Target Language V

Ivan Cuellar Mendoza

HEDGING MAXIMS FROM THE

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE

and its relevance for second language

teachers and language learners

TO BEGIN WITH…

OUTLINE

The Cooperative PrincipleHow do Maxims work?Hedging of MaximsRelevance of Hedging for Second Language TeachersRelevance of Hedging for Second Language Learners

THE COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE

LISTENERSPEAKER

meanwhile playing part of a conversation both are being collaborative with each other

Listener is assuming the speaker is not trying to :

• Mislead• Withhold• Confuse

HOW DO MAXIMS WORK?

These general truths lead the speaker’s

utterances to accomplish a conversational

contribution such as is required in the

appropriated context.

Paul Grice proposed 4 sub-principles

( types of maxims ):

Cooperative Principle

Quantity

Manner Relation

Quality

DEFINITION OF HEDGES

Hedges: expressions or cautious notes used by

the Speakers to make evident that maybe they

are not completely adhering to the conversational

maxims.

HEDGING OF MAXIMS

Hedging takes place when:

Make an implicit

statement

To demonstrate

That we may not be

following them

RELEVANCE FOR S - L TEACHERS

①Improvement of examples provided about the

informative use of language.

① To discern when someone is hedging, that is

having a wider comprehension of the use of

language.

RELEVANCE FOR S - L LEARNERS

① Perceiving when is necessary to hedge in order

to not be misunderstood.

① Improvement of their receptive skills.

CONCLUSION

MORE ACTIVE AND COOPERATIVE

PARTICIPANT.

PROPER CONTRIBUTIONS.

TO NOT BE MISTAKEN

AS IMPOLITE OR INAPPROPRIATE.

REFERENCES

① YULE, G. 1996. PRAGMATICS. NEW YORK, USA.

OXFORD PRESS.

② VERSCHUEREN, J. 1999. UNDERSTANDING

PRAGMATICS. NEW YORK, USA. OXFORD

PRESS INC.

③WITTEN, M. "PRAGMATICS" (MATERIAL FOR

PRAGMATICS COURSE WITH THE DR. MICHAEL

WITTEN, PUEBLA, MEXICO. JANUARY 2015.

THANK YOU!