Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines

DISCOURSE
ANALYSIS
IN
LANGUAGE
TEACHING
LITERATURE REVIEW ON GRICE’S COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE
AND ITS FOUR CONVERSATIONAL MAXIMS

Submitted by:

MR. JEF-JEF ANAGARAN

PhD Student

Submitted to:

DR. CONCHITA M. TEMPORAL

Graduate School Professor
 CAGAYAN STATE
UNIVERSITY
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

In the communication process, it is essential for individuals to maintain a

common objective in sharing information. People engage in communication with the
aim of being comprehended, working together to articulate and convey their
intentions. According to Grice in Waloyo, E. et al. (2023), constructing meaningful
conversations requires the use of utterances. Dialogue emerges when speakers
collaboratively contribute to creating common goals. It is defined by the joint efforts of
participants that are acknowledged as mutually agreed-upon purposes.

Kroeger, P., in his discussion highlighted that: “The connection between what is
said and what is implicated, taking context into account, cannot be arbitrary. It must
be rule-governed to a significant degree, otherwise the speaker could not expect the
hearer to reliably understand the intended meaning.”

In our daily conversations, understanding exchange of dialogues between two

individuals and among people provides us limitless opportunities to unearth the
intricacies of human interaction and communication. Studying conversations provides
a lens through which we can uncover patterns, norms, and social dynamics embedded
in language use.

By delving into the nuances of discourse, people can discern how individuals
negotiate meaning, establish social roles, and navigate through the subtleties of
context. This understanding is invaluable in knowing cultural nuances, societal norms,
and power structures that shape communication in general.

In an article published by Nordquist, R. (2019) titled “The Cooperative Principle

in Conversation,” the writer underscored that in conversation analysis, the Cooperative
Principle (CP), as proposed by philosopher Herbert Paul Grice, a British philosopher and
linguist, asserts that participants in a conversation typically aim to be informative,
truthful, relevant, and clear.

Grice’s Cooperative Principle and its maxims

Grice’s seminal work on Cooperative Principle and its associated maxims made
significant contributions to the field of pragmatics, which offers valuable insights into
the dynamics of language use in various social contexts. By highlighting the
cooperative nature of communication and the implicit rules that guide it, Grice's work
has played a pivotal role in understanding how individuals navigate conversations to
achieve shared meaning and effective interaction.

Introduced in his 1975 paper “Logic and Conversation,” Grice identified four
conversational maxims that are intrinsic to the Cooperative Principle, collectively
known as Grice’s maxims. These maxims include the Maxim of Quantity, the Maxim of
Quality, the Maxim of Relation, and the Maxim of Manner, all of which work
synergistically to facilitate smooth and efficient communication.

Ensuring a meaningful exchange of dialogue, these maxims present guidelines,

such as being informative without excess, avoiding false information, maintaining
relevance, and ensuring clarity in communication. Adherence to these maxims
facilitates effective communication, although deviations from them can lead to implied
meanings and nuanced interpretations in real-life conversations.

In ordinary conversations, with the use of Grice’s CP, people tend to cooperate
with each other to achieve shared purpose and mutual understanding. Thus, this
principle serves as a guiding framework for effective communication, which

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emphasizes the idea that participants in a conversation implicitly follow certain social
norms to convey and interpret messages successfully.

The maxims, while not always followed rigidly, reflect the shared understanding
that underlies successful communication. Grice’s work has proven instrumental in
unpacking the intricacies of conversational dynamics, shedding light on how
individuals navigate ambiguity, interpret implied meanings, and coordinate their
contributions in dialogue.

Conventional Implicatures versus Conversational Implicatures

Conventional implicatures and conversational implicatures are two distinct but
interconnected aspects of linguistic meaning. Conventional implicatures refer to
implicit meanings that arise from specific linguistic elements within a sentence,
typically associated with particular expressions or lexical choices. Unlike conversational
implicatures, which heavily rely on the context of the conversation, conventional
implicatures are more fixed and predictable. Conversational implicatures, on the other
hand, are derived from the context of a particular conversation and involve inferences
made by the speaker or listener that go beyond the literal meaning of the words used.

