The Occurrence of Conflicts Due To The Non-Observance of Gricean Conversational Maxims in The TV Series '24' Seasons 1 and 2.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………….………..i
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………....….……..ii
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………...iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study…...……………………………...………….1
Statement of the Problems……………….....………………………....4
Purpose of the Study……………………….................……….………4
Method of Research………………….……………………………….5
Organization of the Thesis…….……………………………………...5
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK………….…..…………6
CHAPTER THREE: THE OCCURRENCE OF CONFLICTS DUE TO THE
NON-OBSERVANCE OF GRICEAN
CONVERSATIONAL MAXIMS IN THE TV SERIES 24
SEASON 1 AND 2...……………………….……………..12
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION……...……………………….…...………35
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………..…………………………..39
APPENDIX….……………………………………….………………………….40
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ABSTRACT
Dalam tugas akhir ini, yang berjudul The Occurrence of Conflicts Due
to the Non-Observance of Gricean Conversational Maxims in the TV series 24,
saya membahas beberapa situasi yang menggambarkan seseorang yang tidak
dapat mengikuti atau memperhatikan bidal. Alasan saya memilih topik tersebut
adalah karena ada beberapa karakter dalam serial TV 24 yang melanggar bidal
yang mengakibatkan munculnya konflik diantara mereka.
Saya memilih Gricean Conversational Maxims sebagai teori dalam
analisis saya karena teori tersebut mencakup segala sesuatu yang saya butuhkan
untuk menganalisis data saya. Teori ini terdiri dari empat bidal. Pertama,
seseorang harus memberikan informasi sesuai dengan yang dibutuhkan. Kedua,
seseorang harus berkata jujur dan harus mempunyai bukti yang kuat dalam
memberikan informasi. Ketiga, seseorang juga harus menjawab pertanyaan sesuai
dengan yang ditanyakan. Keempat, seseorang harus berbicara dengan jelas dan
tidak berbelit-belit sehingga pendengar tidak mempunyai asumsi lain dari apa
yang dikatakan oleh pembicara.
Dalam serial TV 24 tersebut, ada beberapa karakter yang sedang
menginterogasi atau menginvestigasi karakter lain, seperti tersangka, orang yang
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dianggap terlibat, bahkan koleganya. Dalam interogasi atau investigasi
tersebut, karakter-karakter itu melanggar bidal. Akibat pelanggaran bidal ini
terjadilah sebuah konflik di antara karakter-karakter tersebut yang mengakibatkan
perbedaan pendapat, percekcokan, perkelahian, bahkan saling tembak.
Tugas akhir ini bertujuan untuk memperlihatkan bahwa dalam sebuah
percakapan, terkadang seorang pembicara mempunyai maksud tertentu dalam
ucapannya yang harus diinterpretasikan oleh pendengar dengan benar. Hal ini
terjadi karena seorang pembicara terkadang tidak selalu menyampaikan secara
langsung apa yang ia ingin sampaikan dalam berkomunikasi.
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UTTERANCES
CONVERSATIONAL
NONMAXIMS
OBSERVANCE
Data 1
Jack : Who’s the source ? Who tipped us on the Palmer hit ? Last August when you led
the take-down of Phillipe Darcet, all his assets were transferred to a custodial account in
Langley, Virginia. $ 200.000 fell out along the way. I traced that money to an offshore
account in Aruba. I got a funny feeling about that account, George. I think it’s yours.
George : Yeah, Well, that’s a lie.
Maxim of Relation
Jack : Good. Then you won’t mind if I send Chappelle the information. The source, Maxim of Quantity
George ?
George : You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into here.
Jack : Why don’t you explain it to me ? You’ve got five seconds.
George : Wait. There’s your source.
Jack : Thanks for your help George.
George : You’ll live to regret this, I promise you that.
Data 2
Nina : What are you doing ?
Jack : Why don’t you tell me about this ?
Nina : Tell you what ?
Jack : Skip the “ I don’t know what you’re talking about “ phase. You loaded this card
with intel. I wanna know who you’re working for and who you smuggled this card to.
