AEE 227: 4 Rules to Master the "Poetics of English Conversation" with Travis Wolven

In this episode of the All Ears English podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan interview Travis Wolven, an ESL teacher at the Harvard Bridge Program, about the "poetics of conversation." Travis introduces four maxims from philosopher Paul Grice to improve conversational skills: quantity (being informative but concise), quality (truthfulness and cultural awareness), relation (relevance), and manner (clarity and directness). The discussion includes personal anecdotes and cross-cultural communication examples, particularly from Travis's experiences in Korea, to illustrate how these maxims play out in real-life conversations and how cultural differences impact communication styles. The episode emphasizes that mastering a language involves more than grammar and vocabulary; it requires understanding the social and cultural nuances of conversation.