Forms of Humor Created through Maxim of Quantity Flouting
Thus, he flouts maxim of quantity. He self- deprecates himself to demonstrate modesty. He says that he only did a little less shit, even though he brings many
improvements towards Zoey‟s store.
2 Teasing
Teasing is di rected at the listener‟s personal appearance or weaknesses,
when a speaker wants to create humorous effect. It is different from sarcasm. It does not seriously insult or offend the listener. The following datum is an example
of teasing as a result of maxim of quantity flouting. Aladeen : You seem educated.
Zoey : Yes. I went to Amherst.
Aladeen :
I love it when women go to school. It’s like seeing a monkey on
rollerskates. It means nothing to them, but it’s so adorable for us.
Datum 14 After Zoey gives Aladeen the grand tour about her store, Aladeen thinks
that Zoey is an educated woman. Then, Zoey says that she went to Amherst or studied at college. Aladeen wants to say that it is so adorable for him, since in
Wadiya an educated woman is rare. However, he gives too much information when he expresses his feeling. Thus, he flouts maxim of quantity.
Aladeen also teases Zoey for her achievement as an educated woman. He says that knowing a woman who goes to school is like seeing a monkey on
rollerskates, that means nothing for the monkey but very adorable for those who see it. In other words, he wants to say that women will think that an educated
woman is an ordin ary thing, but not for those who see them. It is Aladeen‟s way
to appreciate Zoey, because in Wadiya an educated woman is a taboo thing. He
shows his appreciation by teasing a woman who goes to school, in this context is Zoey, and comparing her with a monkey who rides a rollerskates.
3 Transformations of Frozen Expressions
Transformations of frozen expressions happen when a speaker changes well-known sayings, clichés, or proverbs into novel statements. Datum 31 below
is an example of transformation of frozen expression performed by Aladeen in
The Dictator
movie.
Aladeen : Zoey You have changed my life Give a man a vagina and he will shpichs for a day. Teach man how to use his hand as
a vagina, and he will shpichs for a life time. Zoey
: Oh. No, no. Thank you. Um... Datum 31
Aladeen asks Zoey to do a blow job, as a present for her, because she sets him free from the jail. However, Zoey refuses it and teaches him how to
masturbate, that he never knows before. Then, after he knows how to masturbate, he wants to thank Zoey. Before he knows how to masturbate, he must spend a lot
of money for the prostitutes. Now he can do it by himself. Aladeen gives too much information, when he wants to thank Zoey. He even changes a proverb in
order to show his thankfulness. Thus, Aladeen flouts maxim of quantity. Aladeen‟s utterance is derived from a proverb: give a man a fish and you
feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time. It actually means give a man the answer, and he will only have a temporary solution. Teach
him the principles that lead the man to that answer, and he will be able to find his own solutions in the future. In this dialogue, Aladeen changes the proverb in order
to make a humorous effect. In this dialogue, his utterance means give a man a
woman then he can expel semen out of his penis for a day, but teach a man how to masturbate, and then he can expel semen out of his penis anytime he wants.