Analysis of Conflicts Caused By Non-Observance of The Maxims in 'Desperate Housewives' Television Series Season 8.

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Maranatha Christian University

ABSTRACT

Dalam tugas akhir ini, saya akan mengkaji berbagai macam pelanggaran bidal dalam percakapan yang dilakukan sejumlah penutur dalam film drama Amerika berjudul Desperate Housewives seri ke-8. Kajian ini pun mencakup implikatur dari kata-kata yang menunjukkan pelanggaran prinsip kerjasama Grice (Gricean cooperative principles), serta bagaimana pelanggaran prinsip tersebut dapat berujung pada munculnya konflik. Pelanggaran-pelanggaran tersebut terdiri dari flouting a maxim, violating a maxim, infringing a maxim, suspending a maxim, dan opting out of a maxim.

Kajian ini termasuk dalam kajian pragmatik, karena berkaitan dengan implikatur di dalamnya. Salah satu temuan yang saya peroleh dari penelitian saya ini adalah bahwa violating a maxim merupakan jenis bidal yang paling sering ditemukan. Hal ini terjadi karena kebohongan yang nyata akan terlihat janggal sehingga mudah sekali memicu konflik antar individu.

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Maranatha Christian University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ...i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... ii

CHAPTER ONE: _INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ... 4

1.3 Purpose of the Study ... 4

1.4 Method of Research ... 4

1.5 Organization of the Thesis ... 5

CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Pragmatics... 6

2.2 Gricean Cooperative Principles ... 7

2.3 Non-Observance of Maxims ... 8

2.3.1 Flouting a Maxim ... 8

2.3.2 Violating a Maxim ... 10

2.3.3 Infringing a Maxim ... 11

2.3.4 Opting out of a Maxim ... 11

2.3.5 Suspending a Maxim ... 12

2.4 Conflict ... 12

CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF CONFLICTS CAUSED BY NON-OBSERVANCE OF THE MAXIMS IN DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES TELEVISION SERIES SEASON 8 ... 13

CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION ... 31

BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 35

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APPENDICES

Data _Utterance

Type of the Non-Observance of Gricean Maxim 1. Susan: Hey, sorry I’m late. Grocery store was a mad

house, I actually got to fight a woman over the last chicken.

Mike: Susan...

Susan: Unfortunately, she was a Slavic, a very sturdy people, so I hope you like cereal.

Mike: Susan, stop. I just got of the phone with the guy from the county. Something about your court-order community service for assaulting a policeman.

Susan: Oh, that. Mike: Yeah, that.

Susan: W... It’s ridiculous. I was... trying to fight a... parking ticket, and I knocked over the cop’s bike. Um, and I maybe told him his baby was ugly. He... he blew the whole thing out of proportion. (1)

Mike: (upset) Well, you know what I’m blowing out of proportion? The guy on the phone called me “Mr. Solis.”

Susan: Right. Because, um... Carlos picked me up at the, uh, police station, which I know sounds weird... why him and not you... I was just, uh, so embarrassed, I... I don’t wanna tell you. (2)

Mike: So there’s nothing going on with you and Carlos? I shouldn’t be worried about your little moonlight stroll last night?

Susan: Wow. Have you been taking fighting lessons from that Slavic lady? (3) (poking Mike, but Mike is not interested) Mike, come on. I couldn’t sleep. Carlos couldn’t sleep. We ran into each other, and we talked.

violating a maxim

violating a maxim

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Mike: About what? You barely know him. The first eight years we lived here, you called him Ricky Ricardo.

Susan: He’s... going through something, and I’m helping him. (4)

Mike: Yeah? Tell me, what’s he going through? Susan: It’s personal. (5)

Mike leaves

Susan: Okay, Mike, Carlos and I are just friends. Mike: (a bit shouting) I don’t mind you being friends

with a guy. It’s all the sneaking around and the lying I’m having a hard time with.

violating a maxim

opting out a maxim

2. Bree: I’m sorry that took so long.

Chuck: Oh, that.. that-that’s all right. It actually gave me a chance to have a scotch and a glass of red wine. Calm my nerves a little.

