Analysis of The Rise of Conflicts Due To The Non-Observance of The Gricean Maxims in The TV Series 'Suits' (Season 1-2).
ABSTRACT
Dalam penulisan tugas akhir ini, saya akan menganalisis maxim atau
dalam bahasa Indonesia bidal, yaitu studi dalam bertutur kata dan termasuk dalam
ranah pragmatika. Data yang saya gunakan dalam penulisan tugas akhir ini berasal
dari sebuah serial televisi yang berjudul Suits, sebuah serial drama televisi yang
menceritakan kehidupan para pengacara hebat di New York.
Setelah menonton dan menganalisis percakapan dari serial televisi
tersebut, saya mendapati bahwa para tokoh sering kali melakukan pelanggaran
terhadap satu bidal tertentu yang berisikan suatu implikatur yang berbeda baik
sengaja maupun tidak sengaja. Selain itu saya mengkaji percakapan-percakapan
dari para tokoh yang berisi bidal-bidal yang berakhir dengan konflik.
Dari delapan belas data yang telah saya analisis, saya menyimpulkan
bahwa bidal yang paling sering dilanggar ialah violating the maxim. Bidal ini
sering sekali muncul karena para tokoh dalam serial televisi ini bermaksud
menutupi kesalahan mereka demi menjaga nama baik mereka.
ii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
ABSTRACT
ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Method of Research
Organization of the Thesis
1
3
4
4
5
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Pragmatics
Four Conversational Maxims
Non-Observance of the Maxims
Flouting a Maxim
Flouting the Maxim of Quality
Flouting the Maxim of Quantity
Flouting the Maxim of Relation
Flouting the Maxim of Manner
Violating the Maxim
Infringing the Maxim
Opting out the Maxim
Suspending the maxim
Theory of Conflict
6
7
8
9
9
10
11
11
12
13
13
14
15
CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF THE RISE OF CONFLICTS DUE TO
THE NON-OBSERVANCE OF THE GRICEAN MAXIMS IN THE
TV SERIES SUITS (SEASON 1-2)
16
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION
35
BIBLIOGRAPHY
39
APPENDIX
40
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
It is obvious that language is one of the vital elements in human life.
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, language is “the use by
humans of a system of sounds and words to communicate” (Hornby 843). Another
element of language is to give some information to the hearer; yet, sometimes
people tend to give less, more or even false information in order to make the
hearer think of another plausible meaning. The plausible meaning itself is called
implicature. “An implicature is generated intentionally by the speaker and may (or
may not) be understood by the hearer” (Thomas 58). When one makes an
implicature, he or she wants to hint or suggest something which is indirectly said.
In Applied Linguistics, there is a study of speaker meaning, namely
Pragmatics. In Pragmatics, there is a theory of Conversational Maxims, which is
proposed by a linguist, H. P. Grice. “Grice’s theory is an attempt at explaining
how a hearer gets from what is said to what is meant, from the level of expressed
1
Maranatha Christian University
meaning to the level of implied meaning” (Thomas 56). Grice helps us to
understand the process of how the hearer is able to perceive what the speaker
means. When the Conversational Maxims are unobserved, it is said that the hearer
fails to observe the maxim. In Pragmatics, it is called non-observance of the
maxims. “People may fail to observe a maxim because, for example, they are
incapable of speaking clearly, or because they deliberately choose to lie” (Thomas
64). There are many consequences from the failure of observing the maxim, such
as rise of conflicts, occurrence of humour, suspense building. Those consequences
can happen when the speaker gives less, more or false information, an unclear and
ambiguous statement, or an irrelevant statement from the topic.
The topic of my thesis is Analysis of the Rise of Conflicts Due to the NonObservance of the Gricean Maxims in the TV Series Suits Seasons 1-2. The
reason why I choose this topic is because in daily conversation there are many
occasions when people fail to observe the maxims, which results in conflicts.
Thus, this particular topic is interesting to be chosen as a topic of my thesis.
The reason why I choose this topic is that in normal conversations, there
are occasions when a conversation between a speaker and a hearer leads to
conflicts. This thesis can help the readers to see how non-observance of the
conversational maxim results in conflicts. Moreover, this thesis can also help the
readers to prevent themselves from failing to observe the maxims. Thus, their
conversation will not lead to conflicts.
