LECTURE 9

grice (theory of rational cooperation)

in simple terms, Grice's cooperative principle means that when you're talking with someone, share information that fits the purpose of the conversation at the right time, it's like working together logically in a conversation

Quantity

share enough information, but not too much

Quality

Speak the truth based on what you know

Relevance

keep your contributions on topic

Manner

Be clear and concise, avoid being confusing or ambiguous

Follow the rules (Maxims)

normally, people stick to the rules in conversations

Use a hedge

if someone wants to step back from the rules, they might use a phrase that softens the impact. This is called a hedge

Break the rules on purpose (Flout)

Sometimes, people knowingly ignore the rules just for effect

Break the rules seriously (Violate)

in rare cases, someone might break the rules seriously, like telling a direct lie