Keeping Score in Conversations: Language Games Explained
David Lewis: context and common ground shape meaning in everyday dialogue
Conversations as Dynamic Systems
Imagine you’re having a coffee with a friend. They look up and say, “It’s finally done.” Instantly, you know what they mean — the project they’ve been stressing about, the home renovation they’ve been tackling, or maybe their long-delayed thesis. But how? They didn’t spell it out, yet you understood perfectly.
This everyday miracle of understanding happens because conversations rely on a shared sense of context and assumptions. Philosopher and linguist David Lewis (1941–2001) called this scorekeeping. It’s a way of tracking what’s been said, what we both know, and how meaning changes as we go. Just like in a game, we keep score — adjusting for new information and shared experiences so the conversation stays on track.
In this article, I’ll explore Lewis’ idea of scorekeeping and show how it helps us understand the invisible rules that make communication flow so seamlessly.
The Linguistic Core of Scorekeeping
At its heart, scorekeeping is about keeping track of what’s happening in a conversation. Think of it as a mental list of what’s been said, what everyone knows, and what still needs clarifying.
Here’s a simple example:
Speaker A: “Let’s discuss the report.”
Speaker B: “Which report?”
Speaker A: “The one from last week’s meeting.”
In this exchange, Speaker A assumed that Speaker B knew which report they were talking about. When Speaker B didn’t, they clarified. The conversation’s “score” was updated: now both know it’s the report from last week’s meeting.
This process relies on two key ideas:
Assumptions: These are things we take for granted — what we think everyone knows or agrees on.
Adjustments: These are changes we make when someone doesn’t share the same assumptions, like clarifying or rephrasing.
Scorekeeping helps conversations stay coherent by keeping everyone on the same page.
Context and Common Ground in Action
Context is what makes conversations work. It’s the background information we use to figure out what someone means. Without it, words can feel random or confusing.
For instance:
If someone says, “It’s so loud in here,” and you’re sitting in a noisy café, it’s clear they’re talking about the environment.
If you’re in a quiet room, the same sentence would feel strange or out of place.
Common ground, on the other hand, is about shared understanding. It’s the things we both know and don’t need to explain. For example:
A friend says, “Let’s not have another Tuesday.”
If you both remember the chaos of last Tuesday’s meeting, you get it.
If not, you’ll need to ask: “What do you mean by another Tuesday?”
Conversations are full of these little moments where context and common ground fill in the gaps, making communication feel natural and effortless.
Applications of Scorekeeping in Everyday Life
Lewis’ idea of scorekeeping isn’t just theoretical — it’s something we use all the time. Here are a few examples of how it plays out in real life:
Learning a New Language:
When you’re learning a language, you’re constantly updating the “score.” For instance, if someone points to a cup and says a word you don’t know, you might guess they’re naming the object. If they correct you, the “score” shifts, and your understanding grows.Cross-Cultural Communication:
Misunderstandings often happen because people from different cultures assume different things. In some cultures, indirect phrases like, “That might be difficult,” mean no. In others, people might say no outright. Scorekeeping helps bridge these gaps.Workplace Conversations:
Imagine your boss says, “Let’s circle back on this.” If you’ve worked with them before, you know it means they want to discuss it later. If you’re new, you might need to ask for clarification.
Scorekeeping helps us adjust and repair communication when misunderstandings arise, keeping interactions smooth.
Implications for Linguistics and Beyond
Scorekeeping isn’t just a useful concept for everyday conversations — it’s a powerful tool for understanding how language works:
Technology: In artificial intelligence, chatbots use similar ideas to respond naturally. For example, if you ask a virtual assistant, “What’s the weather like?” it assumes you mean your current location unless you specify otherwise.
Psychology: Scorekeeping shows how our brains handle social cues, allowing us to adapt in real time.
Linguistics: It helps explain how context and shared understanding shape meaning, which is key to studying language in action.
Whether it’s in cross-cultural communication, language learning, or developing smarter AI, Lewis’ ideas have wide-ranging applications.
The Linguistic Legacy of Scorekeeping
Scorekeeping helps us see conversations as flexible, evolving interactions rather than rigid exchanges. By understanding how we build and update meaning in real time, we can improve communication and avoid misunderstandings.
Next time you’re talking to someone, think of it like keeping score: Are you both on the same page? Are there assumptions you need to check? With Lewis’ insights in mind, you might find yourself communicating more clearly and confidently.
Next in this series, I’ll discuss metaphor and figurative language, exploring how we use non-literal expressions to convey rich and complex meanings.
©Antoine Decressac — 2024.
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If you want to know more about conversation and scorekeeping, here are a few books you may find interesting.
Suggested Reading List:
1. David Lewis — Convention: A Philosophical Study.
This book is Lewis’ seminal work exploring the nature of conventions and their role in communication and social coordination. It provides the foundational ideas for his concept of scorekeeping, focusing on how shared understandings emerge and evolve within groups. Written for both philosophers and linguists, it introduces clear examples to explain complex ideas, making it a great starting point for readers interested in the mechanics of communication.
2. Steven Pinker — The Stuff of Thought.
Language as a Window into Human Nature. Pinker explores the relationship between language, thought, and human nature. Through vivid examples, he discusses how people use language to navigate social interactions, convey ideas, and negotiate shared meaning. While not specifically about scorekeeping, it provides an engaging look at the underlying principles of context and shared understanding in everyday conversation.
3. Deborah Tannen — That’s Not What I Meant!: How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationships
Tannen’s work focuses on how different conversational styles can lead to misunderstandings. She explains how context, assumptions, and unspoken norms influence communication, echoing some of the principles of Lewis’ scorekeeping. This book is written for a general audience, with relatable scenarios that highlight the importance of shared meaning in conversation.