Top 6 Best Lesson Plans on 'Conversation Maxims' (Lesson 3) for Grade 9

I. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CONVERSATION MAXIMS AND COMMUNICATION CONTEXT

Read the story and answer the following questions:

The groom does not adhere to the politeness maxim because politeness does not always demand formal greetings. When someone is in a situation that isn't conducive to conversation, it is best not to start a dialogue in order to avoid causing discomfort or inconvenience, respecting the context of communication.

Lesson: In communication, it is important to follow conversation maxims that suit the situation (When to speak? Where to speak? With whom to speak? Why speak?).

II. SITUATIONS WHERE CONVERSATION MAXIMS ARE VIOLATED

Question 1. Review the examples of conversation maxims and identify the situations where the maxims were not followed.

Among the examples, only the beggar story follows the politeness maxim, while the others violate conversation maxims:

+ 'Pig wedding, new clothes': violates the maxim of quantity

+ 'The giant pumpkin': violates the maxim of quality

Question 2. Read the dialogue and answer the following questions:

- Ba's answer does not meet An's expectations.

- The maxim of quantity is violated because An wanted a specific year, not a vague time period that Ba provided.

- The speaker violates the maxim of quantity because Ba may not have had an exact answer, thus opting for a general response. While not specific, it remains accurate and does not violate the maxim of quality. However, if Ba had provided false information, this would have violated the maxim of quality.

Question 3. When a doctor speaks to a terminally ill patient about their health, which maxim might be violated? Identify other situations where this maxim may not be followed.

The maxim of quality may be violated. The doctor might withhold the truth about the patient's health condition to avoid causing panic, fear, or discouragement, which could undermine the patient's mental state and interfere with their treatment.

Other situations where the maxim of quality may be violated include during wartime, when harsh truths are downplayed to maintain morale and prevent despair.

Question 4. When someone says, 'Money is just money,' are they violating the maxim of quantity? What does this statement mean?

'Money is just money' violates the maxim of quantity. The statement emphasizes the role of money as a mere medium of exchange. Money has value but is not the most important thing. There are more meaningful things in life such as family, dreams, and aspirations.

III. EXERCISES

Question 1. Read the following story and answer the questions:

The father's question violates the politeness maxim. A five-year-old child cannot read, so they wouldn’t be able to identify the book titled 'Short Stories by Nam Cao.' The father did not take the communication context into account, and his response was inappropriate.

Question 2. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions:

- The attitudes and words of the Feet, Hands, Ears, Eyes, and Mouth violated the politeness maxim (no greeting at the start, rude comments, lack of respect for the listener).

- The failure to adhere to the maxim was unjustified, as the Feet, Hands, Ears, Eyes, and Mouth did not recognize their close relationship with Old Mouth.

I. Basic Knowledge

– Conversational maxims are guidelines that participants in a conversation must follow to ensure effective communication.

– There are 5 main conversational maxims:

Maxim of Quantity: In communication, it is important to speak with substance; the content of speech should meet the needs of the conversation, neither too much nor too little.
Maxim of Quality: In communication, avoid saying things you do not believe to be true or cannot provide evidence for.
Maxim of Relation: In communication, stick to the topic and avoid digressing.
Maxim of Manner: In communication, speak clearly and concisely, avoiding vagueness.
Maxim of Politeness: In communication, be tactful and show respect for others.
– To communicate effectively, one must understand these maxims. However, depending on the specific context of the conversation, the maxims should be applied flexibly and appropriately.

– Noncompliance with these maxims may arise from the following reasons:

The speaker may be careless, awkward, or lack good communication etiquette;
The speaker may prioritize one maxim over another or an external demand;
The speaker may intentionally seek to draw attention or lead the listener to interpret the statement in a particular way.

II. Suggested Answers to Textbook Questions

Guidelines for answering the questions from pages 37 to 38 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese language textbook:

The relationship between conversational maxims and communication contexts

Exercise on page 36 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

Read the following humorous story and answer the questions

GREETING

A man, staying at his wife's house in the countryside, was reminded by his family to always greet people around him.

One day, he went out and saw a person trimming branches on a tall tree. He waved to him.

