Maxims of conversation exercises:
Exercises Each problem presents a short dialogue. You must identify which a maxim is being used or violated. You may be asked to figure out the implication, or it may be given to you.
- LAURA: Come on, I’m taking you to the gym.
MEREDITH: Yeah, and pigs can fly.
What is Meredith implying? What maxim creates that implication, and why?
- CARSON: What happened?
MEREDITH: He got attacked by a giant bug, and he passed out.
Implication: He passed out because he was first attacked (in other words, the order in which the events occurred is: (1) he got attacked; (2) he passed out.)
What maxim creates that implication, and why?
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- LAURA: Do you have any pets?
CARSON: I have two wee baby turtles.
Implication: Carson doesn’t have any other pets besides the two turtles.
What maxim creates that implication, and why?
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- JOHN: We just have to fly real close to the corona of the sun!
MEREDITH: You’re lucky you’re pretty.
What is Meredith implying? What maxim creates that implication, and why?
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