T-Shirts: Urban Language of Remembrance______39
from speech to written forms of communication. With speech acts, the interest is
in what individuals do with language, and written communication serves that
purpose equally as well as the spoken form of communication. In discussing the
concept of speech acts, the philosopher Paul Grice has established several
guidelines or maxims in conversation, part of the broad cooperative principle.
These maxims are manner, quality, quantity, and relevance. The notion of
conversation can be incorporated with respect to T-shirts if, as previously noted,
there is a minimalist principle of speaker and audience, in this case what readers
encounter regarding the language of remembrance of T-shirts at these emotional
events. One of Grice’s maxims that is relevant here is quantity. By this maxim,
communication should be fashioned with as many words as required, no more or
no less.
Therefore, the message is short and to the point. A message that says R.I.P.
says many things although it is constructed with three letters. It is not just a
shortcut of sorts. There is more to the message than the letters seen can convey.
It is supposed, for example, that the person, whose life is remembered, lived a
life that was productive in the eyes of family and friends. In the end, the
suggestion is that the departed one does so in peace.
Another maxim advanced by Grice is that of relevance. The maxim of
relevance, according to Grice, has direct bearing on the issue being discussed.
One could argue, and rightfully so, that the message of remembrance is in
keeping with the event of sorrow. It would seem strange to find language that is
not relevant. Relevance must also be in keeping with what messenger and
audience share regarding the language of remembrance. A message that reads In
Loving Memory suggests that the departed individual led a life that should be
remembered. The principle of relevance, therefore, is a factor in composing the
language of remembrance since the words chosen for this event should be in
keeping with the overall theme of memory.