Grice's Cooperative Principle and its maxims play a crucial role in the generation
of conversational implicatures. Numerous studies, including Levinson (2000), have
explored the dynamics of conversational implicatures which explains how speakers
navigate implicit communication in various linguistic and cultural contexts.

Studies also on conversational implicatures highlight the pragmatic aspects of

language use, illustrating how speakers may violate the maxims strategically to convey
implicit meanings based on the context of the conversation. This challenges the notion
of rigid adherence to the maxims and underscores the dynamic nature of cooperative
communication.

Maxim rather than Rule

Under the Stylistic course titled “Language and Style” offered by Lancaster
University, Grice's view explained that when we communicate, there is an implicit
assumption of conversational cooperation between us and the others involved. This
cooperative dynamic persists even in situations where social cooperation is lacking.

As explained in the course, Grice argues that, even during heated arguments, a
significant degree of conversational cooperation is maintained to achieve the
argument's goals. He identifies these cooperative tendencies through what he terms
“conversational maxims.” Although these maxims may resemble rules, Grice prefers
the term “maxim” to highlight that they are often violated, unlike grammatical or
phonological rules.

In his discussion, Kroeger emphasized that Grice’s Cooperative Principle should

not be viewed as a “moral code” that speakers must strictly adhere to. It is not a set of
rules that speakers are obligated to follow; instead, speakers have the flexibility to
communicate by either adhering to or deviating from the maxims. The crucial aspect
is that the hearer can discern the strategy being employed by the speaker. The
Cooperative Principle is more of an underlying assumption, emphasizing the necessity
for both the speaker and the hearer to share a mutual awareness of its existence to
facilitate rational conversation.

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Classroom Conversations
In the educational context, Grice’s CP and its accompanying maxims have
practical applications in the classroom which influences teacher-student interactions
and fosters effective communication. CP posits that communication is fundamentally
cooperative, with participants in a conversation share an implicit commitment to
understanding and being understood. Translating this principle to the classroom,
teachers can use Grice's insights to foster teaching and learning environment that
thrives through clear and meaningful exchanges.

The maxims also guide teachers in tailoring their communication to meet the
needs of diverse learners: (1) encourages them to strike a balance between providing
enough information for students to grasp a concept; (2) maintains the integrity of their
communication by delivering accurate and reliable information that instills trust in the
learning process; (3) ensures that they connect new material to students' existing
knowledge that fosters a coherent and relevant learning experience; and (4) prompts
them to communicate clearly to avoids ambiguity and enhance student
comprehension.

When students adopt cooperative communication strategies based on Grice’s

maxims, they contribute to a positive and inclusive classroom atmosphere towards
promoting active listening, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue. Grice’s
Cooperative Principle and its maxims serve as a valuable tool for educators to enhance
the overall quality of classroom conversations which creates an environment conducive
to meaningful learning and interaction. By fostering a cooperative atmosphere based
on clear communication and mutual understanding, Grice’s framework contributes to
a positive and enriching classroom experience.

Overall, Grice’s Cooperative Principle extends beyond the realm of theoretical

linguistics which has been applied in various disciplines such as communication
studies, linguistics, and philosophy. Its principles have been widely applied to analyze
and understand the intricacies of discourse in diverse cultural and social contexts.

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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Herbert Paul Grice’s Cooperative Principle (CP) and its associated maxims have
been viewed as an essential framework for understanding and analyzing the dynamics
of ordinary conversations. Rooted in pragmatics, Grice’s work, expounded in his 1975
paper “Logic and Conversation,” has transcended the realms of linguistics and
philosophy, becoming a cornerstone in the study of communication.

