Name: Date: ………….

Cooperation and implicature

1. What is Cooperative Principle? How many types of maxim are there? Give a
brief definition and an example for each type.
2. How many types of implicature are there? Give a brief definition and an
example for each type.
3. Fill in the blank with no more than two words:
a. In conversation analysis, the _______________ is the assumption that
participants in a conversation normally attempt to be informative, truthful,
relevant, and clear.
b. ____________ are not based on the cooperative principle or the maxims. They
are associated with specific words.
c. ________ introduced the Cooperative Principles in 1975.
d. In the maxim of __________, speakers do not say something he lacks
evidence.
e. Speakers communicate meaning via ____________ while listeners recognize
those communicated meaning via _______________

4. Which maxim is violated in each case? Give a brief explanation for your
answer.
a. Mom: What did you think of Junior’s childish behavior last night?

Dad: Well, boys will be boys

b. Student A: Do you like Linguistics?

Student B: Well, let’s just say I don’t jump for joy before class.

c. Student: I was absent on Monday - did I miss anything important?

Teacher: Oh no, of course not, we never do anything important in class.

d. Student A: Can you tell me where the lecture is?

Student B: It is in room 254, the room in which I had my first university class
ever.
e. A: I hear you went to the opera last night; how was the lead singer?
B: The singer produced a series of sounds corresponding closely to the score of
an aria from 'Rigoletto'.
f. John: Where have you been? I searched everywhere for you during the past
three months!
Mike: I wasn’t around.