Maxim of Relation
Nina : You’re delirious !
Jack : Who are you working for ? (Jack pushes Nina to the chair)
Nina : I work for you.
Jack : Whoever programmed this card is involved with the hit on Palmer. This came from
Violating a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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your computer.
Nina : I don’t care where it came from. I didn’t do it. And I can’t believe that you think I
did.
Data 3
Dan : We’d like our money now, if that’s, like, you know, okay.
Gaines : Just so we’re, like, you know, clear. What happened to the other girl ?
Dan : Janet ? Like I told you, we had to kill her.
Gaines : My people tell me, someone that fits her description was taken to a
Maxim of Quality
hospital near to where you were. How do you explain that ?
Dan : Well, the thing is…maybe she wasn’t quite dead.
Gaines : I’ll tell you, Dan. You’re either dead or you’re not dead. There’s no such thing as
“ sort of dead “. Here, let me show you. ( Gunshots )
Data 4
Penticoff : Keep him away from me.
Phillips : He wants to ask a few questions.
Penticoff : No more questions without my lawyer.
Jack : Who are you working for ?
Penticoff : Are you deaf ? I said, no questions without my lawyer.
Jack : Your lawyer can kiss my ass. Who do you work for ?
Phillips : Hey, back off !
Jack : Get your hands off me.
Phillips : I told you, he killed my partner.
Jack : I know. I was there. Where were you ?
Maxim of Relation
Violating a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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Phillips : What ?
Jack : Where were you when your partner really needed you ?
Phillips : What’s the matter with you ?
Data 5
Jack : On the other side of this wall is a suspect, who’s connected with the people that
want Palmer dead.
George : How do you know that ?
Jack : Walsh and Baylor were killed because they obtained information that led me to
him. If you interfere, and something happens to Palmer, you’ll be seen as impeding me Maxim of Quality
because you’ve a grudge against me. So, why don’t we cut the crap ? How do you want to
play this ?
George: I’ll talk to him myself. Look, you’re lucky. I haven’t already put you in cuffs.
Just sit down, read a magazine.
Data 6
Nina : Where’s the keycard ?
Jack : What ?
Nina : Somebody replaced the keycard that Walsh gave you with this one.
Jack : Who ?
Nina : Milo thinks it was you.
Maxim of Relation
Jack : What are you talking about ?
Nina : The only time Milo took his eyes off the system, when you distracted him. Where’s
the keycard ? Give it to me, Jack, or I’ll call Division myself.
Jack : Here, the keycard, ( pointing a gun ).
Nina : What are you doing ?
Flouting a
Maxim
Flouting a
Maxim
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Jack : I’m sorry Nina, but believe me, I will kill you if I have to. Now, no screaming.
Data 7
Nina : Who were you contacting in the bathroom ?
Jamey : None of your bussiness, it was personal.
Nina : Are they the same people who set me up to be killed ?
Jamey : Set you up to be killed ? What are you talking about ?
Tony : We don’t have time for this.
Nina : Talk to us, Jamey. Who’s got Jack’s wife and daughter ? What are they making Maxims of Relation
Jack do ?
Maxims of Quality
Jamey : I don’t know.
Nina : Richard Walsh is dead, so is Scott Baylor. You’ll be charged with murder and
treason. I suggest you start telling me what’s going on.
Jamey : They said no one would get hurt.
Nina : Who are they ?
Jamey : I can’t tell you.
Tony : Tell us everything ! It’s your only way out ! Do you understand ?
Data 8
Jack : Where is my wife ?
Kevin : She’s safe.
Jack : And my daughter ?
Kevin : Safe.
Jack : Where ?
Kevin : ( laughing )
Jack : Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.
Maxim of Quantity
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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Kevin : I was just about to say the same to you.
Jack : But, I’m the man with the gun.
Kevin : If you kill me, how are you gonna find your family ?
Jack : Who said anything about killing ?
