Warning: Each school has a different text that they study in this subject. These notes are for the play/movie 'Oleanna' and are unlikely to be of use unless you are lucky enough to have studied this particular text.

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Overview

The film can be viewed here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2KFG4ZibCQ

Grice’s Cooperative Principle and maxims of conversation Communication & Perspective   As humans, we are social beings and when we talk we usually talk with or to others (unless we do a monologue). Paul Grice, an English language philosopher, argues that speakers intend to be cooperative when they talk. For Grice, cooperative means that the speaker knows that each utterance is a potential interference in the personal rights, autonomy and wishes ( a potential face-threatening act) of the other. That is why we have to shape our utterances in a certain way. Grice formulated the principle of cooperation that underlies conversation, as follows: Make your conversational contribution such as is required, at the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged(Grice 1975:45) Grice’s cooperative principle is a set of norms that are expected in conversations. It consists of four maxims, we have to follow in order to be cooperative and understood: Maxim of quality: As a speaker, we have to tell the truth or something that is provable by adequate evidence. Maxim of Quantity: We have to be as informative as required, we should not say more or less. Maxim of Relation: Our response has to be relevant to the topic of discussion.   Maxim of manner: We have to avoid ambiguity or obscurity; we should be direct and straightforward. Yet, successful communication does not only depend on WHAT we are saying but also on HOW we are saying something! Now watch Oleanna   1) How is power negotiated in the conversation? 2) How is meaning negotiated?

3:33 Body language she asks a question but he isn't answering the question or facing to answer her. He orders her around "sit down". He tries to explain that her work is ambiguous and it doesn't convey meaning. But she interrupts him "I need to pass".

12:42 I don't understand anything

People came her to get on 

"I think that you are angry"

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