to show of hands. In short, Nick flouts the maxim of quantity by giving too much information to strengthen his argument.
c. Using Hyperbole
Using hyperbole is one of ways in flouting maxim of quality. It occurs when a speaker exaggerates hisher statement. The speaker could make the
statement sounds better or worse than its actual condition. Even though the statement is untrue since it is exaggerated, it contains an additional conveyed
meaning. An example of this strategy’s use can be seen in the dialogue between
Nick and Heather below. Heather: Okay. Is it good?
Nick : Good? It’ll make you believe in God.
QLHB00:28:32 The dialogue takes place in a restaurant. This is when Nick and Heather
meet for the first time. Nick becomes an interviewee for the article written by Heather. After introducing each other, Heather asks Nick to start the interview.
However, Nick responses it by saying, ’82 Margaux, the name of wine. It means that he wants to have a glass of wine with Heather before starting the interview.
Then Heather asks whether that wine is good. In answering Heather, Nick flouts the maxim of quality by using a
hyperbole. He says that the wine will make Heather believes in God. He uses it to exaggerate the taste of ’82 Margaux that is so good according to Nick.
The next example of using hyperbole is in the conversation between Nick and Joey. It happens when they spend their time together in LA.
Joey : So, what happens when you’re wrong? Nick : Well, Joey, I’m never wrong.
QLHB00:38:40 Joining his father into work’s trip to LA brings a chance to Joey to get
closer to him. He asks Nick what a lobbyist is and how to become a lobbyist. Nick explains that his job deals with defense and it needs moral flexibility that goes
beyond most people, afterwards Joey asks what happens when Nick is wrong. Nick answers that he is never wrong. In this case, Nick is using hyperbole.
He exaggerates his utterance by saying that he is never wrong. In fact, it seems impossible that he is never wrong. In short, Nick flouts the maxim of quality by
using hyperbole. Another example of using hyperbole in flouting the maxim of quality can
be seen in the following conversation. Captain: Well, the money’s for him. Now, he has a ranch out there in
California. I want you to bring it to him.
Nick : He’s a cowboy, sir, and cowboys don’t like bribes.
QLMT00:42:30 The above dialogue is the dialogue between Nick and Captain. When Nick
is in California for the work trip, Captain sends him a suitcase that full of money. He does not understand what the money is for, and then he calls Captain to ask
about it. Captain says that the money is for Lorne Lutch, he was the Marlboro Man. Nick has to give the money for Lorne and asks him to shut up and does not
denounce Big Tobacco for the upcoming project. However, Nick says that Lorne is a cowboy, and cowboys do not like
bribes. In this case, Nick is using hyperbole by saying ‘cowboys do not like bribes’. He exaggerates his utterance by generalizing that all cowboys do not like
bribe, including Lorne Lutch. Therefore, Nick flouts the maxim of quality by using hyperbole.
d. Using Irony
