Grice's Maxims

pragmatics of language

rules for using language in different contexts

Pragmatics is the study of

rules that govern the use of language in social situations

In conversations we

Often communicate more than the literal meaning of words we use

Implicature

What ever is meant but not literally said

cooperative principle

making our conversational contributions as informative, honest, relevant, and clear as is required

Grice's Maxims

quantity, quality, relevance, manner

1st maxim : quantity

Make your contribution as informative as is required for the current purpose of exchange but not more informative than is required

2nd maxim : quality

Make your contribution one that is true. Do not say what you believe to be false or for which you lack adequate evidence for

3rd maxim : relation

Be relevant. Say things that are relevant and don't say things that are irrelevant

4th maxim : manner

Avoid obscurity of expression, avoid ambiguity. Be brief and orderly

By using Grice's maxims

You can hereby infer much more than what is literally said

Connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

positive face

Individual desire of a person that their personality is appreciated by others

The co-operation principle

we expect and assume the other person we are talking to will be reasonable, fair, nice etc.

The co-operative principle is

a common ground we all share until proven otherwise

what co-operation do we assume

honest, say the right amount, relevant, clear and pleasant

negative face

'The way every competent adult member that his actions be impended by others'

miscommunication

the understanding that social media may naturally inhibit the clarity of communication

breaking a maxim

where you are not co-operative and one or more maxims are not adhered to

communication can break down when a

maxim is broken

flouting a maxim

speaker fails to adhere to maxims but are still trying to be co-operative

pragmatics

the appropriate use of language in different contexts

white lie

spare the feelings of the other person trying to be co-operative

sarcasm flouting

say the opposite of what we mean to highlight the flaw in the other's reasoning

flouting quantity

not giving enough information could alienate their conversation partner

flouting relevance

response is not strictly relevant to the conversation but implications are clear

flouting relevance consequence

implication may be missed, or passive aggressive resented

flouting manner

showing aggression, being rude, obnoxious that damages cooperation in a conversation

'flouting' manner examples

fake aggression for humorous purposes