Bree: God, I wish I could have a drink. Chuck: Why? What are you so nervous about? Bree: I have something important to say.

Chuck: Huh. Um, I-I wonder if it’s the same thing that I’m gonna say.

Bree: I’m pretty sure it’s not. (pause) Chuck, you are a wonderful man, and I have enjoyed our time together, but... (1)

Chuck: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you.. are you... you’re dumping me? I was... I was about to propose to you.

Bree: I’m sorry if I misled you... (2)

Chuck: (angrily) Hey, there’s a fake apology. You did mislead me.

Bree: Chuck, please...

Chuck: You know, it’s like you’re two people. There’s the woman I have fun with, who I really... I really connect to, and there’s this other woman who’s... who’s, uh, who’s mysterious and-and weird and keeps sneaking out to “Run errands.” There’s another guy, isn’t there?

Bree: No. I assure you, there’s no one else.

Chuck: (shouting, strike the dine table) Don’t lie to

me! (pause, gain calm) Was he the one who

sent you that letter?

Bree: (shock but tries to cover it) What letter? (3) Chuck: The one that you, uh, you were reading the

other night, you got a shook up about... was that from him?

Bree: There is no “Him.”

flouting the maxim of manner

flouting the maxim of manner

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Chuck: You know, Bree, I would’ve done anything for you. I protect the people that I care about. I don’t care about you now. (stand up, about to go) So if you find yourself in trouble, and I’m pretty sure that someday you will... (smile

cynically) then don’t come calling me. You

have made a very big mistake.

3. Jasper: I promise I'll go fast, Andre. (run along)

Susan: He calls you "Andre"? (continue walking together with Andre)

Andre: Oh, yeah, I prefer it. "Dad" isn't an accurate characterization of our relationship.

Susan: He's your son. Andre: He's her son. (1) Susan: Biologically, he's yours.

Andre: Ontologically, he's getting in the way of my work. (2)

Susan: Well, psychologically, you're a freakin' sociopath. Do you see how desperately that boy is trying to connect with you? And you do everything you can to push him away.

Andre: I'm not interested in the relationship. (3) Susan: (stop walking, turning to Andre) Tough. I

mean, he's not a novel you can just toss aside if it's boring. Or a painting you just walk past 'cause it's not interesting. He's a person with feelings.

Andre: Okay, just keep going. This is really making the time fly by. (4)

Susan: I have spent the last few weeks trying to get you to like me, and I just realized something. I don't like you. Your painting is in the utility closet next to your classroom. Go take care of your masterpiece. I'll take care of your son. (leaving)

flouting the maxim of quantity violating maxim

opting out a maxim

flouting the maxim of relation

4. Bree: Greg!

Greg: (agitated) Oh my god, Bree! W-what are you doing here?

Bree: This is my church. Are you a member? I’ve never seen you here before.

Greg: I just joined, yes. Nice talking to you. (tries to go away)

Bree: Wait! Wait! Can I tempt you with a slice of my famous strawberry… tart?

Greg: I-I should probably going.

Bree: (seducing) What a funny coincidence this was. Well, I see you at Maurice’s later. Or,

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we can just skip the Maurice part and you can come (whispering) straight to my house. Greg’s wife, Audrey, comes approaching, a little bit suspicious.

Audrey: Greg, who is this… woman?

Greg: Uh, this is Bree. She, um, she goes to this church.

Audrey: Doesn’t sound like you met her in church. (1) (looks at Bree cynically)

Bree: Excuse me, what business is it of yours how we met?

Audrey: I’m his wife.

Bree: Oh, I guess it IS your business.

Audrey: (to Greg) Unbelievable. You’re always going on… about working late… and sleeping in the office and meanwhile you’re hanging out at the Dive Bar (look at Bree) picking up trash. (2)

Bree: (offended) I don’t like your accusation.

Audrey: Oh yeah? Guess what I don’t like. (loudly) You’re screwing my husband!

Everybody are stunned suddenly paying attention. Rev.