The person stopped, hurriedly climbed down, and asked:

- What's the matter?

- Nothing! Are you working hard?

(From a Vietnamese folk joke)

Did the son-in-law follow the maxim of politeness? Why do you think so? What lesson can be learned from this story?

Answer:

- The son-in-law called a person down from a tall tree to greet him and asked if he was working hard, which disturbed him. Therefore, the son-in-law did not follow the maxim of politeness.

- It is important to consider who we are speaking to, when we are speaking, where we are speaking, and the purpose of our speech to follow the conversational maxims.

- The lesson to be learned: Pay attention to the specific context of the conversation, as a statement that is appropriate in one context may not be suitable in another.

Non-compliance with conversational maxims

Question 1 – Page 37 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

Review the examples discussed when learning about conversational maxims and identify situations where the conversational maxims were not followed:

Answer:

Conversational maxims are general guidelines, not strict rules that must apply in every situation.

Failure to comply with the maxims often arises due to:

- The speaker being careless, awkward, or lacking communication etiquette.

- The speaker prioritizing one maxim over another or an external demand.

– In the situation in the story “The Beggar,” the maxim of politeness is followed, while in other cases, the maxims are not adhered to.

Question 2 – Page 37 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

Read the dialogue below, pay attention to the bolded words, and answer the questions:

An: – Do you know when the first airplane was built?

Ba: – It was around the early 20th century.

Does Ba's answer meet An's need for precise information? Which conversational maxim was not followed? Why didn't the speaker comply with that maxim?

Answer:

Ba's response did not meet An's need for accurate information. The maxim of quantity was not followed.

Ba did not know the exact year the first airplane was built, so he gave a vague answer without specifying the year.

Question 3 – Page 37 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

When a doctor speaks to a patient diagnosed with a terminal illness about their health condition, which conversational maxim might not be followed? Why would the doctor do this? Are there other situations where this maxim might not be followed?

Answer:

A doctor may not follow the maxim of quality when speaking to a terminally ill patient, as they might withhold the truth to avoid causing the patient emotional distress.

- When informing a patient about their terminal illness, a doctor might not follow the maxim of quality (not saying things believed to be true), as they may offer false reassurance to the patient.

- Similarly, a soldier in enemy captivity might not adhere to the maxim of quality by withholding sensitive information about their comrades, weapons, or defense strategies.

In such situations, family members of a heart failure patient might also withhold bad news to prevent causing distress and further harm to the patient's health.

Question 4 – Page 37 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

If someone says, “Money is just money,” are they not following the maxim of quantity? How should this statement be interpreted?

Answer:

When someone says, “Money is just money,” they intend to draw attention and guide the listener to interpret the statement in a deeper, implied meaning. The statement does not follow the maxim of quantity, as no additional concrete information is provided. However, the implied meaning follows the maxim of quantity. The phrase suggests that money is only a means to live, not the ultimate goal in life. We should not focus solely on money and forget other valuable aspects of life, such as honor and integrity.

Practice

Question 1 – Page 38 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

Read the following short story and answer the questions:

A five-year-old boy was playing with a plastic ball in his father's study. The ball rolled into a lower shelf of a bookcase. The boy searched for it but couldn't find it, so he asked his father. The father replied:

- The ball is right under the “Nam Cao Short Story Collection” over there.

Which conversational maxim did the father violate? Analyze and clarify the violation.

Answer:

- The father violated the maxim of manner.

- A five-year-old child cannot recognize the “Nam Cao Short Story Collection” to use as a reference for finding the ball. The father's response was unclear and not suitable for the child, as he failed to consider the listener's ability.

Question 2 – Page 38 of the 9th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions:

Four individuals hurried to the home of Old Man Mouth. Upon arriving, they did not greet him, and Chân and Tay immediately told him:

- We didn’t come here today to visit or chat with you; we came to tell you that from now on, we will no longer work to support you. We’ve been working hard for you for a long time.

(Chân, Tay, Tai, Mắt, Miệng)

What conversational maxim did Chân, Tay, Tai, and Mắt violate? Was there a valid reason for their violation? Why?

