Background of the Research

B. Research Focus

Discussing the phenomena of language and humor found in Modern Family Season 1 is a broad range. It includes the discussion on semantics, discourse, pragmatics, and rhetorics. In semantics field, humor is discussed on the theory of GTVH General Theory of Verbal Humor proposed by Raskin and Attardo 1991. The GTVH is presented as a theory that has six ordered knowledge resources, namely knowledge concerning Language L, Narrative Strategies NS, Target T, Situation S, Logical Mechanism LM, and Script Opposition SO. Language L is all the information concerning the wording or verbalization of a text. Narrative Strategies NS is the narrative organization of a text. Target T is the ‘butt’ or victim of humor, usually stereotyped. Situation S is the elements which build up the context. Logical Mechanism LM is the mechanisms at the heart of the playful logic of humor. Script Opposition SO is the different scenarios or frames activated by the text and how they are in contrast with each other. Regarding the critical discourse analytic approach, humor is classified into its functions by Holmes and Marra 2002. They distinguish between ‘reinforcing’ and ‘subversive’ humor. The former reinforces existing power or solidarity relationships. According to Holmes and Marra 2002: 70-71 reinforcing humor increases solidarity and affirms power relationship. Meanwhile, subversive humor challenges existing power relationships. Pragmatically, humor is discussed under cooperative principle that is broken, namely maxim flouting Attardo, 1994: 273. Humorous effect appears when there is any failure to observe a maxim referred as ‘breaking a maxim’. Therefore, when speaker intentionally fails to follow cooperative principle, they flout the maxims to create humor. There are four types of maxim flouting: quality, quantity, relation, and manner Cutting, 2002:36. Another approach is rhetorics proposed by Berger 1997. In this humor study, rhetorics is defined as the art to persuade laughter. To create humor, rhetorical devices are used by the speaker. There are 15 types of rhetorical devices: Allusion, bombast, definition, exaggeration, facetiousness, insults, infantilism, irony, misunderstanding, over literalness, punwordplay, repartee, ridicule, sarcasm, and satire Berger, 1995:54. This research focuses its analysis on the humor created in Modern Family Sitcom Season 1, that is, Episode 1-3. According to the explanation above, it is possible to conduct the study in four ways. However, in order to be more focused, the researcher makes further limitations. They are analysis of maxim flouting and rhetorical devices. The combination of pragmatics and rhetorics will explain what ways the characters of Modern Family Season 1 can create humorous effects. Based on the research focus, the researcher formulates the problems as follows: 1. What are the types of maxim flouting used by the characters in Modern Family Sitcom Season 1 to create humor? 2. What are the rhetorical devices found in the Modern Family Sitcom Season 1 to create humor?

C. Objectives of the Research

Based on the formulation of the problem as mentioned above, the objectives of the research are: 1. to identify the kinds of maxim flouting used by the characters Modern Family Season 1 to create humor; and 2. to reveal rhetorical devices found out in Modern Family Season 1 to create humor

D. Significance of the Research

This research offers some benefits as follows: 1. Theoretically, the findings of the research could enrich the study in linguistics, especially in pragmatics. 2. Practically, the findings may be useful for the following parties: a. The students of English Language and Literature study program The research is expected to give some contributions to pragmatics generally and maxim flouting particularly. b. The other researchers For the other researchers, hopefully, this can be a motivation to conduct other research in linguistics concerning humor, since this study is least conducted.