We all have those moments when we are sitting at the dinner table on Thanksgiving and that one family member brings up a controversial topic/conversation. When a guest (A) mentions something out of pocket or uncomfortable for example guess (A) may start up a conversation by talking about how marijuana should be legal in all states because it has helped the crime rate decrease and health benefits. While guest (B) may use the “maxim of manners’ ‘ to initiate clear, brief, and efficient use of the language to avoid inappropriate conversation guest (B) states that marijuana will be harmful and corrupt the youth. This created a discrepancy between the two guests but the Grice Maxims of conversation proposed that every speaker of every language operates with several default assumptions about how conversation works to avoid “ambiguity and obscurity.” While the maxim of manners is important we can also use the maxims of conversation and point out if the conversation is lacking adequate evidence or if it does not say what we believe to be false. This way communication can be conveyed in an appropriate way and everyone can understand what is being said compared to what is being implicated.


