PAUL GRICE: RULES FOR COMMUNICATION
PAUL GRICE 1913 -1988 is a famous philosopher who studied language and communication. He said there are certain rules that we all instinctively follow when we communicate. The most important being a co-operative intent to communicate, and make sense.
Here are his rules:
Quantity:
1. We should be adequately informative.
(Not just say “Fine” when your parents ask how you are doing).
2. We should not be more informative then required.
(You do not have to describe your diarrhea when your sick).
Quality:
1. We should not say things we know are false
(Even Politicians)
2.Refrain from making claims for which we have insufficient evidence.
(If you see your significant other talking to someone, make sure you check your evidence before you start saying they are cheating scum).
Relation:
1. Say Relevant Things
(Do not talk about your favorite politician while the Super Bowl is on.).
Manner:
1. Avoid Obscure Terms of Phrase, vocabulary not to show off but to benefit the Audience.
(The man is not using his empirical senses while stating that his utterances are ideally true, the man is not using his senses that he says are true.)
2. Avoid Ambiguity.
(Do not talk to your Grand Mother about your “Fave Bad Song”).
3. Be Brief:
(Do not give a 10 minute explanation when a 1 minute will do).
4. Be Orderly:
(Remember when your Grandmother gave you her cake recipe on the phone, not in order, and assumed you understood that you had crack the eggs, whip the batter, etc).
PAUL GRICE 1913 -1988 is a famous philosopher who studied language and communication. He said there are certain rules that we all instinctively follow when we communicate. The most important being a co-operative intent to communicate, and make sense.
Here are his rules:
Quantity:
1. We should be adequately informative.
(Not just say “Fine” when your parents ask how you are doing).
2. We should not be more informative then required.
(You do not have to describe your diarrhea when your sick).
Quality:
1. We should not say things we know are false
(Even Politicians)
2.Refrain from making claims for which we have insufficient evidence.
(If you see your significant other talking to someone, make sure you check your evidence before you start saying they are cheating scum).
Relation:
1. Say Relevant Things
(Do not talk about your favorite politician while the Super Bowl is on.).
Manner:
1. Avoid Obscure Terms of Phrase, vocabulary not to show off but to benefit the Audience.
(The man is not using his empirical senses while stating that his utterances are ideally true, the man is not using his senses that he says are true.)
2. Avoid Ambiguity.
(Do not talk to your Grand Mother about your “Fave Bad Song”).
3. Be Brief:
(Do not give a 10 minute explanation when a 1 minute will do).
4. Be Orderly:
(Remember when your Grandmother gave you her cake recipe on the phone, not in order, and assumed you understood that you had crack the eggs, whip the batter, etc).