Kevin : I’m pretty good at withstanding pain. But, if you don’t get there soon, it may be
too late. Since you are no longer any use to us, Jack. There’s no reason to keep your
family alive. So, we need to come to an agreement
Data 9
Krugman : Who the hell is this?
Frank : Just some friends of mine. Don’t worry about it.
Krugman : How do you know Frankie?
Kim : I’m a friend of Rick’s.
Krugman :Who’s Rick?
Rick : I am.
Krugman : What happened to you?
Frank : Are we going to play “20 questions” or do some business?
Maxim of Relation
Krugman : I just want to know who’s in the room. Is that a problem?
Frank : No, man. Knock yourself out. Get a medical history and urine sample for all I
care. Let’s just get on with it, come on.
Krugman : Fine, let’s do this. You got cash Frankie?
Frank : I got what you need. Don’t worry. Let’s see the E first.
Krugman : Pure MDMA. No Caffeine. Want to check it?
Frank : No, man. I trust you.
Krugman : All right, Homey. Where’s the money?
Frank : Did you hear that?
Violating a
Maxim
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[chuckling]. This guy called me “homey”. Stand down!
Krugman : Come on homey.
Frank : Stand down, or you’re eating one.
Krugman : Pull that trigger and you’re going down, too.
Data 10
Eddie : Jack? Jack? What happened? Where’s the guy? Look at me.
Jack : I don’t know.
Eddie : Where’s the telephone guy?
Jack : I don’t know. I was looking out like you asked me to. The next thing I know, you’re
slapping me in the head.
Eddie : Okay. So, listen, what are you telling me, Jack? Are you saying you let the son of Maxim of Quality
a bitch go?
Jack : I didn’t tie him up.
Rush : You’re saying it’s my fault? Do you believe this guy? He walks in off the street,
then breaks Dave’s ankle.
Eddie : Hey, hey. Back off!
Rush : You punk.
Eddie : Back off! Shut up, Jack, get in the front of the van. Get in the front. We got seven
minutes until this building goes down. Get in!
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Data 11
Gary : Kim! Stop the car, I will kill you.
Gary : Who are you calling, Kim? The Police? Cause they’re already looking for
kidnapping. Where is she?
Kim : Let go of me! (Gary holds her shoulder hardly and tries to frighten her and also
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tries to push her)
Gary : Where is she?
Kim : Why don’t you go home and talk to Carla. If it’s okay with her, I’ll bring back Maxim of Relation
Megan.
Gary : No. You don’t tell me what to do, okay? Tell me where my daughter is?
Kim : I wasn’t
Gary : Where is my daughter? [Grunts]
Data 12
Nina : Let’s keep this simple. If you wanna stop the bomb, I need to be on a plane to
Visalia now.
Jack : Did you pick Visalia for a reason or would anywhere outside the blast zone work?
Jack : Who is it?
Nina : The only person who can tell us where the bomb is. I’m not gonna tell you who it is
till we get there.
Jack : Fine. Then you can sit here and wait for the blast to hit.
Nina : Stop wasting time. I’m sitting here looking at the president’s signature.
Jack : I’m here. He’s not. And I’m not gonna make a move until I believe you’re credible. Maxim of Quality
Nina : Don’t even bother, Jack. If you lay a hand on me, you’ll be taken off the case.
You’re just gonna have to follow my lead.
Jack : [yells] You are going to tell me everything. I wanna know. Or I swear to God I will
hurt you before I kill you. And no one will stop me. Do you understand me?
Mason : Open it! Open the door! Jack, let her go now!
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Data 13
Mason : Mr. Naiyeer.
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Naiyeer : What?
Mason : Who is Marko Khatami? Who is he?
Naiyeer : I have no idea. [All Shouting] ( Mason tries to punch and to push him)I don’t
know what you’re talking about! You’re crazy!
Maxim of Quality
Mason : You’re gonna tell me who he is! Where’s the bomb?
Naiyeer : You’re crazy! You’re mad!
Almeida : Cool it. Cool down.