Suits is a US drama television series. This television series was started to
air on 23 June 2011. There are many writers who contribute in this television
2
Maranatha Christian University
series; yet the main writer of this television series is Aaron Korsh. He also writes
Everybody Loves Raymond, Just Shoot Me!, Love, and others.
The setting of place in this television series is New York City, New York,
USA. This drama television series is about a story of several lawyers from the
same and different firms. Mike Ross, a brilliant yet college-dropout man, is hired
as a lawyer in an exclusive firm, Pearson Hardman. He is employed by Harvey
Spector, one of New York City’s best legal closers. The employees in Pearson
Hardman should be Harvard Law School graduates, but Mike is not. Harvey and
Mike should keep their secret so that others will not know that Mike is not a
Harvard Law School graduate.
I choose this television series because there are many speech events in the
television series that I can analyse in terms of the non-observance of the Gricean
Maxim. The speech events also lead to conflicts.
This thesis is significant as people will be able to understand the real
intention of the speaker when they fail to observe the conversational maxims.
People can also see how non-observance of maxims leads to conflict. I believe my
thesis will help the reader to distinguish what type of maxim that the speaker fails
to observe and to understand the process of how the non-observance of maxim
can lead to conflicts.
(696 words)
Statement of the Problem
There are four problems that I would like to analyze in my thesis, namely:
1. What utterances in Suits Seasons 1 to 2 are classified as non-observance of the
Gricean maxims?
3
Maranatha Christian University
2. What type of non-observance of the Gricean maxims does the speaker in Suits
Seasons 1 to 2 fail to observe?
3. What is the implicature generated from the non-observance of the Gricean
maxims?
4. How does the non-observance of the Gricean maxims lead to conflicts?
Purpose of the Study
The purposes of the thesis are:
1. To show the utterances in Suits Seasons 1 to 2 classified as non-observance of
the Gricean maxims.
2. To show the types of non-observance of the Gricean maxims that the speaker
fails to observe in Suits Seasons 1 to 2
3. To show the implicature which is generated from the non-observance of the
Gricean maxims
4. To show how the non-observance of the Gricean maxims leads to conflicts
Method of Research
There are six steps that I have done in writing this thesis. First, I searched
for and downloaded Suits Seasons 1-2. Second, I searched for the theory of
Pragmatics which focuses on the theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims
and also the theory of conflict. Third, I watched Suits television series. Fourth, I
searched the utterances in the television series which contain non-observance of
Gricean maxims. Fifth, I analysed the utterances in the television series using the
theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims and humour. Finally, I wrote the
research report.
4
Maranatha Christian University
Organization in the Thesis
There are four chapters in this thesis. Chapter One is Introduction, which
consists of Background of the Study, Statement of the Problems, Purpose of the
Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is
Theoretical Framework. In this chapter, I elaborate the theory of Pragmatics, the
theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims and also the theory of conflict.
Chapter Three is the analysis of the data that I have collected. Chapter Four is the
conclusion of the thesis. This is also the last chapter of my thesis. Bibliography
and Appendix are put at the end of the thesis.
5
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
This chapter presents some findings regarding the rise of conflicts due to
the non-observance of the Gricean maxims in the Suits television series seasons 12, as well as the conclusion of my analysis. At the end of this chapter, I also add
some suggestions and advice for the further researchers who will choose this topic
for their thesis.
From the findings, I have found that there are three types of nonobservance of the Gricean maxim which exist in the television series. They are
violating the maxim, flouting the maxim and infringing the maxim. Violating the
maxim is the type of non-observance of the Gricean maxim which shows the most
in the television series with the total number of eleven times. It is then followed
by flouting the maxim with the total of six times. This type can also be subdivided
into flouting the maxim of quantity with two data, maxim of manner with two
data, maxim of quality with one data, and maxim of relation with one data. And
the third and also the last is infringing the maxim with the total of three times.
Infringing the maxim is also the type of non-observance of Gricean maxim which
35
Maranatha Christian University
shows the least. Besides, there are also two types of non-observance of the
Gricean maxim which do not exist in the television series. They are suspending
the maxim and opting out the maxim.
