Scribd
Upload
147 views1 page

Grice's Cooperative Principle and Maxims of Conversation

Grice's Cooperative Principle outlines norms for cooperative conversation. It consists of a overarching principle and four maxims: the maxim of quality requires speakers to be truthful; the maxim of quantity requires the right amount of information; the maxim of relation requires relevance to the topic; and the maxim of manner requires clarity and directness. Successful communication depends not just on content but also delivery.

Uploaded by

pasha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
147 views1 page

Grice's Cooperative Principle and Maxims of Conversation

Grice's Cooperative Principle outlines norms for cooperative conversation. It consists of a overarching principle and four maxims: the maxim of quality requires speakers to be truthful; the maxim of quantity requires the right amount of information; the maxim of relation requires relevance to the topic; and the maxim of manner requires clarity and directness. Successful communication depends not just on content but also delivery.

Uploaded by

pasha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Grice’s Cooperative Principle and maxims of conversation

As humans we are social beings and when we talk we usually talk with or to others (unless we do
a monologue). Paul Grice, an English language philosophe, argues that speakers intend to be
cooperative when they talk. For Grice, cooperative means that the speaker knows that each
utterance is a potential interference in the personal rights, autonomy and wishes ( a
potential face-threatening act) of the other. That is why we have to shape our utterances in a
certain way. Grice formulated the principle of cooperation that underlies conversation, as
follows:
Make your conversational contribution such as is required, at the stage at wich it occurs, by the
accepted pupose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged(Grice 1975:45)
Grice’s cooperative principle is a set of norms that are expected in conversations. It consists
of four maxims, we have to follow in order to be cooperative and understood:
 Maxim of quality : As speaker we have to tell the truth or something that is provable by
adequate evidence.
 Maxim of quanity: We have to be as informative as required, we should not say more or
less.
 Maxim of relation: Our response has to be relevant to the topic of discussion.
 Maxim of manner: We have to avoid ambiguity or obscurity; we should be direct and
straightforward.
Example
Yet, successful communication does not only depend on WHAT we are saying but also
on HOW we are saying something!

You might also like