Flouting Maxims

1. Flouting Maxims • A: Teheran’s in Turkey, isn’t it, professor? • B: And London’s in Armenia, I suppose. • A: I’m actually a very important person in the government. • B: Yeah, and I’m the Easter Bunny. • => Maxim of Quality

2. War is war. • Either John will come or he won’t. • If he does it, he does it. • => Maxim of Quantity

3. A: I do think Mrs. Jenkins is an old windbag, don’t you? • B: Lovely weather for March, isn’t it? • Johnny: Hey Sally, let’s play marbles. • Mother: How’s your homework getting along, Johnny? • => Maxim of Relevance

4. Miss Singer sang an aria from “Rigoletto.” • Miss Singer produced a series of sounds corresponding closely to the score of an aria from “Rigoletto.” • => Maxim of Manner

5. Entailment • If S1 is true, then S2 is also true. • S1: Bob has a beagle. • S2: Bob has a dog.

6. Implicature • A: I really need a cup of coffee. • B: There’s a café right next door. • => Relevance

7. A: How many papers did you write in October? • B: Well, I finished the one on wh-indefinites. • => Maxim of Quantity

8. I took this medication and started coughing. • I started coughing and took this medication. • => Maxim of Manner

9. Speech Acts • Doing things with language • assertion • question • request • order • promise • threat

10. Felicity Conditions • Request • Action not yet accomplished • Speaker wants it done • Hearer is able • Hearer is willing

11. Performative Verbs • I promise to be in my office this afternoon. • I request that you do all the readings for this class.

12. Not Performatives • I promised to be in the office (but an unexpected meeting called me away). • => Past tense • Bob threatens to quit if we don’t raise his salary. • => 3rd person

13. Indirect Speech Acts • Direct • Please take out the garbage. • Indirect • The garbage hasn’t been taken out yet. • Would you mind taking out the garbage?