Not too much not
too little- Don't
give more
information that is
asked
"What is your
name?" "my name
is Bob"
Quality
Truth is told, with
evidence
'i got an A as i got 90%'
Relevance
Each speaker
says something
relevant
For example in a job
interview- stay on topic
Manner
Each speaker says
something clear
'Turn left, then
right, at the next
street'
Maxims in Action:
A: "How do i get to
Asda mate?" B:
"Go straight
ahead, turn right
at the school,
then left at the
bus stop"
Speaker A assumes that: B
believes the directions to be
genuine= Quality
Speaker A assumes that: B
believes the information to be
sufficient= Quantity
Speaker A assumes that: B
believes the information to is
clear=Manner
Speaker A assumes that:
B believes his directions
are to Asda= Relevance
Leech
Tact
Minimises the cost to the
listener and maximizes the
cost to the speaker
"Sorry can i talk to
you please?"
Generosity
Minimises the benefit to
the speaker and
maximizes the benefit to
the listner
"You should come for tea"
Approbation
Minimises praise to the speaker
"yes i have seen that it's unusual"
Modesty
Minimises praise
of the speaker
"i'm a bit stupid can
you say it again please?"
Agreement
Minimises
disagreement
"why don't we go at ten?"
Sympathy
Minimises antipathy
(dislike) and maximises
sympathy
"Sorry to hear you are not well"
Labov
1.Abstract
Briefly, what is the story about?
"A really strange thing
happened last night"
2.Otrientation
Who? what? where? when?
"A friend of mine [did this]
on friday"
3.Complicating
action
Then what happened?
"and then..."
4.Evaluation
How is this interesting?
"and then she got them
half price!"
5.Result or resolution
What finally happened?
" it turned out that's why"
6.Coda
The story is finished
Lakoff
Don't impose
Avoid intruding on other people's lives
"Excuse me" "sorry
to bother you"
Give options
Avoid making the listener feel
obliged to do something
"do you mind?"
"is it okay?"
Make your receiver feel good
Make others feel appreciated
"you look nice today"
Brown and Levison:FACE
Positive Politeness
1. Attend to the hearer 2. Avoid
disagreement 3.Assume agreement
4.Hedge opinion
1."you must be hungry?" 2."not very small
but not very big" 3."so when are you
coming to see us?" 4."you really should
sort of try harder"
Negative Politeness
1.Be indirect 2. Request forgiveness 3. minimise
imposition 4. pluralize the person responsible
1. "i'm looking for a pen" 2."you must forgive me but... could i borrow
your pen?" 3. "i just wanted to ask you if i could use your pen" 4. "we
forgot to tell you that it is due in yesterday"
Purpose when looking at transcripts of real talk: TRIPE
T= Transactional- exchanges where there is
negotiation or getting something done e.g.
asking for directions
R= Referential- Providing information e.g.
giving details about an event
I= Interactional- exchanges when the main
focus is social e.g. catching up on news
P= Phatic- small talk e.g. openings or
weather comments
E= Expressive- conveying and describing
feelings e.g. being upset