Maxim of Quantity Violated Maxim
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Page 18-19 Chief Vitalstatistix
: “Ive hired a boat. Were going to be very comfortable: one class only, deck games, open air
sports and marvelous atmosphere. ”
The next day - page 18 to 19. Chief Vitalstatistix
: “Good morning Captain Does your boat go at good rate of knots?”
Captain : “Thats a knotty question. Its up to you… There
are your seats” The Gaulish peope
: angry Captain
: “What are you moaning about? One class only as agreed. As for deck games and sport, you are going
to get plenty of that. And I advise you to get rowing for a start. We must sail with the tide.”
Chief Vitalstatistix : “What about the atmosphere?”
Captain : “You have a point there. Let the music begin And
don’t make any fuss. Youre getting luxury class. On the usual cruises, the passengers are chained up and
whipped. Theres a long waiting list. Everyone wants to get to the Olympic Games.”
From the conversation above, it can be seen that the Captain does not provide complete information to the Gauls. It is stated in the advertisement that
the boat will be “comfortable: one class only, deck games, open air sports and marvelous atmosphere.” However, what they get is very different with what is
stated in the advertisement. The “one class only” means that the passenger cannot choose the way they enjoy the trip. The “open air sport” means that the Gauls
have to row the boat themselves. The “marvelous atmosphere” means that the boat man will play an instrument which looks like a percussion when the Gauls
are rowing the boat to Olympia. The Captain of the boat violates the quantity maxim because he gives limited information about the facilities of the boat.
The next example of maxim quantity violation is when Asterix and Obelix have just arrived in the gymnasium where the athletes are practicing before the
Olympic Games. The scene illustrates when Asterix and Obelix come to the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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gymnasium. Gymnasium is a place which is allocated by the Olympic Magistrates for the athletes to exercise before the Olympic Games is started. Before Asterix
and Obelix come, Chief Vitalstatistix and Gluteus Maximus have arrived first and tell the other athletes that there are two people from Gaul who are very strong.
Pugnatius do not believe it. When Asterix and Obelix arrive at the gymnasium, Pugnatius challenges Asterix to do wrestling. However, when Asterix hits
Pugnatius once, Pugnatius gets lost. He fell down and fainted. The humor in this scene comes up after Asterix beats Pugnatius with one paunch until Pugnatius
faints but Obelix also want to prove him that he is also stronger than Pugnatius. The illustration and the conversation are as follow:
Figure 4.8. Datum 17p.30. Example of quantity maxim violation.
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Page 30: Obelix: Can I prove it too, Asterix?
Asterix: I don’t know. Ask him Obelix: He wont tell me, Asterix.
The violation of maxim quantity is when Asterix answer Obelix’s question. Obelix’s question is a ‘YesNo’ question. Seeing Pugnatius faint,
Asterix can aswer Obelix‘s question by saying ‘No, you cannot because he is faint’. In fact, Asterix answer it by saying he does not know and asks Obelix to
ask Pugnatius himself. Since Obelix always take everything for granted, he asks it to the fainted Pugnatius. By asking Obelix to ask Pugnatius whether he can prove
his power or not, Asterix violates quantity maxim. The violation of maxim quantity can also be seen in datum 20p.24. This
scene illustrates the situation where the Olympic Senate comes to the gymnasium and informs the athletes that there will be an extra event for the Romans only.
When the Senate leaves, Obelix tells his sorry that Asterix cannot have the potion before the race. The illustration and the conversation are as follow:
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Figure 4.9. Datum 20p.42. Example of quantity maxim violation.
Page 42: Obelix: “What a pity you cant take a few drops of magic potion before the
race.” Hearing this, Asterix and Getafix get such an idea to trap the Romans so
that they will get the penalty of disqualification because of consuming magic potion. Asterix the replies Obelix’s sentence loudly and it is continued by Getafix.
Page 42 Asterix: “Magic potion? You mean the potion in the cauldron in the shed
over there…? loudly ”
Getafix: “The cauldron in the shed over there - the shed with the door that doesn’t shut properly? loudly
”
Asterix: “Yes, the cauldron in the shed over there with the door that doesn’t shut properly, the one that isnt guarded by night…
would that be the one youre talking about, Obelix?”
Obelix: “Er… yes” Getafix: “Oh, but were not allowed to drink the magic potion in the
cauldron in the shed over there… ”
Asterix: “… with the door that doesn’t shut properly, the one that isnt guarded by night.
” The violation of quantity maxim is when both Asterix and Getafix talk
loudly about the location where they put the magic potion. By doing this, Asterix dan Getafix violate maxim of quantity since they give too much information to the
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hearer. They violate the quantity maxim in purpose so that the other Romans athletes can hear their conversation. It is to lead them to the place where they put
the cauldron which is full with the magic potion. They already have a plan to trap all the Romans athletes to drink the magic potion. The magic potion can make
them become much more powerful. It is funny because Asterix and Getafix clearly show that they do it in purpose but the Romans and Obelix do not notice it.
Obelix get confused and states: Page 42:
Obelix: Whats going on? Asterix: Obelix, youre brighter than any of us shake Obelixs hand.
Obelix: You know something Dogmatix? Since Asterix and Getafix turned
Roman, theyve been crazy too. Obelix does not realize that the idea comes from his statement. Asterix and
Getafix’s behavior by saying the secret loudly is accepted by Obelix as a stupid thing.