The implicit, the implied and presupposition

Reading between the lines: what is not said.

⚡Key points

Presupposition→information taken for granted

Implicature (sous-entendu)→a hint inferred from context

The unsaid (non-dit)→what is left out

Implicit vs explicit→between the lines / directly

Aim: politeness, manipulation, humour→saying without saying

Presupposition: what is taken for granted

A presupposition is information built into a sentence and taken as already true, even in a question or negation. Tu as arrêté de fumer ? presupposes that you smoked. Pierre a encore raté presupposes he had already failed.

Presuppositions

Verbs (arrêter, continuer)

Il continue à mentir. (presupp.: he was already lying.)

Adverbs (encore, toujours)

Tu es encore en retard. (presupp.: late before too.)

The definite article

Ferme la porte. (presupp.: there is an open door.)

Implicature: a hint from context

An implicature (sous-entendu) is a meaning not stated directly but inferred from the situation. Il est déjà tard… = “time to leave”. Je ne dis pas que c’est faux… = “but I doubt it”. Grasping the implied is the height of language mastery.

Said → implied

Il est tard…	time to leave	implicature
Tu as arrêté de fumer ?	you smoked	presupposition
C’est toi le spécialiste.	sort it out yourself	implicature (ironic)
Je n’ai rien dit.	but I could have	the unsaid
Même Paul a réussi.	Paul isn’t gifted	presupposition (même)

💡⚠️ Presupposition survives negation

The key difference: a presupposition stays true even under negation or question (Tu n’as pas arrêté de fumer still presupposes you smoked). An implicature depends on context and can be denied by the speaker (“that’s not what I meant”).

Presupposition: « Marie sait que Paul ment » → Paul ment (even in a question).

Implicature: « Il fait froid ici » → close the window.

Dialogue: a polite hint

HôteIl est déjà minuit passé…

InvitéOh, vous avez raison, on va vous laisser.

HôteMais non, je disais ça comme ça !

InvitéBien sûr. Le sous-entendu était limpide.

Host: It’s already past midnight… | Guest: Oh, you’re right, we’ll let you go. | Host: No, no, I just said it casually! | Guest: Of course. The hint was crystal clear.