The reason why violating the maxim is the type of non-observance of
Gricean maxim which shows the most frequent in the television series is because
this is the easiest and the most effective way to lead to a conflict. There are
several occasions which lead the character to violate the maxim which result in a
conflict. The first occasion that I have found in Suits seasons 1-2 is covering
Louis’ mistake so that he will not be blamed which leads the characters to violate
the maxim. Besides, the refusal of giving and accepting orders that Harvey gives
can lead the characters to violate the maxim. Another occasion is when Louis is
afraid of admitting his mistakes in order to save his own name can lead the
characters to violate the maxim. In addition, avoidance of being cornered can also
be one of the reasons for the characters to violate the maxim. This type is shown
in eleven data and eight of them are Louis’ utterances. Thus, through the analysis
of the rise of conflict due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims, we can
conclude that the characteristics of Louis are cunning and arrogant.
Referring to the second paragraph, there is flouting the maxim which is
found in six data. The two data are categorized as flouting the maxim of quantity.
There are also some occasions which lead the characters to flout the maxim of
quantity. The first occasion is avoidance of being blamed about something done
by the speaker which can lead the speaker to flout the maxim of quantity.
Moreover, the avoidance of being cornered can also lead the speaker to flout the
maxim of quantity. There are also two data which are categorized as flouting the
36
Maranatha Christian University
maxim of manner. The occasion which leads the speaker to flout the maxim of
manner is the speaker’s wish to criticize the hearer, so that he/she will be aware of
what he/she should do. Besides flouting the maxim of quantity, there is one data
each from maxim of quality and relation that I have found in Suits seasons 1-2.
The first occasion which leads the characters to flout the maxim of quality is the
disagreement about the hearer’s statement in order to make the hearer realize that
what he has done is totally wrong. And the last occasion that I have found in the
television series is avoidance of being blamed, which can lead the characters to
flout the maxim of relation.
In addition to flouting the maxim, there is infringing the maxim which is
found in three data. These data are shown in the same speech event and it is
actually Mike’s utterances. The reason why infringing the maxim is shown the
least is because the Suits television series tells a story about some lawyers and
their clients in New York City. As lawyers, their ability in speaking must be very
well. In addition, in the television series, there are no children or foreigners who
do not understand English. Thus, this kind of occasion is very rare to find in the
television series.
However, in this television series there are occasions which make this
television series different. As I have mentioned earlier that this television series
tells a story about lawyers and their clients, there must be suspending a maxim
and opting out of the maxim. Naturally, suspending the maxim and opting out of
the maxim exist because as lawyers, they will face some work ethics which will
force them not to reveal certain information or codes usually used in law. Yet, in
this television series these two types of non-obervance of the Gricean maxim do
37
Maranatha Christian University
not cause a conflict. Thus, there is no data which is categorized as suspending the
maxim or opting out of the maxim.
After analyzing the television series using the theory of the nonobservance of the Gricean maxim, I conclude that the occasions which lead to fail
in observing the maxim can also lead to conflicts.
To end my thesis, I notice that there are some branches of Applied
Linguistics which can be used to analyze the television series Suits in addition to
using the non-observance of the Gricean maxim. It is possible for further
researcher to use the theory of Politeness Strategy, because the story of the
television series is about lawyers and clients, while settings of place are mostly in
courts and firms. There is also one possible result of television series which can
be analyzed, namely suspense building. Although this thesis is far from excellent,
I hope this thesis may be helpful for everyone to avoid conflict. Besides, Suit
television series can be used as data for further researchers.
(997 words)
38
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Data
Korsh, Aaron. “Suits.” Suits. Prod. Gene Klein, Doug Liman, and Dave Bartis.
New York, United States of America, 23 June 2011. Television.
References
Grice’s Cooperative Principle, Maxims, and Implicature. Romania: Universitatea
Din Bucuresti, n.d. PDF.
Hornby, Albert Sidney. “Language.” Def. 1b. Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary. 8th ed. 2010. Print
Leech, Geoffrey. Principles of Pragmatics. New York: Longman Inc., 1983: Print.
Perrine, Laurence. “Plot.” Story and Structure. 4th ed. N.p.: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1974. 1-552. Print.
“Suits.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
Thomas, Jenny. Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. New
York: Longman, 1995.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996. George Books. Web. 1 Nov.
