The Hidden Rules of Conversation

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 Gretchen’s book BECAUSE INTERNET, all about the evolution of internet language, is available: 🇺🇸 US: 🇨🇦 CA: 🇬🇧 UK: (Those are affiliate links that give a commission to me or Gretchen, depending on country!) Graphics by William Marler: Audio mix by Graham Haerther: REFERENCES: Munroe, R. (2009). “Free“. 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. I’m at on Twitter at