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Language can be defined as a system of communication with other people
by using sounds, symbols and words to express a meaning or a thought. Language
can be used in many forms, primarily through oral and written communication
and also through body language (What Is Language para 1).
In daily conversation, people use language to express meaning or a
thought. In some situations, sometimes the hearer does not understand what the
speaker means. As a result, a misunderstanding often occurs between the speaker
and the hearer. The speaker sometimes means more than what he/she utters.
For example, in the utterance Cold in here, isn’t it ?, this utterance has the
implicature that the speaker wants the hearer to switch the heater on to make the
room warmer. Yet, this is not the only interpretation; there are other possibilities.
It could be about the temperature, to make small talk, or to make friendly social
relations.
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The hearers can make their own interpretation in interpreting the utterance (Leech
39).
Pragmatics is the study of how we discover the speaker meaning in a
particular context. Pragmatics is concerned with the speaker meaning, which has
three connections: speaker-utterance-hearer. This means that the utterance is
communicated by a speaker or user of the language and interpreted by a hearer
(Leech 6).
There is a distinction between what a speaker says and what the speaker
means. Grice’s theory explains how a hearer gets a meaning from the level of the
expressed meaning to the level of the implied meaning. In his theory, Grice
introduced four conversational maxims which are concerned with the listener.
These are the assumptions about what the speaker means.
I choose conversational maxims as my topic because misunderstanding of
perception or meaning often occurs between the speaker and the hearer in daily
conversation. Sometimes people do not really understand what the speaker means.
The reason is the speaker does not always convey clearly what he/she means;
therefore, Gricean Maxims offer ways to understand that the speaker does not
always convey clearly what he/she means. They have to discover the hidden
meaning behind the speaker’s utterance.
My topic is the occurrence of conflicts due to the non-observance of
Gricean conversational maxims in the TV series 24 seasons 1 and 2. In 24 I find
that conflicts are created by non-observance of the conversational maxims. Before
I took this topic, I discovered that 24 had been analysed by another student but
with a different topic: the occurrence of tense atmosphere due to the
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miscalculation of FTA in 24. Therefore, I conclude that my analysis on 24 through
conversational maxims will be acceptable.
The significance of my topic is to make readers know and understand that
sometimes people do not always say what they actually mean. This analysis will
make them more aware that sometimes the speaker has an intended meaning when
they utter an utterance, and sometimes the speaker even deliberately tries to
mislead or lie to the listener. This analysis will also help readers understand that
people often fail to observe Grice’s conversational maxims in conversation. For
the other researchers, this analysis will help them to look at the other effects of
failing to observe the Gricean conversational maxims. They will understand that
the non-observance of Gricean maxims can lead to the occurrence of conflict,
comedy, suspense, and tense atmosphere.
The reason I choose a movie as the data source is that a movie can provide
detailed information, through dialogue, context, intonation, situation, events,
setting, plot and also characters. Movie is “a powerful source of education and
entertainment” (The Definition of Movie para 1).
Based on the above reason, I decide to choose the TV series 24 as the data
source of my thesis. The TV series 24 is a drama-action about a special agent
named Jack who works in a military organization. He is ordered by the head of a
military organization to solve a case in 24 hours. There are non-observances of
maxims and conflicts which occur in the TV series 24 caused by failure to observe
conversational maxims. Jack has a number of conflicts in his social life and
environment. In 24, there are many scenes when the characters in 24 investigate
or interrogate someone. They could be a colleague, a suspect or even an enemy.
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So, the data are not only obtained from the main characters in 24 but from other
characters as well.
During the interrogation scene, there is something, or certain information,
that cannot be revealed. The characters try to hide any proof or evidence while
they are interrogated. Therefore, they often commit the non-observance of
maxims, as they do not want to be a suspect. In other situations, they also often
commit non-observance of maxims, in order to get the proof, explanation or even
the answer of their question. By performing non-observance of maxims, conflict
occurs between the characters.
