Comments on: edgeblog 01

By: Magdalena De Stefani

Magdalena De Stefani — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:52:38 +0000

Hi everyone,

While reading some of the articles on the Wikipedia link Julian provided I was also browsing through my Facebook (i.e. wasting time), so it occurred to me it might be interesting to reflect on whether the evolution of the Gricean maxims can be evidenced on social networking sites.

In particular, I was thinking of the conversational interactions such as the ones below, in which users seem to be trying to make up for the mediated, asynchronous nature of the communication through an (exaggerated?) use of emoticons, block capitals and exclamation marks:

– OMG – I am sooooooo excited..Can’t wait to see you……ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..can u hear me screaming..
- must have been nightmare journey ..phew.. let me know when u are well rested and have some time for a catch up
- HAPPY NEW YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR !!!!!!!!!!!! UN BESO ENORME MAGGGGGGGDAA ! Y OTRO PARA FEFII
- I am back in Manchester and guess what, it’s freezing cold!! There is snow and ice everywhere!!… Nice weather for studying xxx

I think these might be examples of how the Gricean maxim of manner is being ‘flouted’ with the purpose of making the communication seem less distant. Not sure what it means in pedagogical terms, though I suspect a new – maybe slightly paradoxical – IT version of this maxim could be: ‘Use whatever tools are at your disposal to convey your emotions’.

So, c u all soooon?

Best,
Magdalena

By: Julian Edge

Julian Edge — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:10:04 +0000

Hey. Welcome and thank you to all present here. I think that the competition benchmark has thus far been set by Jane, with a neat pedagogical twist on Grice’s Maxim of Quantity that should be an encouragement to you waverers to get involved.

I’m not altogether sure, but did Clare just call me long-winded? And no, no, I am not on Facebook. I do, however, keep a portrait in the attic . . .

Back soon with those insights you’ve been waiting for into Edge & Garton (2009), and I should give you all fair warning that I have just been informed by a breathtakingly reliable source that Amazon USA is down to its last two copies and re-ordering as we communicate. Well, as I initiate this communication, anyway. So, don’t hold back.

Best,

Julian

By: Phil Quirke

Phil Quirke — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:58:56 +0000

A great addition to the blog world which I have still got to get used to … I am still a Wiki-man…
I am not sure that Grice’s maxims are changed much since we still:
say only what we want to say (quality)
as briefly as poss (quantity)
to as many as poss (relation)
as clearly as poss (manner)
I am sure my niece could do the above with 75 fewer characters but the poss. is as good as I get at the new text lang(uage)…
Will enjoy returning as long as someone keeps reminding me too — take care all. Phil

By: Jane Sjoberg

Jane Sjoberg — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:22:19 +0000

Hi Julian!

Blogging is the only way I managed to actually keep a reflective log! Public privacy seems to work for me!

Anyhow…

An ESOL teacher’s take on Grice’s maxim of quantity:

Only provide as much information as can comfortably fit on your smartboard screen!

‘Speak’ soon,

Jane

By: Clare McCullagh

Clare McCullagh — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:32:00 +0000

Hi Julian
Yes, I reckon you’re suited more to blogging than to tweeting I think once you get into the swing of this you’ll take to it like a duck to water. I’ve come across some good tips for blogging, I’ll see if I can find them and if so, at some stage, will return with a link.
Meanwhile, just so I don’t leave you empty-handed, I’m posting a link to a photo I took on Saturday – it made me smile, I hope it amuses others too.

http://tweetphoto.com/9036637

Congratulations on the forthcoming book, will definitely check it out when it appears.
Best
Clare

By: Magdalena De Stefani

Magdalena De Stefani — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:13:32 +0000

Congratulations on the book and on edgeblog too! I will contribute soon but will have to do some serious thinking first I too feel the pressure to add something that is not just an empty means of increasing the traffic…

By: Sue Garton

Sue Garton — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:52:30 +0000

I now feel under pressure not only to come up with something of quality, but to succumb to being turned into a blogger by the search engine.

So when will you be on Facebook , or are you already on it?

By: Stavroula Bibila

Stavroula Bibila — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:32:45 +0000

I was very interested to see your new book. I am considering entering the competition at the ‘edgeblog 02′ level

By: Steve Mann

Steve Mann — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:21:04 +0000

I feel under pressure to add something of quality – but truth be told it has been a week of boundless quantity and so I fear there is little of substance. I will ponder this connundrum a little longer in order to enter as a serious contender.
I’m looking forward to further edgyblogs though.

By: JulianE

JulianE — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:59:43 +0000

While the winner will be judged only on merit, I think that any prize awarded should be specially designed for the person concerned. In both of these matters, edgeblog will take the responsibility for making unbiased but personally sensitive decisions.