Sikes:

(whispering to Bree) Bree, this is what I’m worry about, you need to leave.

Bree: (to Sikes) You kicking me out? (Loudly) She’s the one making a scene… (to Audrey, more quietly to be more cynical) and a dry batch of cupcakes by the looks of it. (3) Audrey: Thanks, but I’m not looking for baking tips

from the town whore. Bree is astonished

Karen: Don’t listen to her, Bree. She doesn’t know who you are.

Bree: (looks offended) Actually, Karen... I think she does. (Reverend Sikes gives Bree her clutch bag, and Bree takes it) (to everyone who is looking at her) Now, I know you are all anxious to dig into delicious gossip I provided for you. And I can really use drinks. (tut-tutting Greg, then leaving the church)

flouting the maxim of manner

suspending a maxim

flouting the maxim of quantity

5. Jason: Gaby?

Gabrielle: Jason!

Jason: Hey! I thought that was you. Wow! (pick Gabrielle in his arm)

Gabrielle: Hi! Oh!

Carlos: (feeling annoyed) Whoa! Who are you?

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this is Carlos, my… brother. (1) Jason: Oh, hey, man. Nice to meet you.

Jason reaches his hand at Carlos. Carlos gets up and shakes Jason’s hand, unhappy.

Gabrielle: Grab a chair. Join us. (slips her wedding ring to Carlos)

Jason: Thanks. (grabs a chair and sit down close to Gabrielle) So, uh, your sister here is quite the little saleswoman. You believe she talked me into a $4,000 suit today? I mean…

Carlos: That is so… sis. (2)

Gabrielle: Carlos, maybe you should go to the bar and get us some drinks. (3)

Carlos: Nah. I'm not thirsty. (4)

Jason: So, uh, I'm wearing one of the shirts you picked out. What do you think?

Gabrielle: Oh. I can't tell you what I think in front of my brother.

Jason: (whispering to Gabrielle) You're so funny. (normal voice, to Carlos) Hey, Carlos, how is it possible that someone as awesome as your sister hasn't been scooped up already? Carlos: My guess is it's the herpes.(5)

Jason and Gabrielle are awkwardly shocked.

Gabrielle: Sibling humor. (gives Carlos a playful punch) (6)

Carlos: You're right. All those trips to the free clinic could've been for anything. (7) Gabrielle: Seriously, Carlos, some drinks for the

table would be really good. (8)

Jason: You know, what the hell? I'll take a scotch on the rocks. Uh, a single malt.

Carlos: Actually, you're gonna have to get that one yourself. (grabbing his jacket) I am going

home to my wife. I'm married. (showing

his wedding ring and then leaving) (9) Outside the restaurant.

Gabrielle: I can't believe you just did that. That guy's one of my best customers.

Carlos: Oh, are we talking about that "nerd" you sell to?

Gabrielle: Okay, maybe he's a little better-looking than the others, but it's my job, Carlos. (10)

Carlos: Fine. Whatever. Let's just get out of here. (11)

Gabrielle: You are such a hypocrite. How many

flouting the maxim of quality flouting the maxim

of manner flouting the maxim

of quality

flouting the maxim of quality violating a maxim flouting the maxim

of quality flouting the maxim

of manner

flouting the maxim of quantity

flouting the maxim manner flouting the maxim

of quantity flouting the maxim

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times did you tell me to show a little cleavage when meeting your out-of-town clients? My breasts were practically a tourist stop. (12)

Carlos: This is different, and I don't like it.

Gabrielle: Well, too bad. We need this job. I'm the breadwinner now. (13)

Carlos: Yep. Throw that in my face again. Gabrielle: What?

Carlos: "Make me dinner, Carlos." "Get me drinks." "Bring me the check.”

Gabrielle: Yeah, Carlos, I did offer to treat. And you know what I was thinking? How good it felt, how for the first time in 19 years I was able to treat you, and I can't believe that would bother you.

Carlos: Well, it does. It's driving me crazy that you're the one making all the money and calling all the shots.

Gabrielle: Well, get used to it, because I did all this for you. This is what you wanted.