At its core, CP posits that in everyday discourse, individuals engage in

conversation with an inherent commitment to cooperation, to which every participant
in a meaningful exchange of dialogue must engage himself in attaining a shared
purpose toward striving for mutual understanding. Grice identified four maxims:
Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner, encapsulating the implicit rules guiding
communication and contribute to the effectiveness of ordinary conversations.

Abba, A. G. et al. in Diessel (2014) highlighted that language basically functions

as a communication tool which means language is used in expression of ideas and
feelings, as well as establishes relationships in society. Chomsky (2011), as cited by Abba
(2022), language can be a form of a system of communication by written or spoken
words which are accepted and understood by people of a particular society or
community; thereby, language involves people.

Given this, in order to uphold a meaningful conversation, each of the key

participants must understand one another and cooperate in the process of
communication. Hadi (2013), as mentioned by Abba, this cooperation is termed a
Cooperative Principle, Grice’s product in one of his influential works on the
philosophical study of semantics termed as a theory of implicature.

The Cooperative Principle (CP) outlines the collaborative actions of both listeners
and speakers, emphasizing their mutual acceptance of each other's expressions for
effective communication. Davies (2000) underscored that this concept played a pivotal
role in the emergence of "Pragmatics" as an independent discipline within linguistics
(Abba, A. G. et al., 2022).

Pragmatics, as a field, investigates how language users make choices in

communication and explores the challenges they encounter when using language in
society. The discipline also delves into the impacts of language usage on participants
within a communication cycle, as discussed by Kasper and Rose (1999).

Grice (1975) posits that a fundamental premise in the process of communication

is our inherent inclination to engage in meaningful conversations. In other words,
individuals typically collaborate to express their intentions through spoken expressions,
aiming to fulfill the primary objective of communication in pragmatics, which is
perceived as the exchange of information.

It is essential to highlight that Grice places significant emphasis on the concept

of rationality, and this is the basis for his exploration of cooperation. Conversely, many
linguists, such as Hadi (2013), Sadock (1978), and Yeboah (2021), focus on the application
of the Cooperative Principle (CP) in language, considering aspects like Flout, Violation,
Infringing, and Opting out. Grice views these maxims as principles rather than strict
rules, as outlined by Hadi (2013).

Poggi in Abba (2022), Grice introduced the concept of conversational

implicature and explained it as a principle guiding the generation and perception of
these implicatures. The principle entails making conversational contributions to the

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extent necessary at the relevant stage of the conversation and aligning with the
accepted purpose or direction of the ongoing exchange (p. 48).

Grice's focus is on ensuring the rational coherence of conversations,

emphasizing the meaningful connection of sentences and the rationale behind our
expressions. The interaction among speakers in advocating various issues often results
in partially unified conversations (Brown, Brown, Brown, Yule, & Gillian, 1983). To
elucidate the processes involved in implicature, Grice formulated maxims, including
those of quality, quantity, relation, and manner.

Grice introduced maxims as guidelines for successful communication, which

explains how listeners infer the manner in which speakers communicate. These
maxims, viewed as presumptions, require both listeners and speakers to be cognizant
of the context during communication (Gultom, 2022; Marlisa & Hidayat, 2020).

Davies (2007), as cited by Abba (2022), Grice states that when speakers adhere
to the Cooperative Principle, listeners assume such adherence. In cases where the
surface meaning of an utterance diverges from Gricean maxims but aligns with the
Cooperative Principle, as suggested by the circumstances, Davies recommends delving
beneath the surface to uncover the covert meaning.

Prevalence of Conformance and Violation to the Gricean maxims

Sarasua, R. J. (2022), in his paper titled “Revisiting Gricean Maxims in Speech
Participants’ Convivial Conversations,” stated that while studies on the Cooperative
Principle (CP) and its maxims are notably accurate, they are not as abundant as
research in other fields. The scarcity of studies on this topic persists, particularly in the
Philippines, where few researchers have explored CP; thereby, motivated him to
contribute to the existing knowledge on CP. His study focused on daily conversations
as a rich source of data, aiming to investigate how language users in these
conversations deviate from Gricean maxims and the implicatures that arise from such
deviations.

