The Application of Cooperative Principle in Interrogation

Abstract

Language is the fundamental medium through which individuals articulate thoughts, convey emotions, and engage in social interaction. Effective communication is essential in virtually all human activities, enabling participants to exchange messages and construct shared meanings. Successful communication occurs when speakers and listeners align their intentions, allowing messages to be transmitted clearly and understood accurately. Within the field of pragmatics, the Cooperative Principle (CP), introduced by philosopher H.P. Grice, offers a powerful framework for analyzing how conversational participants collaborate to achieve mutual understanding, often by adhering to or strategically violating established conversational norms. This paper explores the theoretical foundations of the Cooperative Principle and its four attendant maxims, Quality, Quantity, Relation, and Manner. It further examines their application within the specialized context of interrogation, where communication is inherently asymmetrical and goal-driven. By analyzing how interrogators and interviewees either follow or flout these maxims to assert control, elicit information, or resist disclosure, this study illuminates the intricate dynamics of power, deception, and pragmatics in investigative dialogues. The findings underscore the utility of Gricean pragmatics as an analytical tool for understanding strategic communication in high-stakes institutional settings.