Clone Wars, reference and inference

[falcongrrl]

Daniel: So, Obi Wan says to Anakin, "This is your plan: fly through the battlefield, hope we don't get spotted, and then fly in the back door?" And you can tell by the way he says, "hope we don't get spotted," that he really doesn't think it's such a good plan.

Me: Yes! You can infer from the way he says that he hopes they won't get spotted that Obi Wan doesn't think Anakin has such a good plan. That's good reasoning.

I was proud both of Daniel for the inference (at least I think it's a good example of that skill?) and of myself for recognizing it, thanks to velvetpage's entry on the subject.

Comments

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

That was an excellent example. :) You could also point out that using the word "hope" in that way is Obi Wan implying that this turn of events in unlikely - that is, the author or character implies, and the reader or viewer infers.