Based on Sarasua’s findings, as indicated on the table of prevalence of

conformance to the Gricean maxims, results showed that the maxim of Quantity is the
most observed maxim, with 67 instances or 48.55%, indicating that speakers in the
conversations provided informative and sufficient information without overwhelming
the listener with irrelevant details.

The maxim of Relevance is the second most observed, with 48 instances or

34.78%, which demonstrates that speakers delivered information pertinent to the
current engagement, ensuring that everything submitted was related to the problem
at hand, while the maxim of Manner had the least number of instances found in the
conversation, with 9 instances or 6.53%, which indicates that speakers were clear,
avoided ambiguity, and provided information in a brief and systematic manner.

Findings likewise revealed that the most prevalent violated maxim by the
interlocutors in the gathered conversations was Quantity, garnering 38 instances with
a percentage of 54.29. This was followed by Relevance, which was the second most
prevalent violated maxim. The least violated maxim was Quality. The observance of the
maxims varied, with the maxim of Quantity being the most observed, with 67 instances
or 48.55%, while the maxim of Manner had the least number of instances found in the
conversation, with 9 instances or 6.53%.

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Sarasua highlighted that the violations in the maxims were motivated by

different intentions posited by the interlocutors, such as joking, expressing sarcasm, or
lacking concrete and sufficient evidence to answer a query.

The maxim of Relevance came second as the most prevalent violated, with 14
instances and a percentage of 20. This violation occurred when speakers provided
irrelevant responses to the questions posed by other speakers in the conversations. The
third most prevalent violated maxim is Manner, with 12 instances and a percentage of
17.14. Violations of the maxim occurred when speakers did not provide a response and
gesture expected of them, or when they were ambiguous in their responses. The
maxim of Quality was the least violated, with 6 instances and a percentage of 8.57.
Violations of the maxim occurred when speakers purposefully asserted anything
incorrect or for which they had insufficient evidence.

Furthermore, the study, as evidenced in the gathered conversations,

demonstrated that the violations of the Gricean maxims led to the creation of
conversational implicatures, which carry additional meanings beyond the explicit
words spoken. The violations of the Quantity and Manner maxims, in particular,
resulted in the creation of implicatures, often motivated by humor, sarcasm, or the lack
of concrete evidence. The results per maxim in the gathered conversations indicate a
complex interplay between observance and violation of the Gricean maxims,
highlighting the dynamic nature of language use and the significance of
understanding conversational implicatures in effective communication.

In the study titled “Gricean Maxims Revisited in FB Conversation Posts: Its

Pedagogical Implications,” authored by Ayunon, C. (2018), her study found that in the
analyzed Facebook conversation posts, participants frequently violated Grice's maxims,
with the maxim of quantity being the most frequently violated. The violations included
circumlocution, uninformative responses, talking too short or too much, and repeating
certain words.

Additionally, the study identified purposes for these violations, such as injecting
humor and blending sarcasm into the conversation. The analysis also emphasized that
implicatures arise smoothly when interlocutors share common background
assumptions, but implicature failure may occur when this background assumption is
not in play. The study's results suggest that the intended message in conversations is
not solely contained in the words used, but also depends on the hearer's interpretation
in consideration of the context and implicated meaning.

The investigation into Facebook conversation posts disclosed distinct patterns

of maxim violations. In terms of frequency, the maxim of quantity emerged as the most
frequently violated, constituting 45.7% of the total instances with 16 violations. These
violations encompassed instances of circumlocution, uninformative responses,
excessive or insufficient verbosity, and repetitive use of certain words. The maxim of
relevance saw 10 instances of violation, accounting for 28.57% of total instances.
Violations within this category involved discordance with the conversation topic,
sudden shifts in topics, avoidance, concealing information, and misinterpreting
causality.

