Universität zu Köln

Schwellenbach, Sarah ORCID: 0000-0001-8841-8986 (2026). Revising and extending Gricean maxims: The TRICS-Principles. Journal of Linguistics, 62 (2). pp. 455-482. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 0022-2267

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Abstract

Grice’s foundational conversation model has inspired a range of influential developments, with various approaches to merging the maxims. This paper addresses unresolved controversies and circular dependencies that have fuelled assumptions of interdependence among the principles. It provides a revision of both Grice’s cooperative principle and the principles of truthfulness, relevance, informativeness and clarity, and extends them to include a principle of social conformity, which I collectively refer to as the TRICS-Principles. I demonstrate that the TRICS-Principles operate independently of each other at different levels and show the extent to which the other principles may function under the umbrella of a flouted principle of truthfulness. Furthermore, I distinguish the principle of social conformity from the concept of politeness, offering a nuanced perspective on their relationship. Finally, I provide new insights into factors influencing shifts in the prioritisation of the TRICS-Principles.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Schwellenbach, Sarah UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8841-8986 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-799247
Identification Number:	10.1017/S0022226725100765
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Linguistics
Volume:	62
Number:	2
Page Range:	pp. 455-482
Number of Pages:	28
Date:	April 2026
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0022-2267
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 5: Moderne Sprachen und Kulturen > Romanisches Seminar > Portugiesisch-Brasilianisches Institut
Subjects:	Language, Linguistics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language conversation ; Gricean maxims ; implicature ; neo-Gricean pragmatics ; social conformity English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79924