Semantics: Gricean Maxims 1.1

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This exercise will help you become more familiar with the four Griceans Maxims, which are the Maxim of Quality, the Maxim of Quantity, the Maxim of Relevance and the Maxim of Manner. For each statement or pair of statements, select the maxim that is being violated.

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Question 1

A: Can you pick up some milk at the store?

B: Have you brushed your teeth this morning?

A	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is in no way related to A's statement.
B	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is in no way related to A's statement.
C	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is in no way related to A's statement.
D	Maxim of Relevance

Question 2

A: How do you grill your portabella mushrooms?

B: I coat them in garlic salt, I grill them on each side for seven minutes, marinate them in olive oil, purchase them the night before, serve them at room temperature, and slice them thinly.

A	Maxim of Manner
B	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the order of steps for following the recipe sequential.
C	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the order of steps for following the recipe sequential.
D	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the order of steps for following the recipe sequential.

Question 3

A: Excuse me, do you have the time?

B: My watch says 7:15 but I think the battery may have died.

A	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since there is no way to verify the time due to the fact that B's watch may be broken.
B	Maxim of Quality
C	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since there is no way to verify the time due to the fact that B's watch may be broken.
D	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since there is no way to verify the time due to the fact that B's watch may be broken.

Question 4

A: What did you do today?

B: I took a shower, woke up late, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast, and was home by noon.

A	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the response to A's question relates the events out of order.
B	Maxim of Manner
C	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the response to A's question relates the events out of order.
D	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Manner since the response to A's question relates the events out of order.

Question 5

A: What can you tell me about Catherine’s ability to concentrate on a task?

B: Catherine is a butterfly flitting from flower to flower.

A	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since not enough information is given, just a metaphor which needs interpretation.
B	Maxim of Quantity
C	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since not enough information is given, just a metaphor which needs interpretation.
D	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since not enough information is given, just a metaphor which needs interpretation.

Question 6

A. Hey Micky! How are you today?

B. Blue is my favorite color.

A	Maxim of Relevance
B	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is not related to A's question.
C	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is not related to A's question.
D	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response is not related to A's question.

Question 7

Hello Professor Harris. I'm glad you could come for a visit. Have a seat on the green couch that my grandmother bought at a yard sale in 1950 from her neighbor’s cousin.

A	Maxim of Relevance Hint: The speaker is giving too many details about the chair that would not be of interest to the listener.
B	Maxim of Manner Hint: The speaker is giving too many details about the chair that would not be of interest to the listener.
C	Maxim of Quantity
D	Maxim of Quality Hint: The speaker is giving too many details about the chair that would not be of interest to the listener.

Question 8

A: I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

B: OK

A	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since B's response is uncharacteristically short for the nature of A's declaration of love.
B	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since B's response is uncharacteristically short for the nature of A's declaration of love.
C	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quantity since B's response is uncharacteristically short for the nature of A's declaration of love.
D	Maxim of Quantity

Question 9

A: Oh, by the way, did you hear Mary broke her engagement?

B: Well, by the way, did you hear I broke my big toe?

A	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response has no correlation to A's comment.
B	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response has no correlation to A's comment.
C	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response has no correlation to A's comment.
D	Maxim of Relevance

Question 10

A: Where did you put my car keys?

B: The car is parked out front and is unlocked.

A	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response does not provide any relevant information to A's question.
B	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response does not provide any relevant information to A's question.
C	Maxim of Relevance
D	Maxim of Quality Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Relevance since B's response does not provide any relevant information to A's question.

Question 11

A: Kabul is in Egypt, isn't it?

B: Sure and Washington D.C.’s in England.

A	Maxim of Quality
B	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since Washington DC is not found in England.
C	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since Washington DC is not found in England.
D	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since Washington DC is not found in England.

Question 12

A: Where’s the nearest gas station?

B: This town doesn’t have one. We all fly helicopters.

A	Maxim of Quality
B	Maxim of Relevance Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since B's statement cannot be true.
C	Maxim of Quantity Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since B's statement cannot be true.
D	Maxim of Manner Hint: This is a violation of the Maxim of Quality since B's statement cannot be true.

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There are 12 questions to complete.

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Semantics: Gricean Maxims 1.1

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