The quality maxim suffered six violations, representing 17.14% of total instances.
Instances included false statements, irony, denial, and distortion of information. The
maxim of manner experienced three violations, constituting 8.57% of total instances,
characterized by ambiguous language, exaggeration, inappropriate slang use, and
insufficient vocal volume.

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Ayunon underscored that the study's findings have implications for classroom
teaching and learning, as language teachers need to be aware that students may
communicate implied meanings in their conversations. The responsibility for
successful and meaningful communication is placed heavily on teachers, who should
be able to deduce these meanings from students' utterances. This underscores the
importance of understanding implicatures and the violation of Gricean maxims in
language education.

In Hanifah's (2013) research titled "Non-Observance of Maxims in Facebook

Conversation," it was found that both male and female users frequently deviate from
various maxims during their interactions on Facebook. Male users tend to violate the
maxim of quantity by offering limited information and disrupting the flow of
conversation, the maxim of relation by contributing irrelevant remarks, and the maxim
of manner by introducing ambiguity and redundantly repeating words for clarification.

Female users, on the other hand, commonly violate the maxim of quantity by
providing excessive information, the maxim of relation through irrelevant
contributions, and the maxim of manner by repetitively using words to elucidate a
point. Both male and female users frequently flout conversational maxims in their
Facebook conversations, with flouting being the most prevalent form of non-
observance for both genders.

Gricean Maxims in Linguistic, Situational, and Cultural Contexts

Ngenget, S. (2017), in his study titled “A Revisit of the Gricean Maxims in Manado
Malay Language,” highlighted the role of context, including linguistic, situational, and
cultural contexts, in understanding implicatures in conversation. It emphasizes the
significance of the speakers' intimacy and cultural background in interpreting
implicatures, suggesting that implicatures are not solely determined by linguistic
context but are also influenced by the situational and cultural contexts.

The findings of the research on the violation of Gricean maxims in the Manado
Malay language revealed that implicatures were generated as a result of the violation
of the four maxims. The study observed that implicatures were used to give
information and to joke, and the violation of each maxim led to different outcomes. The
violation of the maxim of quantity related to the quantity of information provided in
conversation, while the violation of the maxim of quality occurred when an utterance
did not reflect truth.

Additionally, the violation of the maxim of relation was observed when the
speaker's response was not relevant to what their counterpart said. The violation of the
maxim of manner referred to the clarity of an utterance produced, and it occurred
when an utterance was ambiguous or did not have a clear meaning. The findings
demonstrated that implicatures are often generated as a response to questions for
providing information. It also presents evidence of implicatures being used for humor,
which indicates that joking is an integral part of communication in Manado Malay
language.

Ngenget’s paper discussed the implications of the findings in the context of

Grice's theory, acknowledging the challenges posed by researchers to Gricean maxims.
It addresses the relevance of Grice's theory in the study of implicatures in vernacular
languages, such as Manado Malay, and emphasizes the consistency of Gricean maxims
in the observed communication patterns. The study concludes by underscoring the
significance of considering the role of context, particularly the contextual dynamics in
linguistic, situational, and cultural aspects, as well as the importance of intimacy
between speakers in comprehending implicatures in communication.

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Another study conducted by Fernandez, P. (2019) titled “Overinformative

Speakers Are Cooperative: Revisiting the Gricean Maxim of Quantity,” the study aimed
at challenging traditional Gricean accounts of communication by emphasizing the
cooperative and efficient aspects of referential communication. The study suggests
that speakers can be cooperative by providing redundant information, such as color or
size adjectives, if it helps the listener identify the referent in a visual context. This
alternative pragmatic account considers not only the informativity of the description
but also its efficiency in aiding the listener's visual search.

Highlighting how speakers adjust their use of redundant modification based on

the visual properties of the situational context and the linguistic factors of their
language, English speakers were found to use more redundant color adjectives
compared to Spanish speakers, indicating a cross-linguistic variation in the use of
redundant modification.

