When an implicature of stating British Prime minister is a great man,
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the listener will provide with some accounts of some reference that is if it failed be
revealed by the speaker, he disobey the maxim. The maxims govern the rational communicative activity. In order to succeed in communication they must fill the
four maxims, with the result:
1. Maxim of Quantity
This maxim directly correlated more or less of the information gave to speaker. This maxim forces the speaker in giving sufficient information to the
listener.
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The participants must contribute as is required and make the conversation to be connected. The speaker is not less and over in giving the
information. On the application, it showed the examples below: M: What did you have for lunch today?
D: Baked beans and toast.
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In the dialogue above, D gives the answer as informative as possible and connects to what M asked about. Here, the D does not give an over
information about what he has for lunch. It means that D has contributed as it required. Therefore, Grice explains this maxim forces the participants to:
a Make their contribution as informative as is required.
b To be not making their contribution more informative than is
required.
29
26
Grice, H.P 1975, op. cit. 44
27
Kushartanti 1993, op. cit.107
28
Cruse, D. Alan, Meaning in Language: An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics New York: Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 2000, p. 356
29
Grice, H.P 1975, op. cit. 46
2. Maxim of Quality
The maxim forces the speaker in giving the correct information. Both speaker and listener must make a satisfactory in fulfill the appropriate
information. With the specific sub maxim: 1.
Do not say what you believe to be false 2.
Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence. Both the speaker and listener must make a satisfactory in completing
the appropriate information. Like in the example below: Frick: Oh you have children
Leroy: Yes. Seven.
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In the dialogue, Frick expects the contribution of Leroy in his utterance, and Leroy renders the truth information. It means that Leroy
succeed in giving the contribution that is to be truth and not genuine.
3. Maxim of relevance
The maxim asks the speaker to try and to see that the information was given has the relevance and the coherence to the situation during the
conversation. Here, whether the speaker and listener must focus on the giving the relevant information even though in some different ways.
Examples: A: Where’s my box of chocolates?
B: It’s in your room.
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30
Miller, Arthur 1995, op. cit. p. 451
31
Leech 1993, op. cit. p.144
The utterance from B can be smoothly understood by A. It is because B can fill and contribute in making an appropriate immediate need of A’s
question. By the utterance of B, it means that B focuses in giving the relevance information.
Based on this example, the maxim forces the participants to be relevant.
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On the other words, it can be said that the participants must give relevant information to each other.
4. Maxim of Manner
