Grice’s Conversational maxims and the cooperative principle

The success of a conversation depends upon the various speakers' approach to the
interaction. The way in which people try to make conversations work is sometimes called the
cooperative principle.

Make what you say in a conversation be “such as is required, at the stage at which it occurs,
by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged” (Grice,
1975, p.45)

Paul Grice proposes that in ordinary conversation, speakers and hearers share a cooperative
principle. Speakers shape their utterances to be understood by hearers. The principle can be
explained by four rules or maxims.

They are the maxims of quality, quantity, relevance and manner.

 Quality: Be truthful. Do not give false information. Do not give information that you
have no evidence for.
 Quantity: Say as much as is needed. Do not give more information than is necessary.
 Relation: Be relevant.
 Manner: (how you speak) Speak clearly so others can understand you. Avoid obscure
language (e.g. language that is too complex, jargon etc.). Be orderly and brief. Avoid
ambiguity.