M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

4.1
Difference between Rules and Principles 
Rule is a statement explaining what someone can or cannot do in a system 
(rules of language/traffic) whereas principle is a basic belief that has a major 
influence on the way in which something is done; a belief about what is right or 
morally wrong. In language, for example, there is a rule about the formation of a 
sentence – subject + verb + object. You can make as many sentences as you want 
on this pattern. But if one violates this pattern the product would be declared as 
incorrect. On the other hand, if you think of a blessing, the product (utterance) 
depends on a variety of factors like how to bless, who to bless, where and when to 
bless, etc. These are the factors that are controlled by the principles that operate 
within a culture.

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106 
5. 
Grice’s Cooperative Principle
The chief purpose of using language is to communicate one’s feelings, 
views, attitudes, information etc. Communication is the base of all linguistic 
transaction. This is what Jacob Mey calls ‘the communicative principle’. It is, 
however, the speaker who decides how much is to be communicated and in what 
way the communication should take place. H.P.Grice introduced the Cooperative 
Principle in 1975. The Cooperative Principle assumes that interlocutors will 
cooperate when communicating. The principle reads as:
Make your conversational contribution such as is required, at the stage at 
which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which 
you are engaged. (1975:47).
Grice outlines ‘the Cooperative Principle’ under four sub principles or maxims’. 
1.
Quantity :
a. 
Make your contribution as informative as required. 
b. 
Do not make your contribution more informative than required. 
2.
Quality : 
a. 
Do not say what you believe to be false; 
b. 
Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence. 
3.
Relation : 
a. 
Make your contribution relevant. 
4.
Manner : Be perspicuous and
a. 
Avoid obscurity, 
b. 
Avoid ambiguity, 
c. 
Be brief 
d. 
Be orderly 

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107 
The maxims suggested by Grice are ideal and to some extent formal. They 
are unstated assumptions that prescribe how people are normally expected to 
behave in a conversation. Interlocutors try to follow these maxims as far as possible. 
However, it is not always possible to follow all these maxims and be cooperative in 
interaction. Had it been so the conversation would be static, formal and 
straightforward. Maxims can be violated, flouted, opted out of or infringed. The 
flouting or violation of a maxim can be voluntary or may happen unconsciously. The 
violation of a maxim gives rise to an Implicature.
For example:
A (an interviewer) asks B (an interviewee), “What is your expectation of 
salary?” The latter answers, “Sir, I was getting 25,000 rupees in the previous 
organisation for the same post.” Superficially, the answer is not relevant or clear. 
However, if considered carefully B’s answer can be easily understood by the 
interviewer (that the expectation may be 25,000 rupees or more than that). Had the 
interviewee responded by saying just 25,000 or more than that, it would be directly 
cooperative. He does not state his expectation directly and to avoid rudeness or 
impolite behaviour, flouts the maxim of quantity, quality, relevance and even 
manner. He expects the listener to identify his expectation implicitly.