How not to get lost in communication

What do good jokes have in common? Just one principle of effective communication taken to the point of absurdity.

At the workshop “Beyond Grammar: How to Avoid Communication Failure”, we explored the four maxims proposed by philosopher and linguist Herbert Paul Grice — quantity, quality, relevance, and manner. It is precisely the playful violation of these maxims that creates a comedic effect.

What else did we manage to discuss and practice?
We talked about how to keep a conversation going and introduced the 3A principle — “ask, add, answer.” We also practiced distinguishing facts from opinions and identifying and using hedging techniques — linguistic tools that help us express uncertainty more precisely and appropriately.

Very soon, we will hold another workshop that will be particularly useful for early-career researchers. You will learn how to turn a rough draft into a polished text that will catch an editor’s attention, persuade a reviewer, and resonate with its readers. We will look at common mistakes, refine wording, and practice editing real examples.

We look forward to seeing you!