Analysis of Non-Observance of the Gricean Maxims Related to Conflict in Beverly Hills 90210 Tv Series Seasons 3-4.

ABSTRACT

Dalam menulis tugas akhir ini, saya menganalisis pelanggaran bidal dalam percakapan yang dilakukan oleh beberapa penutur dalam sebuah drama seri Beverly Hills 90210 musim 3 dan musim 4. Beberapa pelanggaran bidal ini memiliki implikasi yang dapat menyebabkan konflik bagi para penutur. Implikasi ini juga mengacu pada pelanggaran teori bidal yang dikemukakan oleh Paul Grice. Adapun pelanggaran-pelanggaran berdasarkan teori Grice yaitu flouting a maxim, violating a maxim, infringing a maxim, opting out of a maxim, dan suspending a maxim.

Analisis dalam tugas akhir ini berkaitan dengan bidal yang dilanggar dan bagaimana pelanggaran tersebut dapat menimbulkan konflik diantara para penutur dalam drama seri ini. Dari 10 data yang saya analisis, saya menemukan violating a maxim merupakan pelanggaran yang paling sering digunakan oleh penutur untuk menutupi kesalahannya.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iii

ABSTRACT ... iv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Background of the Study ... 1

Statement of the Problem ... 4

Purpose of the Study ... 4

Methods of Research ... 5

Organization of the Thesis ... 5

CHAPTER TWO:THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ... 6

CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF NON-OBSERVANCE OF THE GRICEAN MAXIMS RELATED TO CONFLICT IN BEVERLY HILLS 90210 TV SERIES SEASONS 3-4 ... 15

CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION ... 30

BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 34

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Study

As human being, we need to interact with other people because we can not live alone in this world. We must communicate to build relationship with each other.

Conversation is the way easiest to do this. Of course, conversation happens when there is the speaker and the hearer. In order to have a good conversation, the hearer has to know what the speaker means in producing an utterance. In linguistics, it is called pragmatics.

According to George Yule, Pragmatics is the study of speaker meaning (Yule, 1996, pg. 3). If the hearer can not understand what the speaker means, the conversation will not run smoothly. So, when the needs of information are fulfilled, a successful conversation is conducted.

In pragmatics, implied meaning within our speech is termed implicature. According to H. P. Grice, there are two different kinds of implicature. They are conventional implicature and conversational implicature.

Paul Grice (1975) introduced four conversational maxims. They are quantity, quality, relation and manner. He also introduces the cooperative principle which makes the conversation run smooth. But very often people fail to observe the maxim which can lead to conflict between them. Therefore, Grice discussed five ways of not observing a maxim. They are flouting a maxim, violating a maxim, infringing a maxim, opting-out of a maxim, suspending a maxim. The explanation and example of five types of the maxims will be shown in this topic.

I choose TV Series because I am interested to analyze the non-obeservance of the Gricean maxims, which are related to conflict from the characters’ conversations in this TV Series, in which some actors and actresses often fail to observe the maxim. When they speak to one to another, sometimes they fail to observe the maxim so their conversation lead to conflict. That is why I used a television series as the data source.

The TV Series in Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 3 and 4 is choosen because I find many conflicts in their dialogue which are related to my topic, is the non-observance of Gricean maxims. Then, why I choose this TV Series from Seasons 3 and 4 because the Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 1 and 2 have already been analysed. So, I continue to analyze the next seasons. This TV Series tells about a Kansas family relocate to Beverly Hills and it is about the parental issues,

academic matters, career aspirations, and romantic concerns of the other characters.

In this TV Series, I would like to analyze the conversation by the characters who often fail to observe the maxim and produce the implicature which leads the conflict in the end. They are Annie Wilson, Liam Court, Dixon Wilson, Navid Shirazi, Adrianna Tate, and Naomi Clark.

One of the characters who fail to observe a maxim is Adrianna Tate. She is one of the main characters in this TV Series. Adrianna is a girl who has high ambition to be an actress. She will do everything so that she can be famous. For instance, she takes Javier’s song, Javier is Adrianna’s friend who already passed away in a car accident. Adrianna is left by her friends no exception Navid, her boy friend, who does not like Adrianna’s behaviour after she becomes famous.

