speech, silence operates as a meaningful pragmatic strategy that conveys implied meanings and shapes interpersonal relationships through contextual interpretation. The analysis further demonstrates that conversational implicature contributes to the development, intensification, and resolution of interpersonal conflict by expressing emotional states that are left implicit rather than explicitly verbalized. These findings extend previous studies by demonstrating that silence functions not only as a cinematic device but also as an active pragmatic resource in constructing meaning and interpersonal conflict in film discourse.

Keyword: Conversational Implicature, Gricean Maxims, Silence, Interpersonal Conflict, Film Discourse