According to Maxim of Quantity, being under-informative in a conversation is uncooperative, but being over-informative is cooperative, because over-informative statements provide sufficient information.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Take a closer look at what the Maxim of Quantity demands in conversation analysis. 
Option 1: True. The statement claims that under-informative behavior is uncooperative, while over-informative behavior is cooperative because it provides sufficient information. Here, the key issue is that Grice’s Maxim of Quantity actually cautions speakers to be informative enough to convey the intended message, but not to overload with extraneous detail. Over-informing can still be uncooperative if it overwhelms the listener, obscures the main point, or violates relevance. Therefore this option mischaracterizes the balance the maxim seeks and is not accurate.
Option 2: False. This option reflects the standard reading of the Maxim of Quantity: be as informative as required, and avoid both too little and too much information. Under-informative contributions can hinder mutual understanding and be uncooperative, but over-informative statements do not automatically count as cooperative; they risk violating the maxim and reducing communicative efficiency. In many contexts, excessive detail is considered information overload and can be deemed unhelpful or irrelevant, even if a listener could glean the needed point from it. This framing aligns with the principle that cooperation involves appropriate informativity, not simply more information. 
Overall, the statement in Option 1 contradicts the principle by implying over-informative content is cooperative, which is not consistent with the Maxim of Quantity. The reasoning in Option 2 correctly highlights the cautious balance required by the maxim and why over-informativeness is not inherently cooperative.

LIN102H5 S All Sections TUT11 preparation (Mar.31)

According to Maxim of Quantity, being under-informative in a conversation is uncooperative, but being over-informative is cooperative, because over-informative statements provide sufficient information.

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