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The genius of Grice and his dedicated commentator Luigi Speranza in works like La conversazione griceana — i verbali: IMPLICATVRA lies in demonstrating that the mechanics of conversational pragmatics are timeless, moving beyond modern analytic philosophy to expose the socio-political verbal combat of Ancient Rome's elite. [1, 2]
By analyzing the gentes maiores—the original aristocratic patrician clans of Rome—Speranza maps Grice’s rules of conversational implicature (what is hinted at versus what is strictly said) onto classical literature. When a Roman peer tries to "cancel" a speaker's underlying insult or implication, the elite protagonist doesn't back down. Instead, they execute a "disimplicature"—a witty, biting, Al Jaffee-style "snappy answer" that doubles down on the original intent, making it impossible to misinterpret. [1, 2, 3]
The six gentes maiores traditionally include the Junia, Cornelia, Valeria, Fabia, Manlia, and Aemilia clans. Below are the seven localized theatrical "quartettes" demonstrating this pragmatic genius.
1. Gens Junia (Lucius Junius Brutus - "The Liberator")
- Context: Brutus pretends to be a fool (Brutus means dullard) to survive the tyranny of King Tarquin. A skeptical Roman peer tries to call his bluff during a meeting.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Cur asinum te fingis, Brute?"
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That you are hiding a sharp intellect under that idiotic disguise to overthrow the monarchy.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Certe stultus es, non regni receptor."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I just act like an idiot so I can fit in perfectly during your family reunions! [1]
2. Gens Cornelia (Scipio Africanus)
- Context: Scipio returns from defeating Hannibal. A jealous senator accuses him in the Forum of financial irregularities with war spoils.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Ubi sunt pecuniae ex Africa deportatae, Scipio?" [1]
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That you pocketed Rome's gold and used public office to enrich your own family fortune.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Rationes tantum postulamus, non gloriam tuam negamus."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I simply left the gold in Africa because I knew your greedy hands wouldn't be able to reach that far across the Mediterranean!
3. Gens Valeria (Publius Valerius Publicola)
- Context: Publicola is building a house on top of the Velian Hill. Citizens whisper that he is building a fortress to establish himself as a tyrant.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Cur domum tuam in arce aedificas, Valeri?" [1]
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That you intend to fortify yourself against the citizens and rule Rome by absolute force.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Aedium amplitudinem miramur, non seditionem suspicamur."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I chose the highest hill just so you would all have an excellent view when I look down on your microscopic achievements! [1]
4. Gens Fabia (Quintus Fabius Maximus - "Cunctator")
- Context: Fabius uses his famous delaying tactics against Hannibal. An aggressive political rival mocks his lack of military action.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Cur exercitum in montibus tenes, Fabi?"
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That you are a cowardly general who is terrified of facing Carthage on an open battlefield.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Prudentiam tuam laudamus, non metum accusamus."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I am staying up here because looking at Hannibal’s army is far more comforting than looking at your stupid face in the Senate! [1]
5. Gens Manlia (Titus Manlius Torquatus)
- Context: Manlius famously executed his own son for disobeying orders and fighting an enemy soldier outside of formation, despite winning the duel. A soft-hearted peer questions his brutality.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Cur filium victorem securi percussisti, Manli?"
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That you are a heartless, bloodthirsty monster who values rigid bureaucracy over the life of your own flesh and blood.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Disciplinam militarem probamus, non crudelitatem paternam."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I did it because having a dead hero in the family is vastly preferable to raising an idiot who cannot follow basic instructions! [1]
6. Gens Aemilia (Lucius Aemilius Paullus)
- Context: After defeating Macedonia, Paullus suffers the tragic deaths of his two young sons just days around his triumphal procession. A political rival questions if the gods are punishing him.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Cur dii filios tuos in triumpho tuo rapuerunt, Aemilie?"
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That your military victory was stained by hubris, and the gods have cursed your bloodline as retribution.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Fatum lugeamus, non scelus tuum arguimus."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, the gods took them early because they realized my children would rather be dead than grow up to listen to your agonizingly stupid questions! [1, 2]
7. The Sixth One: Gens Claudia (Appius Claudius Caecus)
- Context: The blind statesman Appius Claudius enters the Senate to fiercely speechify against making peace with King Pyrrhus, shaming the hesitant younger senators. A defensive senator tries to patronize him.
- Move 1 (Latin Utterance - Peer): "Quomodo rem publicam duces, Claudi, cum oculos non habeas?"
- Move 2 (Implicature - English): That your physical blindness makes you incompetent to judge complex geopolitical crises and navigate Rome's future.
- Move 3 (Latin Cancel Attempt - Peer): "Consilium tuum veneramur, non infirmitatem exprobrare volumus."
- Move 4 (Disimplicature - English): No, I lost my sight decades ago specifically so I wouldn’t have to look at the spineless cowards sitting in this chamber! [1, 2]
If you want to dig deeper into this pragmatic approach, tell me:
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