Study’s findings have implications for cross-cultural communication studies,

which emphasizes the importance of considering linguistic and cultural factors in
communication research. By understanding how speakers from different linguistic
backgrounds adapt their communication strategies, researchers can improve
intercultural communication and develop a more nuanced understanding of language
use in diverse contexts.

In the study of Fahmi, R. (2018) titled “An analysis of Grice’s Maxims violation in
Daily Conversation,” findings showed that cultural values adhered to by Indonesian
people significantly influence the way they treat the maxims in their daily conversation.
The study suggested that different cultures, countries, and communities have their
own way of observing and expressing maxims for particular situations, leading to
variations in communicative styles.

The maxim of quantity was the most frequently violated, occurring 30 times
during the conversations. Following this, the maxim of quality was violated 20 times,
the maxim of manner 10 times, and the maxim of relevance 5 times. These results
suggest that in the daily interactions of the students, adherence to the maxim of
quantity was the most challenging, indicating a tendency to provide either too much
or too little information in conversations.

The violation of Gricean maxims is also attributed to social distance. Study’s

finding also highlighted that social distance plays a role in the way people
communicate, with Indonesian individuals preferring indirectness strategies while
conversing, while Western countries prefer directness strategies; thus, this difference
in communication styles contributes to the violation of the maxims

Criticism of Grice’s Cooperative Principle

Behera, R. L. (2021), in his paper titled “Revisiting the Mechanism of Grice’s
Cooperative Principle in Logic and Conversation,” delved into an in-depth exploration
of Grice’s Cooperative Principle (CP) and its application in the context of language and
communication. It commences by addressing the fundamental premise that human
communication is governed by logical and rational cooperation, essential for
constructing meaningful conversations.

According to him, Grice’s CP is a central theme in pragmatics, characterized by

the dichotomy of “saying” and “meaning,” leading to various interpretations of the term
“cooperation.” His study scrutinized Grice’s notions of logic and conversation, which
focuses on the semantic and pragmatic aspects, the influence of the causal theory of
perception, and the relationship between saying and implied meaning. Grice’s CP is

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delineated as a governing principle for successful communication, revolving around

four conversational maxims: Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner.

Robin Tolmach Lakoff's critique of Grice's Cooperative Principle (CP) and the
introduction of the Rules of Politeness significantly enhance our comprehension of
meaningful conversation and pragmatic competence. Lakoff argues that Grice's CP,
which emphasizes conversation rules, falls short in capturing the intricacies of
communication. Introducing two broad categories of rules for pragmatic competence,
Lakoff identifies rules of conversation and rules of the logic of politeness as equally
crucial for meaningful dialogue, challenging Grice's focus on conversation rules.

Lakoff's Rules of Politeness address the limitations of Grice's CP, particularly

concerning the narrow sense of conversation rules and interpersonal friction. Lakoff
contends that without addressing these issues, constructing meaningful conversation
becomes challenging. The Rules of Politeness aim to facilitate understanding during
conversations, fostering cooperative transactions and reducing friction in personal
interactions. Lakoff's maxims, including the maxim of politeness, play a vital role in
minimizing friction and constructing social worlds in personal interactions.

Moreover, the paper explained that Lakoff's introduction of the Rules of

Politeness complements Grice's maxims which offers a more comprehensive
framework for effective communication. The maxim of politeness, in conjunction with
Grice's maxims, is pivotal for constructing meaningful conversations and well-
organized communication.

Ladegaard, as cited by Hadi, A. (2013), in his paper titled “A Critical Appraisal of

Grice’s Cooperative Principle,” suggested that both the semantic and the pragmatic
sides of human interaction as well as all the linguistic awareness necessary for the
perception and interpretation of meaning in any communicative behavior should be
covered in any theory of conversational cooperation. Ladegaard also stated that instead
of applying the traditional view to language and communication offered in Pragmatics,
in which human interaction is viewed as naturally deficient and problematic, a broader
view should be considered. He mentioned that Grice is extremely biased towards
cooperation. Grice’s assumption is that people communicate logically, and all of them
attempt to be “good” communicators (Hadi, 2013).