2013.
39
Maranatha Christian University
Dalam penulisan tugas akhir ini, saya akan menganalisis maxim atau
dalam bahasa Indonesia bidal, yaitu studi dalam bertutur kata dan termasuk dalam
ranah pragmatika. Data yang saya gunakan dalam penulisan tugas akhir ini berasal
dari sebuah serial televisi yang berjudul Suits, sebuah serial drama televisi yang
menceritakan kehidupan para pengacara hebat di New York.
Setelah menonton dan menganalisis percakapan dari serial televisi
tersebut, saya mendapati bahwa para tokoh sering kali melakukan pelanggaran
terhadap satu bidal tertentu yang berisikan suatu implikatur yang berbeda baik
sengaja maupun tidak sengaja. Selain itu saya mengkaji percakapan-percakapan
dari para tokoh yang berisi bidal-bidal yang berakhir dengan konflik.
Dari delapan belas data yang telah saya analisis, saya menyimpulkan
bahwa bidal yang paling sering dilanggar ialah violating the maxim. Bidal ini
sering sekali muncul karena para tokoh dalam serial televisi ini bermaksud
menutupi kesalahan mereka demi menjaga nama baik mereka.
ii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
ABSTRACT
ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Method of Research
Organization of the Thesis
1
3
4
4
5
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Pragmatics
Four Conversational Maxims
Non-Observance of the Maxims
Flouting a Maxim
Flouting the Maxim of Quality
Flouting the Maxim of Quantity
Flouting the Maxim of Relation
Flouting the Maxim of Manner
Violating the Maxim
Infringing the Maxim
Opting out the Maxim
Suspending the maxim
Theory of Conflict
6
7
8
9
9
10
11
11
12
13
13
14
15
CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF THE RISE OF CONFLICTS DUE TO
THE NON-OBSERVANCE OF THE GRICEAN MAXIMS IN THE
TV SERIES SUITS (SEASON 1-2)
16
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION
35
BIBLIOGRAPHY
39
APPENDIX
40
i
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
It is obvious that language is one of the vital elements in human life.
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, language is “the use by
humans of a system of sounds and words to communicate” (Hornby 843). Another
element of language is to give some information to the hearer; yet, sometimes
people tend to give less, more or even false information in order to make the
hearer think of another plausible meaning. The plausible meaning itself is called
implicature. “An implicature is generated intentionally by the speaker and may (or
may not) be understood by the hearer” (Thomas 58). When one makes an
implicature, he or she wants to hint or suggest something which is indirectly said.
In Applied Linguistics, there is a study of speaker meaning, namely
Pragmatics. In Pragmatics, there is a theory of Conversational Maxims, which is
proposed by a linguist, H. P. Grice. “Grice’s theory is an attempt at explaining
how a hearer gets from what is said to what is meant, from the level of expressed
1
Maranatha Christian University
meaning to the level of implied meaning” (Thomas 56). Grice helps us to
understand the process of how the hearer is able to perceive what the speaker
means. When the Conversational Maxims are unobserved, it is said that the hearer
fails to observe the maxim. In Pragmatics, it is called non-observance of the
maxims. “People may fail to observe a maxim because, for example, they are
incapable of speaking clearly, or because they deliberately choose to lie” (Thomas
64). There are many consequences from the failure of observing the maxim, such
as rise of conflicts, occurrence of humour, suspense building. Those consequences
can happen when the speaker gives less, more or false information, an unclear and
ambiguous statement, or an irrelevant statement from the topic.
The topic of my thesis is Analysis of the Rise of Conflicts Due to the NonObservance of the Gricean Maxims in the TV Series Suits Seasons 1-2. The
reason why I choose this topic is because in daily conversation there are many
occasions when people fail to observe the maxims, which results in conflicts.
Thus, this particular topic is interesting to be chosen as a topic of my thesis.
The reason why I choose this topic is that in normal conversations, there
are occasions when a conversation between a speaker and a hearer leads to
conflicts. This thesis can help the readers to see how non-observance of the
conversational maxim results in conflicts. Moreover, this thesis can also help the
readers to prevent themselves from failing to observe the maxims. Thus, their
conversation will not lead to conflicts.