A valet arrives with Carlos’ car key.

Carlos: Uh, give 'em to her. She's driving now.

of quantity

flouting the maxim of quantity

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Maranatha Christian University

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Human beings are social creatures that cannot live without others. Therefore, the role of communication is vital in daily life as a tool to make people understand each other. Most people cannot stand living without communication. In the communication process, people express their thoughts, principles, emotions, attitudes, beliefs, and plans. People can interact with others to exchange ideas, share feelings, and solve problems through communication. “Humans put into words information through a variety of methods: speaking, telephones, email, blogs, TV, art, hand gestures, facial expressions, body language and even social contexts” (“What is Communication? The Definition of Communication”).

Communication is a social activity. What is important in communication is it needs two or more people involved in discussing a topic. Through the communication process, people usually send their message in two ways. The first

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Maranatha Christian University way is that the speaker says what she/he wants to say directly. This kind of process is when the speaker gives his/her idea explicitly, plainly, straight to the point, without any intention to imply something behind his/her utterance. In other words, it is aimed to make the hearer have no difficulties in receiving the message from the speaker. The second way to express ideas in what the speaker is saying is actually not what she/he really means.

Grice suggested that there is a fundamental principle that “determines the way in which language is used with maximum efficiency and affectively” (Huang 25). This fundamental principle is called cooperative principles. The principles rule the human interaction, make the conversation have the accurate information and are “conducted with truthful, relevant, and perspicuous manner” (Huang, 25). The cooperative principles are divided into four rules which are called maxims. The four maxims are quality, quantity, relation, and manner (Huang 25). By following the maxims, people will be able to send and receive a clear and understandable message.

The speaker, however, may fail to observe or comply with the maxim. This occurrence is called the non-observance of maxim as what Grice claims in Meaning in Interaction (1995) by Jenny Thomas. There are five ways for failing to observe a maxim: flouting a maxim, violating a maxim, infringing a maxim, suspending a maxim, and opting out a maxim.

There are so many reasons why people fail to observe a maxim or to break the rule of the cooperative principles. Some may intend to hide a thing or reveal a thing, some may be determined to mock or to save a face. When a person fails to observe a maxim, his/her utterance may lead to varieties of results. One of the

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Maranatha Christian University results leads to a conflict between the speaker and the hearer. This issue is what I am going to analyze in this study.

This study will highlight some examples of non-observance of the maxim in conversations that lead to conflict in a drama series Desperate Housewives Season 8. It is observed that in the film there are numerous occasions when different characters fail to observe a maxim which generates a conflict. The purpose of this study is to look for the various types of non-observance of the maxim in the film which lead to the conflict.

Desperate Housewives is a drama-comedy TV series created by Marc Cherry and produced by one of the national television channels in America, ABC. The eighth season of this film began to be broadcasted in the United States on September 25, 2011 and concluded on May 13, 2012. The film is about the life of a group of women living in a fictional American suburb, Wisteria Lane. They are Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Van De Kamp, and Gabrielle Solis. The story exposes their domestic struggles, crimes, hidden deadly secrets which contrast to their lives that seem perfect and beautiful on the surface. This film is popular and has been nominated and won a lot of awards, such as the Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and People’s Choice Awards (“Desperate Housewives”). Those records appeal to me as such that I decide to make this film my source of data in my study.

This study will be beneficial for students at the English Department, Faculty of Letters, Maranatha Christian University because after reading my study, they will understand how the non-observance of the Gricean maxim contributes to the conflict in a film. It is also beneficial for people outside the

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Maranatha Christian University English Department so they will understand conflicts which occur in daily life because of the non-observance of maxims.

(739 words)

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1. What types of non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim occur in the utterance?

2. What are the implicatures generated from the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim?

3. How does the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim contribute to the conflict in the film?

1.3 Purpose of the Study

1. This study seeks for the types of non-observance of Gricean conversational maxim that occur in Desperate Housewives Season 8.

2. This study finds the implicatures that are generated from the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim in the film.

3. This study also searches for how the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim contributes to the conflict in the film.

