Axioms of Conversation

In normal conversation, people assume that the person they are speaking with is following the Cooperative Principle.

Cooperative Principle

Cooperative Principle

The cooperative principle is the assumption that your conversational partner is trying to contribute cooperatively to the purpose of the conversation.

Grice’s Maxims

Grice's Maxims

Maxim of quality

speakers do not say things they believe to be false, and for which they lack adequate evidence.

Alice: It's going to rain tomorrow. Bob concludes: Alice looked at a weather report.

Maxim of relevance

Maxim of relevance: speakers are talking about the same subject.

Alice: Are you hungry? Bob: That cake looks delicious.

Maxim of quantity

Maxim of quantity: speakers contribute as much information as is required, and do not contribute more information that is required.

Alice: I have three cats. Bob concludes: Alice has three cats and no more.

Maxim of manner

Maxim of manner: Speakers don’t use words that are unnecessarily hard to understand, avoid ambiguity, are brief, and are orderly.

Alice: I got the car started. (Instead of "I started the car.") Bob concludes: Alice had trouble getting the car started.

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Flouting Maxims

Flouting Maxims

Sometimes we intentionally violate the maxims in an extreme and obvious way because we know the listener will consciously notice the violation and draw an Implicature.

Alice: I can run ten miles. Bob: Yeahm, and I'm the Queen of England.

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