The second character is Navid Shirazi, a kind, easy going and rich person. One day he finds out about his father’s illegal job from his schoolmates. It makes him disappointed with his father.

The third character is Naomi Clark, a broken-home teenager in this TV series. She is a beautiful girl and very popular in the high school. She always wants to be the best girl but her capability of controlling her emotion and her ego is very low. So it makes her not observe the Gricean maxims.

The fourth character is Annie Wilson, a teenager who just wants to find love and become a good friend in the school. Unfortunately, sometimes her ego as a teenager makes her not observe the Gricean maxims.

The fifth character is Dixon Wilson. He is Annie’s adopted brother. Dixon is good-spirited and has a passion and talents in music. He has relationship with

some of female characters including Adrianna and Ivy. But he had a bit of an anger problem which often brings him to trouble.

The sixth character is Liam Court. He is a contemplative person with a lot of secrets. He remains pretty much a mystery to people around him. And sometimes it makes him in trouble and not observe the Gricean maxim.

The purpose I analyze this topic is to know that in our daily conversation, sometimes people are not aware what they are talking about and it can lead to conflict by failing to observe the Gricean maxims. I hope from this thesis, people can understand about type of the non-observance of the maxims and why people can fail to observe the maxims, which cause the conflict. For people who want to write thesis with similar topic, I hope this thesis can be useful for their research.

Word count: 833

1.2Statement of the Problem

In this study, there are three problems to be analyzed, they are:

1. What types of non-observance of the maxims is done by the speakers in the Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 3-4?

2. What is the implicature in the speakers’ utterance?

3. How do the non-observance of the maxims lead to conflict?

1.3Purpose of the Study

1. To find type of non-observance of the maxims that is done by the speakers in the Beverly Hills 9021.

2. To find the speakers’ implicature.

3. To find how the non-observance of the maxims leads to conflict.

1.4Methods of Research

In analyzing my topic, I take five steps to collect my data. Firts, I searched the theory from some books and in the Internet, which is related with my topic. Second, I choose TV Series Beverly Hills 90210 Season 3 until 4 as my data. Third, I watched TV Series and wrote down the conversation which contain non-observance of the maxims. Fourth, I analysed which type of non-non-observance of the maxims and the implicature from the characters’ utterance. The last step, fifth, I analysed the way non-observance can lead to conflict. Finally, I wrote my thesis.

1.5Organization of the Thesis

This thesis consists of four chapters. The first chapter is Introduction, containing 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. It contains the theory about non-observance of the maxims to analyze in this data. Chapter Three is the analysis of non-observance of the Gricean maxims related to conflict in the TV Series Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 3 until 4. Chapter Four is Conclusion. This thesis is ended by Bibliography and Appendix.

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

In this chapter, I will conclude the analysis of all the data that I have written in the previous chapter. Grice says that people have to follow the Gricean maxims to make a conversation run smoothly. However, in my data which is taken from the television series Beverly Hills 90210 seasons 3 and 4, it is hard for the characters to obey the Gricean maxims for some reasons. This makes the non-observance of the Gricean maxims lead to conflicts between the main characters.

The data that I have analyzed are taken from seven scenes for both season three and four, and they are separated into ten parts of data. From the ten data that have been collected to be analyzed in chapter three, there are four data that concern flouting of the maxims. They are flouting the maxim of manner,

flouting the maxim of quantity, and six data that involve violation of the maxims. Those two kinds of non-observance of the Gricean maxim cause conflict

between the characters of the TV series. The other types of non-observance of the Gricean maxims are not mentioned not because they do not exist, but they do not lead to conflicts significant enough to be analysed.

In my analysis, the maxims that are flouted is the maxim of quantity, which is in data 2 and 8 , and flouting maxim of manner, which is in data 1 and 3. Based on the analysis, a speaker flouts the maxim when the speaker does not have any intention of misleading. He or she fails to observe the maxim only to generate an implicature. A conflict can be created even from an honest mistake of a character or the speaker. The speaker is unintentionally saying things that are hurtful to the hearer because the utterances create an implicature that can be interpreted differently by the hearer. It may happen because he or she is not informative, untrue, irrelevant, and unclear enough in expressing his or herself. They have either an extra meaning which they want to be understood by the hearer or fail to express their true meaning. This is why the implicature often creates some misunderstandings between the speaker and the hearer and thus, eventually lead to conflict. However, I do not find flouting the maxim of quality and flouting the maxim of relation in the data because those types of maxim do not create significant conflicts.