Answer:

Chân, Tay, Tai, and Mắt violated the maxim of politeness, making their words unsuitable for the context.

When visiting someone’s home, one should greet the host first before addressing any other matters. Here, they failed to greet the host and rudely delivered their message, aiming to draw attention and speak harshly to Old Man Mouth.

Key Takeaways

Failure to adhere to conversational maxims can result from:

- The speaker being careless, awkward, or lacking proper communication etiquette;

- The speaker prioritizing one maxim over another or other external demands;

- The speaker intentionally drawing attention and leading the listener to interpret a statement in a specific way.

A. REQUIREMENTS

- Understand the relationship between conversation maxims and communication contexts.

- Apply conversation maxims appropriately to communication situations.

B. SUGGESTIONS FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES

I – Lesson Section

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONVERSATION MAXIMS AND COMMUNICATION CONTEXTS

Read the humor story on Greetings (Textbook, p. 36) and answer the question.

Suggestion:

- The character in the Greetings story follows the politeness maxim correctly, expressing concern and empathy for the person cutting branches. However, the timing of the greeting made the situation more burdensome for the person being addressed.

- Lesson learned: The application of conversation maxims should align with the communication context.

EXAMPLES OF NOT FOLLOWING CONVERSATION MAXIMS

Question 1: Revisit the examples discussed when learning about conversation maxims (maxim of quantity, maxim of quality, maxim of relation, maxim of manner, maxim of politeness) and identify situations where conversation maxims were not followed.

Suggestion:

In the examples analyzed when learning about conversation maxims, only the situation in the Beggar story (politeness maxim) was adhered to, while the other situations (pertaining to other conversation maxims) did not follow the rules.

Question 2: Read the dialogue (Textbook, p. 37), pay attention to the bolded words, and answer the questions.

Suggestion:

Ba’s response does not meet An’s informational needs. This violates the maxim of quantity: An asks “which year,” but Ba replies “around the early 20th century.” However, Ba doesn't know the exact year the first airplane was made, so Ba had to violate the maxim of quantity (providing insufficient information) to adhere to the maxim of quality (not stating something untrue or unsupported by evidence).

Question 3: When a doctor discusses the condition of a terminally ill patient, which conversation maxim might not be followed? Why does the doctor do this? Find other situations where this maxim is also violated.

Suggestion:

- When a doctor talks to a terminally ill patient about their condition, the maxims of quality and quantity might be violated. This means not being clear, not accurately describing the illness, or not revealing the full severity of the disease, and not mentioning the limitations of medical science...

This “white lie” is a standard practice in medicine, balancing both scientific and humanitarian aspects. It helps the patient stay optimistic, hopeful, and ultimately more resilient, which benefits the treatment process.

- Other situations where the maxim of quality might be violated include: a communist soldier, when captured by the enemy, does not tell the truth to protect military secrets, avoid harm to their comrades, or safeguard the revolution. Similarly, for politeness, people often “lie” about physical appearances or abilities during conversations. For instance, when giving feedback on someone's appearance or abilities, they may exaggerate to be polite, while self-assessments are often modest and inaccurate to avoid appearing arrogant.

Question 4: When someone says, “Money is just money,” does this violate the maxim of quantity? What does this statement mean?

Suggestion:

When someone says “Money is just money,” the maxim of quantity is violated in its literal sense, as the statement does not provide new information. However, the deeper meaning behind the statement is that money is just a tool for living, not the ultimate goal of life. It reminds the listener that besides money, there are emotional relationships and other sacred values in life that are equally, if not more, important.

II – Practice Section

Exercise 1: Read the story (Textbook, p. 38) and answer the question.

Suggestion:

The father’s answer in this story violates the maxim of manner. The speaker did not consider the listener’s age. A five-year-old child would not understand “The Complete Short Stories of Nam Cao.” However, adults who have been to school would not find this answer problematic, as it is not violating the maxim of manner in their case.

Exercise 2: Read the excerpt (Textbook, p. 38) and answer the question.

Suggestion:

The characters Chân, Tay, Tai, Mắt did not follow the politeness maxim: they didn’t greet and instead spoke harshly. Their failure to adhere to the politeness maxim is unjustified. Chân, Tay, Tai, Mắt did not acknowledge the close relationship they had with Lão Miệng. This becomes even clearer when the whole story is read.

I. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONVERSATION MAXIMS AND COMMUNICATION CONTEXTS

Example: The Greeting Story

Did the son-in-law follow the politeness maxim correctly? Why or why not? What lesson can be drawn from this story?

Answer:

- The son-in-law in the Greeting story did not follow the politeness maxim because he did not consider the specific communication context. The question “You’re working hard, aren’t you?” was inappropriate in this situation, as the person being asked was called down from a high place while focusing on their work. The son-in-law’s question was a disruption, causing unnecessary trouble for the other person.

- Lesson: It’s important to pay attention to the specifics of the communication context. A statement that works well in one situation may not be suitable in another.

II. CASES WHERE CONVERSATION MAXIMS ARE NOT FOLLOWED

Answer to Question 1 (Textbook, p. 37, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

Revisit the examples discussed when learning about conversation maxims. In which situations were the maxims not followed?

Answer:

- In the examples analyzed, except for the two situations discussed under the politeness maxim, all other situations did not follow the conversation maxims.

Answer to Question 2 (Textbook, p. 37, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

Did Ba’s answer meet An’s informational needs? Which conversation maxim was violated? Why did the speaker violate that maxim?

Answer:

- Ba’s answer did not meet An’s informational needs.

- The violated maxim is the maxim of quantity.

- The speaker violated this maxim because they did not know the exact year the first airplane was created. To comply with the maxim of quality, the speaker provided a vague answer: “Perhaps around the early 20th century.”

Answer to Question 3 (Textbook, p. 37, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

When a doctor talks to a terminally ill patient about their health, which conversation maxim might not be followed? Why might the doctor do this? Can you think of other communication situations where this maxim is also not followed?

Answer:

- When a doctor talks to a terminally ill patient about their condition, the maxim of quality is likely violated.

- This might be a deliberate choice by the doctor. If they were to tell the patient the full truth about their critical condition, it could cause emotional distress, negatively affecting their health. Therefore, the doctor may choose not to tell the truth in order to encourage optimism, which is considered an act of compassion. In this case, the doctor may violate a conversation maxim in order to achieve a more important goal.

Answer to Question 4 (Textbook, p. 37, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

When someone says, “Money is just money,” does this violate the maxim of quantity? What does this statement mean?

Answer:

- On the surface, the statement “money is just money” does not provide new information, which means it violates the maxim of quantity. However, if we consider the implied meaning, the statement actually conveys a deeper message: money is just a means of survival, not the ultimate goal in life. There are many things more valuable than money.

- So, in some cases, a speaker may deliberately violate a conversation maxim to highlight a deeper implication.

III. PRACTICE

Answer to Question 1 (Textbook, p. 38, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

Which conversation maxim did the father violate in his response? Analyze to clarify the violation.

Answer:

- The father’s response “The ball is right under the 'Complete Short Stories of Nam Cao' book” violates the maxim of manner.

- To others, this might be a clear statement, but to a five-year-old child who cannot read, the reference to the book title would be confusing. Therefore, the child would be unable to find the ball, even though the father’s answer seems logical to an adult.

Answer to Question 2 (Textbook, p. 38, Grade 9 Literature, Volume 1):

What conversation maxim did Chân, Tay, Tai, and Mắt violate with their attitudes and words? Was there a valid reason for violating the maxim? Why?

Answer:

- Chân, Tay, Tai, and Mắt violated the politeness maxim in their communication.

- Their failure to follow the maxim was not justified. In normal conversation, when visiting someone’s home, one should greet the host first before discussing other matters. However, in this situation, Chân, Tay, Tai, and Mắt did not greet the host and immediately began speaking harshly. Their anger and words were unwarranted in this context.

I. The Relationship Between Conversation Maxims and Communication Contexts

- The story “The Greeting” is related to the politeness maxim.

- The son-in-law failed to consider the specific communication context.

+ His polite inquiry was perceived as impolite and tactless because it disturbed the other person.

→ It’s crucial to be aware of the communication context to ensure appropriateness.