Suits is a US drama television series. This television series was started to
air on 23 June 2011. There are many writers who contribute in this television
2
Maranatha Christian University
series; yet the main writer of this television series is Aaron Korsh. He also writes
Everybody Loves Raymond, Just Shoot Me!, Love, and others.
The setting of place in this television series is New York City, New York,
USA. This drama television series is about a story of several lawyers from the
same and different firms. Mike Ross, a brilliant yet college-dropout man, is hired
as a lawyer in an exclusive firm, Pearson Hardman. He is employed by Harvey
Spector, one of New York City’s best legal closers. The employees in Pearson
Hardman should be Harvard Law School graduates, but Mike is not. Harvey and
Mike should keep their secret so that others will not know that Mike is not a
Harvard Law School graduate.
I choose this television series because there are many speech events in the
television series that I can analyse in terms of the non-observance of the Gricean
Maxim. The speech events also lead to conflicts.
This thesis is significant as people will be able to understand the real
intention of the speaker when they fail to observe the conversational maxims.
People can also see how non-observance of maxims leads to conflict. I believe my
thesis will help the reader to distinguish what type of maxim that the speaker fails
to observe and to understand the process of how the non-observance of maxim
can lead to conflicts.
(696 words)
Statement of the Problem
There are four problems that I would like to analyze in my thesis, namely:
1. What utterances in Suits Seasons 1 to 2 are classified as non-observance of the
Gricean maxims?
3
Maranatha Christian University
2. What type of non-observance of the Gricean maxims does the speaker in Suits
Seasons 1 to 2 fail to observe?
3. What is the implicature generated from the non-observance of the Gricean
maxims?
4. How does the non-observance of the Gricean maxims lead to conflicts?
Purpose of the Study
The purposes of the thesis are:
1. To show the utterances in Suits Seasons 1 to 2 classified as non-observance of
the Gricean maxims.
2. To show the types of non-observance of the Gricean maxims that the speaker
fails to observe in Suits Seasons 1 to 2
3. To show the implicature which is generated from the non-observance of the
Gricean maxims
4. To show how the non-observance of the Gricean maxims leads to conflicts
Method of Research
There are six steps that I have done in writing this thesis. First, I searched
for and downloaded Suits Seasons 1-2. Second, I searched for the theory of
Pragmatics which focuses on the theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims
and also the theory of conflict. Third, I watched Suits television series. Fourth, I
searched the utterances in the television series which contain non-observance of
Gricean maxims. Fifth, I analysed the utterances in the television series using the
theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims and humour. Finally, I wrote the
research report.
4
Maranatha Christian University
Organization in the Thesis
There are four chapters in this thesis. Chapter One is Introduction, which
consists of Background of the Study, Statement of the Problems, Purpose of the
Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is
Theoretical Framework. In this chapter, I elaborate the theory of Pragmatics, the
theory of non-observance of Gricean maxims and also the theory of conflict.
Chapter Three is the analysis of the data that I have collected. Chapter Four is the
conclusion of the thesis. This is also the last chapter of my thesis. Bibliography
and Appendix are put at the end of the thesis.
5
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
This chapter presents some findings regarding the rise of conflicts due to
the non-observance of the Gricean maxims in the Suits television series seasons 12, as well as the conclusion of my analysis. At the end of this chapter, I also add
some suggestions and advice for the further researchers who will choose this topic
for their thesis.
From the findings, I have found that there are three types of nonobservance of the Gricean maxim which exist in the television series. They are
violating the maxim, flouting the maxim and infringing the maxim. Violating the
maxim is the type of non-observance of the Gricean maxim which shows the most
in the television series with the total number of eleven times. It is then followed
by flouting the maxim with the total of six times. This type can also be subdivided
into flouting the maxim of quantity with two data, maxim of manner with two
data, maxim of quality with one data, and maxim of relation with one data. And
the third and also the last is infringing the maxim with the total of three times.
Infringing the maxim is also the type of non-observance of Gricean maxim which
35
Maranatha Christian University
shows the least. Besides, there are also two types of non-observance of the
Gricean maxim which do not exist in the television series. They are suspending
the maxim and opting out the maxim.
