THE ROLE OF CO-TEXT IN CONSTRUCTING IMPLICIT MEANING IN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Abstract

Implicit meaning in conversation is often constructed through the relationship between utterances rather than through isolated expressions. While previous studies on conversational implicature have mainly focused on identifying implied meanings, limited attention has been paid to the role of co-text in constructing those meanings. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of co-text in constructing implicit meaning in The Devil Wears Prada, focusing on the interactions between Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method using a discourse pragmatic approach. The data consisted of selected dialogues containing conversational implicatures collected from the movie and analyzed by examining the relationship between target utterances and their surrounding co-text.

The findings reveal that implicit meaning is constructed through the interaction between utterances within the discourse. Co-text functions as an active mechanism that guides interpretation by shifting interpretive authority, establishing hierarchical knowledge, reversing literal meaning through irony, and transforming declarative statements into indirect directives. Furthermore, conversational implicatures in the movie function to negotiate authority, construct identity, and reinforce social and professional relationships. These findings demonstrate that co-text plays a fundamental role in constructing implicit meaning and highlight the importance of adopting a discourse-oriented perspective in the analysis of conversational implicature.