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to make the conversation run effectively. I also believe that by reading this analysis the readers will be able to know the steps that need to be done when they are involved
in any conversation. I hope that the readers will be more careful with what they say because it may potentially creates some effects.
735 words
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In this thesis, there are four problems I am going to analyze: 1. Which category of non-observance of the Gricean maxims does the utterance
belong to? 2. What type of Gricean maxims does the speaker fail to observe?
3. What is the implicature found in the speaker’s utterance? 4. How does the non-observance of the maxims in each scene create humour?
1.3 Purpose of the Study
This thesis is done to show the following points: 1. To show the category of non-observance of the Gricean maxims the utterance
belongs to. 2. To show the type of Gricean maxims that the speaker fails to observe.
3. To show the implicature which is found in the speaker’s utterance. 4. To analyze how the non-observance of the maxims in each scene which
creates humour.
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1.4 Method of Research
The first step in doing this research is searching for the situational comedy in the internet and watching My Boys TV series. The second step is collecting all the
comical dialogues in which the four conversational maxims are not well observed. The third step is classifying each data into the types of non-observance and
conversational maxims. The last step is analyzing how the utterances lead to humour and writing it in the research report.
1.5 Organization of the Thesis
This thesis is presented in four chapters. Chapter One is the Introduction, which consists of the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of
the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is the Theoretical Framework, in which all the theories used in analyzing the data are
provided. Chapter Three is the analysis of the data. Chapter Four contains the conclusion of the analysis. At the last part of this thesis, I put the Bibliography, which
contains all the references used, and the Appendix, in which I put the data used.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
In this chapter, I would like to draw some conclusion based on the analysis of the non-observance of the Gricean maxims in My Boys season 1.
In the data which I have analyzed in Chapter Three, I find out that sometimes a speaker produces an implicature behind hisher utterance and heshe also fails to
observe the Gricean maxims, namely: flouting the maxim and violating the maxim. Flouting the maxim is divided into: flouting the maxim of quantity, quality, relation,
and manner. From the ten data I have analysed in Chapter Three, I find eight data which
are included in the flouting the maxim. Furthermore, two out of the eight data shows that the speakers flouts the maxim of quantity, quality, relation, and manner. Two
data shows the speaker flouts the maxim of quality and manner. Another datum involves flouting the maxim of quantity, relation, and manner, another contains
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flouting the maxim of relation. One datum contains flouting the maxim of quantity and relation, one contains flouting the maxim of quality. In addition, there are two
data which shows that the speaker violates the maxim. Through the data I have analyzed, I can see that the maxim of quantity,
quality, relation, and manner are mostly flouted. Flouting the maxim is done by the speakers because they want their interlocutor to understand the implied meaning
instead of the utterances given. Flouting the maxim of quality is found on certain conditions when they say something which is untrue or have less evidence, and when
they compare one event in their life with their daily routines. Therefore, it can also be put into flouting the maxim of relation since their utterances are sometimes not
related to the topic they are discussing at that moment and do not answer the point of the questions given.
Flouting the maxim of quantity is produced to express the speaker’s feelings
as well. It can be seen when they give either more or less information than the situation requires. Furthermore, they do flout the maxim of manner when they give
response in an obscure way. In the case of violating the maxim, the speaker is intentionally misleading the interlocutor for their own purpose and so the interlocutor
believes the speaker’s utterances. As a consequence, the interlocutor who is not aware of their real intention are successfully misled.
In addition, infringing the maxim are not found in Chapter Three seeing that the characters give their utterances not in the conditions of drunkenness or
nervousness. Moreover, suspending and opting out of a maxim are not found either
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because the speakers do not suspend nor cover up anything, and they give their responses freely without paying attention to ethical reasons among them.
After analyzing the data in Chapter Three, I conclude that the non-observance of the Gricean maxims in the film is almost the same as what we experience in our
daily lives. Therefore, in order to have effective communication, a hearer must understand the exact information or idea that the speaker is talking about. As a result,
in communicating with others, a speaker has to be as clear as possible and provide adequate, factual, accurate and relevant information without having any implicature,
so that there will be no misinterpretation from the hearer’s side. Both the speaker and the hearer must also share the same understanding of the phrases and the sentences
uttered, because each person may have different ideas from another. However, in my opinion, the misinterpretation of the hearer and the failure of
the speaker to give a truthful, clear, and straightforward response in this comedy TV series, plays an important role in creating the humorous effect. Furthermore, I think
the script writer prefers providing such utterances to show that the characters in their youth, sometimes give their utterances without paying attention to the accuracy of the
information in it. Therefore, the language used also sometimes depicts the speaker’s characteristics, whether heshe is strong-willed, not straight to the point, or reckless. I
also think that the non-observance of the Gricean maxims found in My Boys are used to create the funny atmosphere, considering that this is a comedy TV series, so that
the story are made just for fun.
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Moreover, I would like to make the readers aware that the audience should be more critical in what they watch or hear. Therefore, linguistic knowledge is required
to understand the utterances given including their implicature. Furthermore, in my opinion, if the speaker and the hearer are involved in a humorous situation or
conversation, such non-observance of the Gricean maxims should be created as one of the factors which makes the conversation become funny and not boring. However,
if the speaker and the hearer are talking about a serious thing, or if they are in a serious situation, such non-observance of the Gricean maxims should be avoided so
as not to create the unexpected things, one of which is anger. To end my thesis, I would like to suggest the researchers to take Pragmatics,
especially the maxim, as a topic for their analysis or thesis, which may often be thought of as too easy by most people. However, when we examine it more deeply,
there are so many interesting facts that are found in everyday language used, and it is not as easy as we thought. Therefore, I suggest to examine the language used in films,
whether comedy genre which causes humorous effect, or other genres that can lead to conflicts, etc. By analyzing the use of language according to the setting of time and
place, as well as the interlocutor, we get many benefits, one of which is that we can know the steps that need to be done when we ourself directly involved in any
discussion or conversation. 958 words
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Texts
Thomas, Betsy, Dir. My Boys. Two Out Rally Productions, 2006. DVD
References
Atkinson, Philip. “Language Is Understanding.” A Theory of Civilization. N.p. 2009. Web. 12 Sept 2011.
Cahn, Steven. Classics of Western Philosophy. 6
th
ed. USA: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc, 2002. Print.
“Communication and Leadership.” Performance, Learning, Leadership, Knowledge. N.p. 1997. Web. 22 May 2010.
Cook, Guy. Language Play Language Learning. Hongkong: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
Dornerus, Emma. “Breaking maxims in conversation.” A comparative study of How scriptwriters break maxims in Desperate Housewives and That 70’s
Show. 2005. Web. 25 May 2010.
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McGhee, Paul E., Jeffrey H. Goldstein. Handbook of Humour Research. New York: Springer Verlag, 1983. Print.
Thomas, Jenny. Meaning in Interaction: an Introduction to Pragmatic. London and New York: Longman Group Limited, 1995. Print.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. ChinaOxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.