Analyzing conflicts with Grice’s position, Ladegaard in Hadi (2013) claimed

“human interaction may be irrational and illogical, and that resistance and non-
cooperation may be adopted as the preferred discursive strategy, and that interactants
seem to try their best to be ‘bad’ communicators.” In his study Ladegaard (2008),
considered the two types of cooperation related to a Gricean theory: “social goal-
sharing and linguistic goal-sharing.”

Cooperative Principle encompasses a significant aspect involving the distinction

between what is explicitly stated and what is implied. Nevertheless, the perspective of
interpreting utterances primarily based on what is explicitly communicated has faced
criticism from Relevance Theorists like Bird (2002), Clark (2013), and Saul (2002b). These
scholars strongly challenge the cooperative principle's notion that what is explicitly
communicated is limited and argue that pragmatics plays a more substantial role than
Grice acknowledges in determining the intended meaning. However, it is argued that
the Relevance Theorists may have misunderstood Grice's theory of conversation,
wrongly assuming it parallels their project, which focuses on the psychological
processes involved in interpreting utterances (Abba, 2022).

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CONCLUSION

This paper is a theoretical effort in constructing understanding on studies

related to Grice’s Cooperative Principle (CP) and its four conversational maxims. The
discussed papers collectively contribute valuable insights into the application and
violation of Gricean maxims in various linguistic and cultural contexts. Sarasua's study
sheds light on the prevalence and violation of Gricean maxims in convivial
conversations in the Philippines. His paper revealed that the maxim of Quantity is most
observed, while Manner is the least. The implications of these violations extend to the
creation of conversational implicatures, which showcases the dynamic nature of
language use.

Ayunon's exploration of Facebook conversation posts aligns with Sarasua's

findings, emphasizing the frequent violation of the maxim of Quantity and the
generation of implicatures for humor and sarcasm. The study underscores the
importance of understanding implicatures in language education.

Hanifah's study on non-observance in Facebook conversations further

demonstrated that both male and female users frequently deviate from Gricean
maxims in online interactions, with maxim of quantity is most violated. Both male and
female users frequently flout conversational maxims in their Facebook conversations,
with flouting being the most prevalent form of non-observance for both genders.

Meanwhile, Ngenget's study on the Manado Malay language further reinforces

the role of context, including linguistic, situational, and cultural factors, in the
interpretation of implicatures. The violations of Gricean maxims in this context lead to
the creation of implicatures used for humor and information provision.

Fernandez's research challenges traditional Gricean accounts which

emphasizes the cooperative aspects of referential communication and highlights
cross-linguistic variations in the use of redundant modification. Fahmi's analysis of daily
conversations in Indonesia highlighted how cultural values influence maxim
adherence, suggesting variations in communicative styles and the impact of social
distance. The findings have implications for cross-cultural communication studies,
emphasizing the need to consider linguistic and cultural factors in communication
research.

However, the papers also introduce criticisms of Grice's Cooperative Principle.

Behera delves into an in-depth exploration of Grice's CP, as well as on the discussion of
Lakoff's critique and the introduction of the Rules of Politeness. Lakoff argues that
Grice's focus on conversation rules falls short, and the Rules of Politeness are crucial for
meaningful dialogue.

All of the discussed papers provide us a comprehensive understanding of

Cooperative Principle and Gricean maxims, as well as implicatures, acknowledging
their relevance and limitations in various linguistic, situational, and cultural contexts.
The studies highlight the dynamic nature of communication, the role of context in
interpretation, and the need for a broader perspective in understanding conversational
cooperation.

