Giving too Little Information

2. Strategies Used by the Main Character to Flout the Maxims in Thank You for Smoking

The findings show that there are seven out of eight strategies which are used by the main character to flout the maxim. The discussion about the strategies based on the types of maxim flouting and example of each strategy are presented below.

a. Giving too Little Information

One of the strategies in flouting the maxim of quantity is giving too little information. When a speaker flouts the maxim of quantity by giving too little information, she lacks information than what is required. An example of this strategy can be seen in the dialogue between Nick and a man who kidnapped him. A man : Nick, we want you to stop killing people. So many people. Half a million people a year in the U.S. Nick : That, there’s no data to support that. QTTL00:57:54 On his way to the office, Nick is kidnapped by a group of people. The kidnapping deals with Nick’s job as a spokesperson in Academy of Tobacco Studies. At first, Nick is shocked and confused and then he asks the men what they are doing to him. One of the men who kidnapped Nick says that he wants Nick to stop killing people. He says that there are half a million people a year in the US die because of smoking. In responding to what the man says, Nick says ‘That, theres no data to support that.’ Here, Nick’s response has not yet fulfilled the require amount of information. Nick does not respond to what the man says that they want Nick to stop killing people. He only responds to the data that the man gives. In this case, Nick flouts the maxim of quantity because he gives to little information than what is required. Another example is the dialogue between Nick and Joey below. They talk about the article written by Heather Holloway. Joey : Why did you tell that reporter all your secrets? Nick : You’re too young to understand. QTTL01:10:51 After Nick has an interview with Heather, the article is published. However, the article surprises many people because it reveals many Nick’s secrets, whether his personal life or his job as a spokesperson. This incident brings big impacts to Nick. He is fired by BR because he cannot keep the secret of Academy of Tobacco Studies, his Hollywood movie project is also canceled, and his best friends, Bobby and Polly, are disappointed with Nick. Thus, Nick is so depressed. Joey comes to Nick’s apartment after knowing that his father is dejected. He asks for Nick’s reason for telling all his secrets to Heather. However, Nick does not give enough information to Joey. He only says that Joey is too young to understand, without giving further explanation. In fact, it does not enough to answer Joey’s question. In this case, Nick flouts the maxim of quantity by giving too little information.

b. Giving too Much Information