Based on the result, it is found that most of the data that have been analyzed concern violation of the maxim. It can be seen in data 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10. As can be often seen in most of dramas or films, conflicts are needed to make the storyline more interesting and can attract more viewers by making them stay from the beginning until the end of the show to find out the solution of the conflict. There are some potential things to create conflicts; not only from the plot, but also from the characters’ characteristics. The conflicts can come from how a character acts around another character, or it can also because of the utterances of a character to another character that are offensive, misleading, or

even an honest mistake that hurt the hearer or provoke the hearer to let out another utterance that violate or flout the maxims. This is why we can find that most of the non-obeservance of the Gricean maxim that can creating conflict turn out to be violating the maxim. The violation of the maxim has a big role in creating the conflicts due to the speaker or listener to telling lies, or giving information that is unclear. This kind of non-obeservance of the Gricean maxim can lead to miscommunication, misunderstanding, or even conflict between the speaker and hearer.

From all of data that I analyze, I do not find the characters infringe the maxim. It is because in Beverly Hills 90210 television series is about a new life of teenagers and their family. The characters are in normal condition. None of them is drunk or incapable of speaking English well, which may make the conflict occur. I also do not find opting out of a maxim in this television series the characters do not have any reason for not being cooperative while giving any information. The last, I do not find any cultural reason and there is no taboo word to say that characters suspend the maxim. In addition, the characteristics of the speakers as well as their problems drive them to flout and violate the maxims.

In my opinion in analyzing the non-observance of Gricean maxims related to conflict in Beverly Hills 90210 television series, I found that non-observances of the Gricean maxims have an important role to make the television series interesting. It is because they can create conflicts which are one of the most important aspect of the show to attract viewers and make the show more interesting. If the viewers are curious, they will keep watching the show until it

ends to find out the ending where the conflicts can be resolved and the characters find solutions to their problems.

Moreover, from doing this thesis, I also find something valuable. It is that in the matter of conversing with other people, it is better if the rule of maxims are understood to make the conversation run smoothly and to avoid misunderstanding. I also suggest other writers who want to write a thesis with the same topic, find a good television series as the source because it can support analysis to be a good thesis. I also hope my thesis can be useful for people who need it. Other writers could also do a comparison of other films or serials for the same genre or theme and compare or contrast them against the findings of this study. Obviously this research can be taken in many ways and it is my hope that it will be. The findings of this study hopefuly can assist both society and schools in better educating their young generations on what it means to have good communicative skills as a social creature.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Text

Pendell, M. (Prod.), & Anderson, S. P. (Dir.). (2011). Beverly Hills 90210 Seasons 3-4. CBS ParamountNetwork.

References

Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and Conversation In Cole, P. & Morgan, J. (eds.) Syntax and Semantics, Volume 3. New York: Academic Press.

Raceanu, M. A. (2013, October 03). Speech Acts in Professional English. May 11, 2014, Bulletin Scientifique En Langues Ètrangéres Appliquées: http://www.revues-eco.refer.org/BSLEA.index.php?id=455

Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. London and New York: Addison Wesley Longman Inc.

Internet Website

“Conflict”. Cambridge Online Dictionary. Cambridge Online Dictionary. Retrieved 16 May 2014 from

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

In this chapter, I will conclude the analysis of all the data that I have written in the previous chapter. Grice says that people have to follow the Gricean maxims to make a conversation run smoothly. However, in my data which is taken from the television series Beverly Hills 90210 seasons 3 and 4, it is hard for the characters to obey the Gricean maxims for some reasons. This makes the non-observance of the Gricean maxims lead to conflicts between the main characters.

The data that I have analyzed are taken from seven scenes for both season three and four, and they are separated into ten parts of data. From the ten data that have been collected to be analyzed in chapter three, there are four data that concern flouting of the maxims. They are flouting the maxim of manner, flouting the maxim of quantity, and six data that involve violation of the maxims. Those two kinds of non-observance of the Gricean maxim cause conflict between the characters of the TV series. The other types of non-observance of the Gricean maxims are not mentioned not because they do not exist, but they do not lead to conflicts significant enough to be analysed.