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RECOMMENDATION

Considering the insights gathered from the various studies on Gricean maxims
and conversational implicatures, it is recommended that future research should adopt
a more inclusive approach to understanding the dynamics of communication. The
studies by Sarasua, Ayunon, Ngenget, Fernandez, Behera, among others collectively
emphasize the importance of context, cultural factors, and linguistic variations in
interpreting implicatures and violations of Gricean maxims.

To enhance the comprehensiveness of future research, scholars could explore a

more diverse range of linguistic and cultural contexts. Comparative studies across
languages and cultures could provide valuable insights into the universality or cultural
specificity of conversational implicatures. Additionally, there is a need for research that
delves into the implications of technology on conversational analysis, especially in the
context of online communication platforms.

With the growing prevalence of digital communication tools, studying how

Gricean maxims are applied, adhered to, or violated in virtual interactions could shed
light on the evolving nature of communication in the digital age. This research could
explore how features such as text-based communication, emojis, and multimedia
elements impact the application of maxims and the creation of implicatures in online
conversations.

Moreover, a more detailed investigation into the motivations behind the

violations of Gricean maxims, as highlighted by Sarasua and Ayunon, would contribute
to a deeper understanding of the intricacies of communication. Exploring how
speakers adapt their communication strategies based on cultural norms and individual
intentions could enrich the existing knowledge on conversational dynamics.

In conclusion, future research endeavors should embrace a holistic perspective

that takes into account linguistic, situational, and cultural factors, recognizing the
complex interplay between observance and violation of Gricean maxims. This approach
will not only contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of language use but
also have practical implications for effective communication across diverse contexts.

LE 312 I Discourse Analysis in Language Teaching 11

 CAGAYAN STATE
UNIVERSITY
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines

REFERENCES

Abba, A. G., Alhaji, M. G., Sanusi, H. A., & Ahmed, B. M. (2022). Contributions of the Gricean
Maxims in the Understanding of Meaning: A Review. Yamtara-Wala Journal of Arts,
Management and Social Sciences (YaJAMSS), 2(2).

Averina, F. E. (2023). A Pragmatic Analysis of Flouting Maxims in Classroom Verbal

Interaction as Seen in Freedom Writers Movie. Surakarta English and Literature Journal,
6(1), 16-30.

Ayunon, C. (2018). Gricean Maxims Revisited in FB Conversation Posts: Its Pedagogical

Implications. TESOL International Journal, 13(4), 82-95.

Behera, R. L. (2021) Revisiting the Mechanism of Grice’s Cooperative Principle in Logic.

Philosophia 28/2021, pp. 94-106

Fahmi, R. (2018). An analysis of Grice’s maxims violation in daily conversation. Journal of

Languages and Language Teaching, 4(2), 91-97.

Gultom, R. (2022). An Analysis of Cooperative Principle Maxim in the Written and

Spoken Mode of Communication between Teacher and Students during Online
Learning. Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, 3(1), 19-43.

Hadi, A. (2013). A critical appraisal of Grice’s Cooperative Principle. Open journal of

modern linguistics, 3(1), 69-72.

Hanifah, I. R. (2013). Non-observance of maxims in Facebook conversation (a case study

in English Education Department). Passage, 1(2), 135-144.

Marlisa, R., & Hidayat, D. N. (2020). The analysis of flouting maxim in Good Morning
America (GMA) talkshow. Englisia: Journal of Language, Education, and Humanities,
7(2), 132-142.

Ngenget, S. (2017). A revisit of the Gricean maxims in Manado Malay language. Script
Journal: Journal of Linguistic and English Teaching, 2(2), 204-211.

Rubio‐Fernandez, P. (2019). Overinformative speakers are cooperative: Revisiting the

Gricean Maxim of Quantity. Cognitive science, 43(11), e12797.

Waloyo, E., Lestari, S., & Mutiaraningrum, I. (2023). Exploring Studies on Cooperative
Principle in English Language Teaching: A Literature Review. Metathesis: Journal of
English Language, Literature, and Teaching, 7(1), 17-30.

LE 312 I Discourse Analysis in Language Teaching 12