[lit-ideas] Apology from a Dog

From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:12:57 EDT

Shouldn't be the _dog_ who says he's sorry?
 
 
In a message dated 6/16/2009 10:50:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rpaul@xxxxxxxx writes:
Later this afternoon, she and I happened to step out  our front doors at 
the same moment. I told her that I was sorry our dog had  barked at her. 

----
 
 
I find that people are sometimes embarrassed or get embarrassed by their  
dogs.
 
(I'm currently training 'mine' NOT to bark at people).
 
But, I tend to be Gricean about it:
 
I think a dog _barks_ regardless. It's one of the few things they _can_  do.
 
I often think that were my dog able to converse with me philosophically, I  
wouldn't own him (or walk him for that matter).
 
A dog's bark -- as in this case, Cormac watching the lady gardening -- may  
mean:
 
        I love your gardening.
 
A dog has a small repertoire of things they can do. Piss, bark, shit,  
sleep. Cats are different.
 
(They can miaow).
 
Implicature to follow.
 
J. L. Speranza
   Bordighera.
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[lit-ideas] Apology from a Dog

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