On Flouting Cooperative MaximsA Political Catch - 22 Communicative Quest

الملخص

         This study sheds light on the Cooperative Principle (hereinafter CP), its maxims and the flouting of these maxims in conversational contributions. The concept of cooperation in conversation and talk exchanges is presented by Grice (1975) who theorizes the theorem of the cooperative principle with its maxims: quantity, quality, relation, and manner. Cooperation is supposed to be achieved by these maxims being observed by participants. Sometimes, these maxims are not observed adequately for a variety of reasons. Non-observance modes of maxims include flouting, violating, opting out, infringing, etc. Flouting, the main concern of this study, occurs when participants blatantly fail to observe a maxim which results in generating conversational implicature.

         It is then the intentional violating of one of the maxims to imply something indirectly by using sarcasm, irony, or innuendo for rhetorical or persuasive effect.

By investigating the tactics utilized by two politicians and flouting of Grice’s C P relevant in political discourse this paper attends to make a touch down on figuring some tactics and outmaneuvers followed to secure acceptance. Specifically, the paper compares the rhetorical styles followed by Trump and. Obama in selected speech excerpts. Using the framework of Grice's (1975) conversational maxims—Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner—this study explores how both figures tactically adhere to or deviate from cooperative maxims to persuade, influence, and have public perception.

           Flouting the maxims is a micro-level linguistic phenomenon.  It saliently contributes to enhance macro-level rhetorical strategies. Understanding both, the micro- and macro- level analysis of political speech helps reveal what is being said, what is being implied, and how power is exercised via linguistic expressions.