Analysing Metaphor and Implicature in Poetry

Metaphors convey embedded meanings, which implies an interpretation beyond the literal meaning, and pragmatics is concerned with the contextual implicatures of an utterance or piece of communication. Hence, this study investigates the intertwining roles of metaphor and implicature in Obari Gomba's Poetry. The study uses the Searlian account of metaphor and Grice's Principle of implicature to analyse the poems. The research findings indicate that the poet used metaphor and conventional implicature to express his angst about the ill effects of pollution in oil-bearing communities, the deplorable conditions of living in some Nigerian cities, and the misfortunes of colonialism. The study concludes that metaphors and implicatures play a significant role in literary works by helping the poet to explain his experiences, emotions, and conjectures without ambiguity and too many clarifications.