Gricean Maxims are a vital part of how we understand each other: a set of… well, maybe “rules” is a bit strong. They’re guidelines that we follow without realising it. And it’s the reason that “asbestos-free cereal” sounds suspicious.

Written with Molly Ruhl and Gretchen McCulloch. Gretchen’s podcast Lingthusiasm is at https://bit.ly/2Xiys0s

Gretchen’s book BECAUSE INTERNET, all about the evolution of internet language, is available:
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Graphics by William Marler: https://bit.ly/3C1qjMU
Audio mix by Graham Haerther: https://bit.ly/3lNfGYq

REFERENCES:
Munroe, R. (2009). “Free”. https://bit.ly/3BPrTSj
Grice, H.P. (1975). “Logic and Conversation,” Syntax and Semantics, vol.3 edited by P. Cole and J. Morgan, Academic Press. Reprinted as ch.2 of Grice 1989, 22–40.

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