II. Cases Where Conversation Maxims Are Not Followed

1. Only the situation in the story “The Beggar” adheres to the politeness maxim; all other cases violate conversation maxims.

2.

a. In the first case, the maxim of quantity is violated. Ba’s response didn’t provide enough detail to meet An’s request, his answer was too vague.

b. If the answer were incorrect, it would violate the maxim of quality.

To avoid violating the maxim of quality, Ba chose to provide a vague answer, thus accepting a violation of the maxim of quantity.

c. The doctor violates the maxim of quality.

Purpose: to build trust and morale for the patient.

- To achieve a more important goal, one might choose to disregard a conversation maxim.

4. The phrase “Money is just money” doesn’t provide new information, but its implicit meaning suggests that there are more valuable things in life than money.

→ To draw attention or express a deeper message, the speaker might intentionally ignore a conversation maxim.

III. Practice

Exercise 1 (Textbook, p. 38, Grade 9, Volume 1)

The father failed to follow the maxim of manner:

+ A 5-year-old child (who hasn’t yet started school) wouldn’t understand the reference to “The Complete Short Stories of Nam Cao.”

+ For this audience, the statement is unclear.

→ The father’s answer fails to maintain the proper relationship between the conversation maxim and the communication context.

Exercise 2 (Textbook, p. 38, Grade 9, Volume 1)

Chân and Tay’s words toward the elderly character Miệng violate the politeness maxim.

Their failure to observe this maxim lacks a legitimate reason and is unjustified.

I. The Relationship Between Conversation Maxims and Communication Contexts

- The question “Isn’t the doctor working hard?” might be considered polite and show concern in another context. However, in this particular situation, the person being asked was disturbed by a fool who called them down from a tree while they were busy working. Clearly, the fool caused an unnecessary interruption, creating inconvenience for the other person.

- Lesson: Conversation maxims should be applied in a way that fits the specific communication context.

II. Instances of Not Adhering to Conversation Maxims

Question 1: Among the examples discussed regarding conversation maxims, only the scenario in the story “The Beggar” follows the politeness maxim, while the others fail to observe conversation maxims.

Question 2:

- Ba’s response doesn’t meet An’s need for information (An asked for a specific year, but Ba answered with “around the early 20th century”).

- The maxim of quantity was violated here.

- Ba didn’t know the exact year the first airplane was made. To adhere to the maxim of quality (not saying something without evidence), Ba chose to provide a vague answer: “Somewhere around the early 20th century.”

Question 3: Similar communication situations:

The doctor might not tell the patient the harsh truth about their terminal condition, instead offering encouragement by saying that with effort, the patient might overcome the challenge. This breaks the maxim of quality, as the doctor is not speaking what they believe to be true. However, this act is compassionate and necessary, as it could help the patient stay positive and fight for their remaining time. Therefore, not all instances of “lying” should be condemned.

Other situations like this exist, such as a soldier who, when captured by the enemy, might refuse to disclose vital information about their comrades or military secrets to adhere to the maxim of quality.

In general, when a situation requires a higher goal than adhering strictly to conversation maxims, they may be disregarded.

Question 4:

- The statement “Money is just money” doesn’t introduce new information, but when considering its implied meaning, the phrase aligns with the maxim of quantity.

- The meaning of this phrase: Money is merely a tool for living, not the ultimate goal of life. This phrase serves as a reminder not to chase wealth at the cost of more important and meaningful aspects of life.

III. Practice

Question 1: The father violated the maxim of manner. A 5-year-old child cannot understand a reference to “The Complete Short Stories of Nam Cao” and therefore could not use it to find the ball. The father’s statement is unclear for the child and shows a lack of consideration for the communication context.

Question 2: The guests (Chân, Tay, Tai, Mắt) displayed a lack of harmony with the host (Miệng). Chân and Tay’s words did not follow the politeness maxim. Their failure to follow this maxim is inappropriate for the situation. According to social etiquette, when visiting someone’s home, you should first greet the host before discussing other matters. In this situation, the guests ignored the greeting and instead spoke angrily and harshly to the host, without any valid reason for their anger or harsh words.