Manner Maxim Flouting Types of Maxim Flouting Performed by the Characters in This Boy
to say whether he wants to leave Concrete or not. However, Arthur wants to explain more about his reasons why he does not want to leave Concrete. He wants to say that
what Toby said on the previous day about himself who acted like a girl is true. As a result, Arthur does not want to leave Concrete.
The second example of overstatement strategy is in the following dialogue.
Toby : Its not the shoes, is it? Or the candy, or anything else. Its me. You cant stand the fact that I exist.
Dwight: No, its not that at all. Its just that I...You have to be well-behaved. Your rich daddy doesnt care. Somebodys gotta train you. You need
to be trained... 47QnOv
The dialogue happens when Dwight accuses Toby for stealing his candy. Toby defends himself since he does not steal Dwight
‟s candy. Dwight is always sided against Toby. Toby feels that Dwight cannot stand the fact that he exists. Dwight
seems afraid if Toby will be better than him. In refusing the fact that Dwight cannot stand if Toby exists, he breaks the maxim of quantity. He provides too much
information, which is not needed by Toby. Another example of the use of overstatement strategy is explained in datum
number 33QnOv.
Toby : Whos that? Oscar : Arthur Gayle.
Jimmy: What a homo. Toby : He walks like a girl.
Jimmy: Yeah. Runs like one, talks like one, throws like one. And probably
takes a pee like one too. Just squats right down. 33QnOv
The conversation happens when Toby, Jimmy, and Oscar are gathering together. Looking at a man who acts like a girl, Toby asks about that man to his friends. In
answering Toby ‟s question, Jimmy is considered to flout maxim of quantity since he
provides too much information about Arthur Gayle. In the dialogue, Toby just asks about the name of the man who acts like a girl. In giving a response to that question,
all of Toby ‟s friends just need to provide the answer by stating the name of that man.
However, one of Toby ‟s friends is giving too much information. Jimmy gives his
overstatement to explain more about Arthur Gayle who looks like a girl, including the way Arthur Gayle takes a pee. He wants to make Toby believe that Arthur Gayle is a
homo person.