The reason why violating the maxim is the type of non-observance of
Gricean maxim which shows the most frequent in the television series is because
this is the easiest and the most effective way to lead to a conflict. There are
several occasions which lead the character to violate the maxim which result in a
conflict. The first occasion that I have found in Suits seasons 1-2 is covering
Louis’ mistake so that he will not be blamed which leads the characters to violate
the maxim. Besides, the refusal of giving and accepting orders that Harvey gives
can lead the characters to violate the maxim. Another occasion is when Louis is
afraid of admitting his mistakes in order to save his own name can lead the
characters to violate the maxim. In addition, avoidance of being cornered can also
be one of the reasons for the characters to violate the maxim. This type is shown
in eleven data and eight of them are Louis’ utterances. Thus, through the analysis
of the rise of conflict due to the non-observance of Gricean maxims, we can
conclude that the characteristics of Louis are cunning and arrogant.
Referring to the second paragraph, there is flouting the maxim which is
found in six data. The two data are categorized as flouting the maxim of quantity.
There are also some occasions which lead the characters to flout the maxim of
quantity. The first occasion is avoidance of being blamed about something done
by the speaker which can lead the speaker to flout the maxim of quantity.
Moreover, the avoidance of being cornered can also lead the speaker to flout the
maxim of quantity. There are also two data which are categorized as flouting the
36
Maranatha Christian University
maxim of manner. The occasion which leads the speaker to flout the maxim of
manner is the speaker’s wish to criticize the hearer, so that he/she will be aware of
what he/she should do. Besides flouting the maxim of quantity, there is one data
each from maxim of quality and relation that I have found in Suits seasons 1-2.
The first occasion which leads the characters to flout the maxim of quality is the
disagreement about the hearer’s statement in order to make the hearer realize that
what he has done is totally wrong. And the last occasion that I have found in the
television series is avoidance of being blamed, which can lead the characters to
flout the maxim of relation.
In addition to flouting the maxim, there is infringing the maxim which is
found in three data. These data are shown in the same speech event and it is
actually Mike’s utterances. The reason why infringing the maxim is shown the
least is because the Suits television series tells a story about some lawyers and
their clients in New York City. As lawyers, their ability in speaking must be very
well. In addition, in the television series, there are no children or foreigners who
do not understand English. Thus, this kind of occasion is very rare to find in the
television series.
However, in this television series there are occasions which make this
television series different. As I have mentioned earlier that this television series
tells a story about lawyers and their clients, there must be suspending a maxim
and opting out of the maxim. Naturally, suspending the maxim and opting out of
the maxim exist because as lawyers, they will face some work ethics which will
force them not to reveal certain information or codes usually used in law. Yet, in
this television series these two types of non-obervance of the Gricean maxim do
37
Maranatha Christian University
not cause a conflict. Thus, there is no data which is categorized as suspending the
maxim or opting out of the maxim.
After analyzing the television series using the theory of the nonobservance of the Gricean maxim, I conclude that the occasions which lead to fail
in observing the maxim can also lead to conflicts.
To end my thesis, I notice that there are some branches of Applied
Linguistics which can be used to analyze the television series Suits in addition to
using the non-observance of the Gricean maxim. It is possible for further
researcher to use the theory of Politeness Strategy, because the story of the
television series is about lawyers and clients, while settings of place are mostly in
courts and firms. There is also one possible result of television series which can
be analyzed, namely suspense building. Although this thesis is far from excellent,
I hope this thesis may be helpful for everyone to avoid conflict. Besides, Suit
television series can be used as data for further researchers.
(997 words)
38
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Data
Korsh, Aaron. “Suits.” Suits. Prod. Gene Klein, Doug Liman, and Dave Bartis.
New York, United States of America, 23 June 2011. Television.
References
Grice’s Cooperative Principle, Maxims, and Implicature. Romania: Universitatea
Din Bucuresti, n.d. PDF.
Hornby, Albert Sidney. “Language.” Def. 1b. Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary. 8th ed. 2010. Print
Leech, Geoffrey. Principles of Pragmatics. New York: Longman Inc., 1983: Print.
Perrine, Laurence. “Plot.” Story and Structure. 4th ed. N.p.: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1974. 1-552. Print.
“Suits.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
Thomas, Jenny. Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. New
York: Longman, 1995.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996. George Books. Web. 1 Nov.
2013.
39
Maranatha Christian University