-Nun/-Un and Scalar Implicature

We propose in this paper that the Korean discourse marker -nun/un has the function of suppressing exclusiveness effect of the conversational implicature that presumably arises from a kind of cooperative principle of conversation, as proposed by Grice (1975). In order to argue for this proposal, we maintain a strict division regarding two types of implicature. One is the general conversational implicature that has been proposed by Grice and the other is a subype of the former, the scalar implicature that has been posited by Horn (1972). It has been proposed in this paper that the distinction can be made by looking into the properties of the alternative set members. In the former the related set members are not ordered with respect to the relevant properties; in the latter the alternative set members are ordered on a scale of strength of the statement. It is suggested that the apparent exclusion effect of scalar implicature does not come from the discourse marker but from pragmatic inferences based on the scale.