xix The words or the expression is known by the people who pass by while
this conversation happens, but these people can not identify what A and B are talking about. Here, Pragmatics requires us to know the context behind the
expression of the conversation above because it is impossible to know the complete meaning only by hearing a slice of expression such as “So-did you?”
or “Hey-who wouldn’t?” By knowing the context, although we are not one of the people who take participation in that conversation, we can successfully
interpret the intended message that A and B try to share each other. By knowing that A and B talks about the party last night, this information becomes the
understanding which makes us know that A asks B whether B came to the party or not.
2.2 Co-operative Principle
When utterances are produced by speakers in a conversational context, there are rules or maxims which have to be followed by the participants.
According to Grice in Palmer 1981, p.173-176 there is a general co-operative principle between speakers and hearers which controls or guides the way they
speak. The co-operative principle consists of four maxims with their sub maxims. The four maxims are:
1. The Maxim of Quality : Try to make your contribution one that is true.
a. Do not say what you believe to be false.
xx b.
Do not say that for which you lack evidence.
It is a must that everybody should speak something true which is not lack of evidence. Whenever A asks a question to B, it is hoped that B provides the
answer which is true as what expected by A. It is the reason why Maxim of Quality becomes the center of others maxims. Beside that, by obeying the
Maxim of Quality, the effective and efficient communication will occur because the answer of the question matches with as what expected by someone who asks
question. Providing the answer which is not true and lack of evidence seems obey the Maxim of Quality, but it leads to another question which makes the
communication becomes not efficient and effective. See the following example: A
: “Where is my chocolate?” B
: “Your children were in your room this morning.” A
: “What do you mean? My children have their own chocolate.”
Taken from Leech.1983. p.144 We can see that B’s answer leads to the ineffective and inefficient
communication because A needs a further explanation to satisfy his question. Here, B flouts the Maxim of Quality because he does not provide the true
answer which does not lack of evidence.
2. The Maxim of Quantity:
a. Make your contribution as informative as required.
xxi b.
Do not make your contribution more informative that is required.
In simple words, Maxim of Quantity means do not say something less or something more than what is required because communication should be
effective and efficient. The answer which is less than what is required will not satisfy the question. On the other hand, the answer which is more than what is
required will make the man who asks the question confuses. See the following example:
Mrs. Smith : “Will you join us to go to Bali next month?”
Nancy Smith : “If my boss agrees to give me a vacation and my Department Head can exempt me from the evening classes, and I don’t
have any important assignment to do and I am healthy enough, I think I will join you.” Taken from
Adisutrisno.2008. p.75 In the dialogue above, Nancy Smith gives too much additional information
which makes Mrs. Smith confuses. Mrs. Smith gets difficulty in understanding Nancy’s answer because it is not the answer as what Mrs. Smith expected.
Nancy does not provide the answer which is directly and clearly stated to his mother’s question. Obeying the Maxim of Quantity means that we provide the
answer which is directly, sufficiently, and clearly stated which leads us to the effective and efficient communication.
3. The Maxim of Relevance : Be relevant.
