Conversational Theories including Grice's Maxims

Co-operative Principle (Grice)

Four maxims, manner of speech

Maxim of quality

be truthful

maxim of manner

Be clear

Maxim of quantity

be brief

maxim of relevance

be relevant

Grice's Maxims

The purpose of a conversation is to exchange information efficiently, if not a maxim is flouted

Politeness Principle (Lakoff 1973)

Don't impose, give options, make receiver feel good

Brown and Levinson 1987

All humans strive to cooperate/be polite, differing from culture to culture

Accommodation Theory (Giles)

To either converge or diverge from the other persons way of communicating

AT - convergence

When speech is closer to other person

AT - Upward convergence

Used by lower status people eg terms of address

AT - Downward convergence

Used by higher status people

AT - Mutual convergence

Both convergence strategies used

AT - divergence

When speech is further apart to other person, could be deliberate assertion

Deborah Jones (1990)

Women talk: house talk, scandal, bitching, chatting

Janet Holmes (1992)

Women found to compliment more than men, showing them to be less competitive
- In opposition to Lakoff, suggested tag questions are polite and not signs of weakness
- features of 'women's language' like hedges can be used for many functions
- 1984 distinguishes two types of tags- Modal tags, speaker orientated seeking information-Affective tags, addressee orientated seeking to show concern by softening negative comments or showing solidarity in drawing participant into the convo

Female positive features

Hedges, boosters, compliments, quantifiers, tag questions

Men and Politeness

Men use politeness strategies less than women, distinct interactions styles

Face Theory (Goffman 1995)

Having regard for someone's face,

image presented = face,

'losing/saving face',

'Face-work' maintain speakers status

Face-threatening acts (FTAs)

When something is said/done that 'rejects a person's face'

Doubt, mockery, insult, turning away, ignoring, offend

Positive politeness (B/L)

Whence show people that they are liked and admired, higher status people

Negative politeness (B/L)

Avoidance of intruding on others' affairs or avoid imposing our presence on them, lower status people