Grice suggested that conversation is based on a shared principle of cooperation. This principle was fleshed out in a series of maxims. Here the writers analyzed the maxims used by the vendors in Borobudur Temple when communicating with foreign tourists. The vendors did not have a good ability in speaking English because English is not their first or even their second language. The problems of this study are: (1) How do the vendors in Borobudur Temple learn English? and (2) What are the maxims used by the vendors of Borobudur Temple in communication with the foreign tourists?
This study used a qualitative approach with ethnomethodology methods to get the detailed information of the vendors’ learning English and the maxims used in the vendors’ conversation. The data are taken from interviews, observation and recording conversations between the vendors and the foreign tourists.
The results showed the vendors’ daily life in learning English, and without joining formal education at schools, the vendors could communicate with the tourists using simple sentences to sell the product. The results on the maxims used in the conversations between the vendors at Borobudur Temple and the foreign tourists was the vendors used maxims of quality and maxims of relation. The vendors did not use maxims of quantity and maxims of manner. This was because of the vendors’ lack of English vocabulary.
The conclusion of this study was the vendors of Borobudur Temple study English in their community without studying English formally at school, and the vendors used maxims of quantity and maxims of relation in conversations with foreigners to sell the product.
Keywords: cooperative principle, vendors, Borobudur temple, foreign tourists