Exercise Implicatures

The following material is an adapted form of material created by student participants of the project e-Learning Resources for Semantics (e-LRS).
Involved participants: Stephanie C., Stephie R., Jenny, Anna P.

Grice's Conversational Maxims

According to Grice's theory of conversational implicature, there are four basic maxims which specify how to be cooperative in conversation: Quantity, Manner, Quality and Relation. Grice believed that implicatures arise when these maxims are violated and the speaker (relying on an assumption of cooperation) is forced to infer meaning.

Which of the four maxims are violated the five dialogues below? (Take a look at the participants' Prezi presentation if you need help with the maxims.)

Quantity	Manner	Quality	Relation
				Mom: What did you think of Junior’s childish behavior last night? Dad: Well, boys will be boys
				Student A: Do you like Linguistics? Student B: Well, let’s just say I don’t jump for joy before class.
				Teacher A: Do you have any rude students this semester? Teacher B: All students are rude.
				Student: I was absent on Monday - did I miss anything important? Teacher: Oh no, of course not, we never do anything important in class.
				Student A: (while waiting for class to begin) Isn’t Professor X a jerk? Student B: Uh, It really is a nice day out, isn’t it?

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