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Quantity
Make your contribution as informative as required. (Dont say too
much or too little.)
Make the strongest statement you can.
Quality
Do not say what you believe to be false.
Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence.
Relation
Be relevant. (Stay on topic.)
Manner
actually had, say, two turtles and a dog, he should have made the stronger statement I
have two turtles and a dog instead of the weaker (but still true) statement I have two
turtles.
9. MEREDITH: Tell them what happened!
JOHN: Meredith saw an object or entity strongly resembling a giant bug.
What is John implying?
Whatever Meredith saw, it wasnt a giant bug.
What maxim creates that implication, and why?
Manner. John is using unusually vague and ambiguous language. By describing what
Meredith saw in an unusual way, hes signaling that theres something unusual about it
it isnt what it seemed to be.
Alternate explanation. John is signaling a minor violation of quality. He cant just say
Meredith saw a giant bug since he isnt sure if its true, so he avoids violating
quality by using words especially chosen to signal his uncertainty.