Cooperative principle - Wikiwand
When conversation breaks down, or it feels awkward, one of these maxims are often not upheld:
- Maxim of Quantity (Length & Depth)
- Content should be informative
- Context should be no longer than necessary
- Maxim of Quality (Truth)
- One should tell the truth
- Maxim of Relation (Relevance)
- Content should be immediately relevant information
- Natural Transitions are important
- Maxim of Manner (Clarity)
- One should avoid ambiguity
- Content should be ordered
Example
A (to passer by): I am out of gas. B: There is a gas station round the corner.
- Quantity: “around the corner” is the minimum necessary information
- Quality: there probably is a gas station
- Relation: implies that you can get gas at gas station
- Manner: Nothing unambiguous about this answer
- Presumptions of conversation
- The benefits of assuming cooperation
Why are segues important in conversations?
Because of System 1’s priming tendencies or cognitive ease. It seems unnecessary but has unconscious benefits.