Question 1 – Meaning relations

For each of the following pairs of words, choose the sense relation which best describes their     semantic     relationship:      synonymy,     hyponymy,      gradable      antonymy, complementary  pair  (non-gradable  antonymy)  or  converse  antonymy  (relational opposites).

a) firm-soft

b) teacher-student

c) automobile-car

d) borrow-lend

e) healthy-unwell

f) automobile-vehicle

g) athlete-cyclist

h) forbidden-permitted

Question 2 – Conversational Implicature and Grice’s maxims

Each of the following exchanges relies on a conversational implicature. Your task is to: (i) describe the implicature involved, and (ii) state which maxim of the Co-operative    Principle is relevant to generating the implicature, and explain your answer. [Note:

sometimes it may seem that more than one maxim is involved.  You need only provide the main maxim for each question.]

1.           A:        Did you get hold of Paula yet?

B:       I tried to call her yesterday.

2.          A:       What did you think of the film?

B:       The popcorn was delicious.

3.          A:        Do you have any pets?

B:       Yes, I have two cats.

4.           A:       Did you see a surgeon about your foot?

B:        I saw a man in a white coat wielding a scalpel.