1.4 Method of Research

To analyze the data, first I watched Desperate Housewives Season 8 several times to understand the story. I transcribed the conversation in the film and used the subtitle of the film to help me transcribe the conversation which is

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Maranatha Christian University not clear to me. Next, I analyzed the transcription and selected the conversations which contain the non-observance of Gricean maxim that leads to the conflict. This step includes the reason of implicature implied in the speech events. Finally, I draw some conclusions based on the analysis of the data.

1.5 Organization of the Thesis

This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One is Introduction, which contains Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is Theoretical Framework, which discusses the theory and approaches used in this study. Chapter Three is my analysis of the data. Chapter Four is Conclusion, which conclude the study and offers suggestion for any researchers who intend to analyze the same topic as I do. Then the last is Bibliography, which records the sources used in this study and Appendix, which contains a table of the list of data.

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Maranatha Christian University

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

This chapter provides a summary of the findings of the non-observance of maxims in Desperate Housewives season 8, which lead to a conflict between the characters in the film. Besides, it is followed by some suggestions for any researchers who intend to analyze the same topic.

This study has pointed out the use of the non-observance of maxims in Desperate Housewives season 8, which lead to a conflict between the characters in the film and the reason behind their utterances. It is revealed that the characters use various types of observance of maxims. Some of the types of non-observance of maxims occur more often than the others. I will explain in details from the most common to the least types of non-observance of maxims which lead to a conflict that occurs in the film.

The first major type of non-observance of maxims which leads to a conflict is violating a maxim. From the data that have been analyzed, it is shown that there are at least eight times when the characters of the film are violating a

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Maranatha Christian University maxim. I conclude that all in all, violation of a maxim is used for conflicts related to truth concealment. Violation of a maxim is done in Desperate Housewives when a speaker is inclined to mislead the hearer for the sake of the truth about a thing which is hidden behind their utterance, so the hearer will not know about the whole fact. Sometimes, when a speaker deliberately lies, his/her utterances sound somewhat ridiculous that makes the hearer know that it is untrue. This kind of phenomenon is likely to generate a conflict because the hearer does not like being deceived.

The second major type of non-observance of maxims is flouting the

maxim of quantity. It is found that flouting the maxim of quantity occurs six

times. I conclude that flouting the maxim of quantity is related to the lack of information in an utterance because the real message that the speaker wants to deliver through his/her utterance is not entirely delivered or given too much. By doing so, the speaker unintentionally evokes the hearer’s suspicion that something is hidden behind what the speaker is actually has said, which raises the hearer’s emotion and initiates a conflict between the speaker and the hearer.

Besides flouting the maxim of quantity, flouting the maxim of manner also happens to be the second major type of non-observance of maxim which leads to a conflict. The data show that flouting the maxim of manner occurs six times, the same amount as flouting the maxim of quantity. I conclude that flouting the maxim of manner occurs because a speaker’s utterance is too wordy. When an utterance is produced very long without bluntly stating the actual message, it actually makes the real point become vague. This phenomenon may create a conflict between the speaker and the hearer.

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Maranatha Christian University The third major type of non-observance of maxims in the film is flouting the maxim of quality. There are at least four times when the characters of the film are flouting the maxim of quality. I conclude that flouting the maxim of quality may initiate a conflict because the utterance that the speaker is saying is actually untrue, or the speaker uses figurative word, but it is not meant to mislead the hearer. It can occur when the speakers hint at something indirectly or uses figurative word which contains a negative meaning to the hearer, such as an insult. When the speaker lies through flouting the maxim of quality, it causes the hearer to be annoyed and so initiates a conflict.

The fourth major type of non-observance of maxims is opting out of a maxim. The data show two occurrences of opting out of a maxim that lead to a conflict. It can be inferred that opting out a maxim happens when a character/speaker gives a response which indicates that he/she refuses to cooperate with the situation. In fact, he/she does not want to give false implicature or appear uncooperative. Opting out a maxim may generate conflicts when it is used by a speaker in a situation when a truthful response is demanded.

