Violations of maxim of Manner
Data code:
01FloQuanRls Barney
Have you chosen your entrée? Marshall
I have. A sweet brunette, eight oclock. Nine oclock. Ten; thirty. Shes walking to the bar.
Barney
Her? Really? No, youre right. Ambition is the enemy of success. OK, hit it.
Marshall to the
girl Hey four-eyes. You got astigmatism or
something? Im sorry, I was trying to be playful but I just got out of a long relationship. I have
no idea what Im doing Im Marshall.
Girl
Hi Marshall. Amy. Dont worry, Ive been there. Hold on.
The excerpt above is the situation when Barney and Marshall are going out at MacLaren‟s. Barney wants Marshall to flirt other woman because he is no
longer in a relationship with Lily. In the middle of their conversation, Barney asks Marshall whether or not he has found his target. Then, Marshall tells him that he
has found a woman he wants to talk to. No longer after that, Marshall approaches
the woman and introduces himself to the woman by saying, “Hey four-eyes. You got astigmatism or something? Im sorry, I was trying to be playful but I just
got out of a long relationship. I have no idea what Im doing Im Marshall
”. As a total stranger who wants to introduce himself, he could have greeted
the woman simply by saying, “Hi, I am Marshal.” However, Marshall‟s statement which is written in bold previously shows that he provides too much information
to the woman. Marshall‟s statement about the fact that he has just got out from a relationship is unnecessary in the conversation because the woman does not ask
any information about Marshall‟s love life from him due to the fact that it is the first time they meet. Furthermore, at the beginning of his statement, Marshall
utters an expression toward the woman which is, “Hey four-eyes. You got astigmatism or something?
” This expression in bold may be seen as an insult to the woman since the woman is wearing glasses. However, since after that
Marshall says, “I have no idea what I’m doing I’m Marshall,” the woman
realizes that his statement about whether or not she has astigmatism does not mean to insult her. She understands that by uttering such expression, Marshall is
trying to find a topic so that he can introduce himself to her.
In conclusion, by saying “Hey four-eyes. You got astigmatism or something? Im sorry, I was trying to be playful but I just got out of a long
relationship. I have no idea what Im doing
”, Marshall is not being cooperative in the conversation because he provides too much information before introducing
himself to the woman. By providing too much unnecessary information to the woman, it is concluded that Marshall violated the maxim of Quantity. To
introduce himself, he could have just said, “Hi, I’m Marshall” to greet the
woman. That greeting would be more sufficient seen as an introduction to start a conversation with stranger.
Data code:
02FloQuanRls Robin
Why dont you want me to have your grandkids?
Teds mother
Do you want to have my grandkids?
Robin No I mean, I dont know. I just... I want you to
want me to want to have your grandkids. And you should. Im a genetic gold mine. No family
history of diabetes or heart disease. Everyone has nonporous teeth and perfect eyesight. I had one
schizophrenic uncle but even he had perfect vision. Which was unfortunate for the people
around the bell tower he was in, but still he was a very fine man, and...
Teds mother
Robin, its not that I dont want grandkids. Its just I dont think anyone should make the mistake of
getting married too young.
The situation above is the fight between Robin and Ted‟s mother. Previously, at Casa a Pezzi,
Robin and Ted think that Ted‟s mother is going to ask both of them about having babies, but it turns out that she does not. The next
day at brunch, Robin becomes too sentimental about the fact that Ted‟s mother does not ask her about having Ted‟s babies. Therefore, during their brunch time,
Robin asks Ted‟s mother the reason why she does not want Robin to have Ted‟s babies
. Ted‟s mother answers her by asking, “Do you want to have my
grandkids?” Then, with enthusiasm, Robin answers, “No I mean, I dont know. I just... I want you to want me to want to have your grandkids. And you
should. Im a genetic gold mine. No family history of diabetes or heart disease. Everyone has nonporous teeth and perfect eyesight. I had one
schizophrenic uncle but even he had perfect vision. Which was unfortunate for the people around the bell tower he was in, but still he was a very fine
man, and...
” It can be seen from the answer above that Robin is trying to assure Ted‟s
mother that she is going to have great babies with Ted. However, she provides too much information that is not required by the situation. Robin‟s explanation about
her gene, her family history, and her uncle who has perfect vision are seen unnecessary in the conversation because Ted‟s mother does not ask Robin about
her family history beforehand. Furthermore, Robin‟s long-winded statements are not the topic of discussion since T
ed‟s mother‟s question is about whether or not Robin wants to have her grandkids. In fact, instead of telling about her gene,
which is actually unnecessary to the topic of the discussion, she could have just said directly that she wants Ted‟s mother to want Robin to have her grandkids.
That would be more sufficient and more concise. In conclusion, by saying that long-winded explanation written in bold previously, it is said that Robin flouts the
maxim of Quantity.