Communication Theories and Grice's Maxims

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Questions and Answers

What does the category of quantity in Grice's Cooperative Principle emphasize?

Be relevant in all contributions.

Provide the right amount of information. (correct)

Ensure contributions are true.

Be clear and orderly in communication.

Which maxim is related to the category of quality in Grice's Cooperative Principle?

Be brief and orderly.

Avoid ambiguity.

Provide adequate evidence. (correct)

Be polite in expression.

What is a defining characteristic of a formula in oral communication?

It always conveys deep emotional meaning.

It requires informal language for effectiveness.

It is a fixed form of words used ceremonially. (correct)

It involves varied expressions based on context.

In the context of Brown and Levinson's theory, what does 'positive face' refer to?

The need to be accepted and valued by others. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'routines' in oral communication?

Consistent procedures for constructing discourse. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary functions of politeness strategies in communication?

To maintain a balance between negative and positive face. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following maxims belongs to Grice's category of relation?

Make contributions relevant. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the category of manner contribute to effective communication?

By promoting clarity and avoiding unnecessary complexity. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the way people take turns in a conversation?

Turn-taking (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the combination of two utterances where one responds to the other?

Adjacency Pair (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to Grice's theory, what is the basis of cooperation in conversations?

Cooperative Principle (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an ellipsis in conversation?

What are you doing?-Just studying. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of words are typically more numerous in spoken language compared to lexical words?

Function Words (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of hesitation devices in speech?

Precise terminology (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of using vague terms like 'thing' in spoken discourse?

Reduces clarity (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'false starts' refer to in conversation analysis?

Unfinished thoughts or restart of an utterance (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of oral communication involves predetermined speaking turns and times for both sides?

Debates (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common characteristic of spoken English?

Use of contractions and slurring (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Conversation Analysis (CA)?

Understanding how participants manage speaking opportunities (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an adjacency pair?

A formal concept related to two consecutive utterances in a conversation (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic differentiates spoken English from written English?

Preference for the active voice (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the use of hedges, such as 'kind of' or 'sort of', affect spoken discourse?

They create uncertainty and vagueness in communication. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the complexity of spoken English compared to written English?

It tends to exhibit greater grammatical complexity. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of spoken language does 'turn-taking' primarily refer to?

The sequence in which speakers decide their speaking roles. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized as a key element for effective oral communication?

The management of norms and strategies in oral speech (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which decree pertains specifically to the curriculum for Compulsory Secondary Education in Andalusia?

Decree 102/2023 (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which author is known for their work 'Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English'?

D. Biber (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Order of May 30, 2023 primarily address?

Attention to diversity and individual differences (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the sample summary, what advantage does the oral communication channel provide?

It offers numerous possibilities for expression (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following documents was released on May 30, 2023?

Order of May 30, 2023 for Secondary Education (A) Signup and view all the answers

Who are considered as significant contributors to the understanding of language structure according to the bibliography?

D. Biber and M.A.K. Halliday (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of analysis does the referenced webliography article focus on?

Conversation analysis (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which category of Grice's Cooperative Principle involves providing appropriate and accurate information?

Category of quality (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a participant flouts Grice's Cooperative Principle?

Communication may break down (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the function of routines in oral communication?

They are unvarying procedures to facilitate discourse (B) Signup and view all the answers

What do positive face wants refer to in social interactions?

The need to be recognized as a supportive member of society (B) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the category of manner in Grice's maxims encourages clarity in communication?

Being orderly and concise (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily expressed through formulae in oral discourse?

Conventional or ceremonial expressions (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes negative face wants?

The wish to assert personal independence from social norms (D) Signup and view all the answers

How do politeness strategies function in communication?

They provide a balance between positive and negative face wants (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT belong to Grice's maxims?

Be verbose and elaborate (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key point to remember about social interaction across cultures?

The meaning of interest expression can vary significantly between cultures (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the category of quantity guide participants in a conversation?

By suggesting the right amount of information (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of oral discourse, what distinguishes a routine from a formula?

Routines provide a structure, while formulae are fixed expressions (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'didactic transposition' in teaching pragmatics?

Transferring pragmatic knowledge to students for effective communication (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies can help avoid discourtesy in communication?

Being optimistic and considering the hearer’s wants (A) Signup and view all the answers

What can complicate the teaching of different forms of disagreeing?

The varying forms of disagreement may cause confusion (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which politeness strategy involves showing shared viewpoints with the hearer?

Claim in-group membership (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Oral Communication: Elements and Norms

Oral communication involves spoken language, differing from written language in characteristics like informal structure and flexible turn-taking
Spoken English differs from written English in various ways, including informal features, parataxis, contractions, and the use of hedges and fillers.

Oral Communication: Characteristics

Speakers possess a greater variety of expressive tools than writers
Speakers use intonation, stress, pitch, and body language to convey attitudes and show interest or lack thereof
Speakers can rephrase, speed up, or slow down speech based on listener feedback
Face-to-face interactions allow for the use of facial expressions, gestures, and body language to aid comprehension

Elements and Norms Governing Oral Discourse

Conversation Analysis (CA) studies how conversations are managed.
Turns in conversations are governed by a flexible turn-taking system
Adjacency pairs (FPPs, SPPs) are common in conversations, like question-answer pairs, requests-compliance pairs etc

Routines and Formulae

Tags are added to clauses as afterthoughts, often qualifying statements. Examples include "isn't it?" and "don't you think?".
Interjections like "oh," "ah," and "wow" express emotions or reactions. Interjections often combine with other words like "oh yeah" or "oh well".
Attention signals, like "hey" or "say," grab the listener's attention.
Response elicitors such as "huh?", "eh?", encourage responses like confirmations or assertions.
Response forms such as "Yes," "No," or "okay" provide quick responses to questions or commands.
Greetings and farewells serve as essential routines, exhibiting formality or informality.

Oral Communication Strategies

Planning is an integral aspect of speech, including speaker knowledge of the listener and the context.
speakers rely on cooperative principles and assumed listener comprehension
speakers use politeness strategies to balance desire for communication clarity & maintain social harmony

Didactic Transposition

Transposing pragmatic knowledge of communication into pedagogical tools is a significant challenge.

Conclusion

Oral communication is a complex social interaction influenced by linguistic elements, politeness strategies, and practical considerations.

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Description

Test your understanding of Grice's Cooperative Principle and Brown and Levinson's face theory with this quiz. Explore the categories of quantity, quality, and manner, and how they impact effective communication. Dive into key concepts like politeness strategies and routines in oral discourse.