In my analysis, the maxims that are flouted is the maxim of quantity, which is in data 2 and 8 , and flouting maxim of manner, which is in data 1 and 3. Based on the analysis, a speaker flouts the maxim when the speaker does not have any intention of misleading. He or she fails to observe the maxim only to generate an implicature. A conflict can be created even from an honest mistake of a character or the speaker. The speaker is unintentionally saying things that are hurtful to the hearer because the utterances create an implicature that can be interpreted differently by the hearer. It may happen because he or she is not informative, untrue, irrelevant, and unclear enough in expressing his or herself. They have either an extra meaning which they want to be understood by the hearer or fail to express their true meaning. This is why the implicature often creates some misunderstandings between the speaker and the hearer and thus, eventually lead to conflict. However, I do not find flouting the maxim of quality and flouting the maxim of relation in the data because those types of maxim do not create significant conflicts.

Based on the result, it is found that most of the data that have been analyzed concern violation of the maxim. It can be seen in data 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10. As can be often seen in most of dramas or films, conflicts are needed to make the storyline more interesting and can attract more viewers by making them stay from the beginning until the end of the show to find out the solution of the conflict. There are some potential things to create conflicts; not only from the plot, but also from the characters’ characteristics. The conflicts can come from how a character acts around another character, or it can also because of the utterances of a character to another character that are offensive, misleading, or

even an honest mistake that hurt the hearer or provoke the hearer to let out another utterance that violate or flout the maxims. This is why we can find that most of the non-obeservance of the Gricean maxim that can creating conflict turn out to be violating the maxim. The violation of the maxim has a big role in creating the conflicts due to the speaker or listener to telling lies, or giving information that is unclear. This kind of non-obeservance of the Gricean maxim can lead to miscommunication, misunderstanding, or even conflict between the speaker and hearer.

From all of data that I analyze, I do not find the characters infringe the maxim. It is because in Beverly Hills 90210 television series is about a new life of teenagers and their family. The characters are in normal condition. None of them is drunk or incapable of speaking English well, which may make the conflict occur. I also do not find opting out of a maxim in this television series the characters do not have any reason for not being cooperative while giving any information. The last, I do not find any cultural reason and there is no taboo word to say that characters suspend the maxim. In addition, the characteristics of the speakers as well as their problems drive them to flout and violate the maxims.

In my opinion in analyzing the non-observance of Gricean maxims related to conflict in Beverly Hills 90210 television series, I found that non-observances of the Gricean maxims have an important role to make the television series interesting. It is because they can create conflicts which are one of the most important aspect of the show to attract viewers and make the show more interesting. If the viewers are curious, they will keep watching the show until it

ends to find out the ending where the conflicts can be resolved and the characters find solutions to their problems.

Moreover, from doing this thesis, I also find something valuable. It is that in the matter of conversing with other people, it is better if the rule of maxims are understood to make the conversation run smoothly and to avoid misunderstanding. I also suggest other writers who want to write a thesis with the same topic, find a good television series as the source because it can support analysis to be a good thesis. I also hope my thesis can be useful for people who need it. Other writers could also do a comparison of other films or serials for the same genre or theme and compare or contrast them against the findings of this study. Obviously this research can be taken in many ways and it is my hope that it will be. The findings of this study hopefuly can assist both society and schools in better educating their young generations on what it means to have good communicative skills as a social creature.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Text

Pendell, M. (Prod.), & Anderson, S. P. (Dir.). (2011). Beverly Hills 90210

Seasons 3-4. CBS ParamountNetwork.

References

Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and Conversation In Cole, P. & Morgan, J. (eds.) Syntax and Semantics, Volume 3. New York: Academic Press.

Raceanu, M. A. (2013, October 03). Speech Acts in Professional English. May 11, 2014, Bulletin Scientifique En Langues Ètrangéres Appliquées: http://www.revues-eco.refer.org/BSLEA.index.php?id=455

Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. London and New York: Addison Wesley Longman Inc.

Internet Website

“Conflict”. Cambridge Online Dictionary. Cambridge Online Dictionary.

Retrieved 16 May 2014 from