Suspending a maxim happen to be the least types of non-observance of maxims which lead to a conflict. It is found that there are only one occurrence of suspending a maxim which lead to a conflict. I conclude that when a speaker suspends a maxim, the code or term that she/he uses in a conversation may generate a conflict in terms that both the speaker and the hearer know the code. It happens when the suspended word contains a negative meaning to the hearer, such as an insult.

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Maranatha Christian University There is no infringing a maxim-type of non-observance of maxims in the data since all of the characters are American native speakers and all of them have perfect linguistic performances.

The data shows at least two different causes of conflict. The first is a conflict which occurs because of dishonesty of the characters. In my opinion, opting out a maxim is effective to create this kind of conflict. It is because by opting out the maxim, the speaker hides the actual truth by deliberately showing unwillingness to cooperate through the utterances with the hearer. Then, it will be easy for the hearer to recognize that there is something hidden from him/her so a conflict is inevitable.

The second is a conflict which occurs because of disagreement between characters. In my opinion, flouting a maxim by means of any kinds of flouting the maxim is effective to create this kind of conflict. It is because when the speaker does so, he/she is in fact, wants the hearer to comprehend what is actually mean by the utterance without having any expectation to mislead the hearer. When an utterance in an argument is added, reduced, or irrelevant to the topic in hand, the hearer will feel annoyed and a conflict may occur afterwards.

This study has revealed the conflicts caused by the non-observance of maxims in Desperate Housewives season 8. I am in the opinion that this study is worth-developing in the future. Besides conflict, another result that I find in the film when the characters fail to observe the maxim is humor. It is recommended to be taken in consideration for a plausible topic for future researchers since there are plenty of examples.

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Maranatha Christian University

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Source

Desperate Housewives: The Complete Eighth Season. Dir. John David Coles, Fred Gerber, David Grossman. Perf.Tery Hatcher, Marcia Cross, James Denton and Jonathan Cake.Cherry Production, 2011.DVD.

References

“Desperate Housewives”. Desperate Housewives – Wiksteria Lane. N.p. n.d. Web. 24 October 2012.

Huang, Yan. Pragmatics. New York: Oxford University Press Inc. 2007. Print.

Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, 2012.Web. 13 November 2012.

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 7th ed. 2009. Print.

Thomas, Jenny. Meaning In Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. New York: Longman Publishing.1995. Print.

“What is Communication? The Definition of Communication”. Communication Studies. Communication Studies, 2012.Web. 24 October 2012.

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Maranatha Christian University “What is Conversational Implicature?”. SIL International, 2004. Web. 21

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

This chapter provides a summary of the findings of the non-observance of maxims in Desperate Housewives season 8, which lead to a conflict between the characters in the film. Besides, it is followed by some suggestions for any researchers who intend to analyze the same topic.

This study has pointed out the use of the non-observance of maxims in

Desperate Housewives season 8, which lead to a conflict between the characters in the film and the reason behind their utterances. It is revealed that the characters use various types of observance of maxims. Some of the types of non-observance of maxims occur more often than the others. I will explain in details from the most common to the least types of non-observance of maxims which lead to a conflict that occurs in the film.

The first major type of non-observance of maxims which leads to a conflict is violating a maxim. From the data that have been analyzed, it is shown that there are at least eight times when the characters of the film are violating a

maxim. I conclude that all in all, violation of a maxim is used for conflicts related to truth concealment. Violation of a maxim is done in Desperate Housewives

when a speaker is inclined to mislead the hearer for the sake of the truth about a thing which is hidden behind their utterance, so the hearer will not know about the whole fact. Sometimes, when a speaker deliberately lies, his/her utterances sound somewhat ridiculous that makes the hearer know that it is untrue. This kind of phenomenon is likely to generate a conflict because the hearer does not like being deceived.

The second major type of non-observance of maxims is flouting the maxim of quantity. It is found that flouting the maxim of quantity occurs six times. I conclude that flouting the maxim of quantity is related to the lack of information in an utterance because the real message that the speaker wants to deliver through his/her utterance is not entirely delivered or given too much. By doing so, the speaker unintentionally evokes the hearer’s suspicion that something is hidden behind what the speaker is actually has said, which raises the hearer’s emotion and initiates a conflict between the speaker and the hearer.

Besides flouting the maxim of quantity, flouting the maxim of manner also happens to be the second major type of non-observance of maxim which leads to a conflict. The data show that flouting the maxim of manner occurs six times, the same amount as flouting the maxim of quantity. I conclude that flouting the maxim of manner occurs because a speaker’s utterance is too wordy. When an utterance is produced very long without bluntly stating the actual message, it actually makes the real point become vague. This phenomenon may create a conflict between the speaker and the hearer.

The third major type of non-observance of maxims in the film is flouting the maxim of quality. There are at least four times when the characters of the film are flouting the maxim of quality. I conclude that flouting the maxim of quality may initiate a conflict because the utterance that the speaker is saying is actually untrue, or the speaker uses figurative word, but it is not meant to mislead the hearer. It can occur when the speakers hint at something indirectly or uses figurative word which contains a negative meaning to the hearer, such as an insult. When the speaker lies through flouting the maxim of quality, it causes the hearer to be annoyed and so initiates a conflict.

The fourth major type of non-observance of maxims is opting out of a maxim. The data show two occurrences of opting out of a maxim that lead to a conflict. It can be inferred that opting out a maxim happens when a character/speaker gives a response which indicates that he/she refuses to cooperate with the situation. In fact, he/she does not want to give false implicature or appear uncooperative. Opting out a maxim may generate conflicts when it is used by a speaker in a situation when a truthful response is demanded.

Suspending a maxim happen to be the least types of non-observance of maxims which lead to a conflict. It is found that there are only one occurrence of suspending a maxim which lead to a conflict. I conclude that when a speaker suspends a maxim, the code or term that she/he uses in a conversation may generate a conflict in terms that both the speaker and the hearer know the code. It happens when the suspended word contains a negative meaning to the hearer, such as an insult.

There is no infringing a maxim-type of non-observance of maxims in the data since all of the characters are American native speakers and all of them have perfect linguistic performances.

The data shows at least two different causes of conflict. The first is a conflict which occurs because of dishonesty of the characters. In my opinion, opting out a maxim is effective to create this kind of conflict. It is because by opting out the maxim, the speaker hides the actual truth by deliberately showing unwillingness to cooperate through the utterances with the hearer. Then, it will be easy for the hearer to recognize that there is something hidden from him/her so a conflict is inevitable.

The second is a conflict which occurs because of disagreement between characters. In my opinion, flouting a maxim by means of any kinds of flouting the maxim is effective to create this kind of conflict. It is because when the speaker does so, he/she is in fact, wants the hearer to comprehend what is actually mean by the utterance without having any expectation to mislead the hearer. When an utterance in an argument is added, reduced, or irrelevant to the topic in hand, the hearer will feel annoyed and a conflict may occur afterwards.

This study has revealed the conflicts caused by the non-observance of maxims in Desperate Housewives season 8. I am in the opinion that this study is worth-developing in the future. Besides conflict, another result that I find in the film when the characters fail to observe the maxim is humor. It is recommended to be taken in consideration for a plausible topic for future researchers since there are plenty of examples.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Source

Desperate Housewives: The Complete Eighth Season. Dir. John David Coles, Fred Gerber, David Grossman. Perf.Tery Hatcher, Marcia Cross, James Denton and Jonathan Cake.Cherry Production, 2011.DVD.

References

“Desperate Housewives”. Desperate Housewives – Wiksteria Lane. N.p. n.d. Web. 24 October 2012.

Huang, Yan. Pragmatics. New York: Oxford University Press Inc. 2007. Print.

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The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 7th ed. 2009. Print.

Thomas, Jenny. Meaning In Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. New York: Longman Publishing.1995. Print.

“What is Communication? The Definition of Communication”. Communication Studies. Communication Studies, 2012.Web. 24 October 2012.

“What is Conversational Implicature?”. SIL International, 2004. Web. 21 November 2012.