The opposition of persons or forces upon which the action depends in
drama and fiction is called conflict. Dramatic conflict is the struggle which grows
out of the interplay of opposing forces (ideas, interests, wills). Conflict may also
occur between a character and society or environment and there may also be
internal conflict (Shaw 47).
865 Words
Statement of the Problem
1. What type of non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim occurs in
the speech event ?
2. How does the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim contribute
to the conflict ?
Purpose of the Study
1. To present the type of non-observance of Gricean conversational maxim that
occurs in the speech event.
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2. To show how the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim
contributes to the conflict.
Method of Research
In this thesis, the method of research is library research. To analyse the
data, I use the following procedure:
First, I watch the TV series 24 seasons 1 and 2 several times to understand the
story and the language. I use the subtitles of the film that deviate from the theory
of conversational maxims and I classify the selected deviated utterances in
relation to Grice’s theory. Then I try to analyse the utterances according to the
deviation, and I analyse the reason that the character fails to observe the
conversational maxim that creates a conflict. Finally, I draw some conclusions
based on the discussion of the data.
Organization of the Thesis
This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One is the Introduction,
which contains the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose
of the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two
provides the theoretical framework, which is concerned with the linguistic theory
and the approach used in writing the thesis. Chapter Three contains the discussion
of conversational maxims, which consists of the presentation of the findings and
analysis of the data. Chapter Four is the conclusion, containing my comments on
my findings and analysis about conversational maxims in the TV series 24.
Finally, this thesis ends with the Bibliography and Appendices.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
Now that I have reached the end of my study about the occurrence of
conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean conversational maxims in the TV
series 24 season 1 and 2, I would like to make some concluding points. I choose
conversational maxims as my topic because a misunderstanding of perception or
meaning often occurs between a speaker and a hearer in daily conversation. In
addition, I choose TV series 24 season 1 and 2 as the data source of my thesis
because there are non-observances of maxims and conflicts which are caused by
failure to observe conversational maxims.
Having analysed the data of my thesis, I conclude that the characters in
intentionally often cover the fact or the proof, which leads to conflicts. In 24
season 1 and 2, there are many scenes when the characters investigate or
interrogate someone. The characters often fail to observe Gricean conversational
maxims because they try to hide some proof or evidence while they are
interrogated. As a result, conflicts often occurs.
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I conclude that there are three types of non-observance of maxims which
the speaker fails to observe, namely, flouting, violating and opting out of a
maxim. In data 5, the character flouts a maxim when the speaker blatantly fails to
observe a maxim without any intention of misleading. Jack flouts the maxim of
quality, but he has no intention of misleading his colleague, George, because he
does not have adequate evidence and he does not witness the murder. Jack is also
considered to flout the maxim of relation because he gives an irrelevant answer;
he deliberately does not answer Nina’s question although he does not have an
intention to mislead Nina. In data 6, Nina also flouts the maxim of manner
because she is not straight to the point in asking Jack.
Opting out of a maxim is done by the suspect when he or she hides
information, as he or she does not want to give the answer. This happens in data 7,
10, 11, 12, and 13. The characters try to hide the fact and refuse to cooperate. The
characters do not want to be accused as a suspect although they know something,
they still keep silent or are unwilling to give any information because of legal or
ethical reasons.
Violating a maxim is done by the speaker or the suspect. The speaker
tends to fail to observe a maxim with an intention of deceiving or misleading. The
reasons are to cover the fact, to hide the proof or try to defend themselves. The
non-observance of conversational maxims that the characters fail to observe the
most is violating a maxim, because in the TV series 24 season 1 and 2, the
utterance is given when the characters are being interrogated or investigated.
Therefore, they violate a maxim in order not to be accused as a suspect or as a
collaborato. This can be seen in data 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The
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characters violate the maxim of quantity owing to the fact that the speaker or the
suspect gives less information than is required. They also violate the maxim of
quality owing to the fact that the speaker or the suspect does not give a relevant
answer, for the reason that they want to hide the evidence or cover their fault.
I do not find infringing a maxim and suspending a maxim in my analysis,
because I do not find any utterrances in which the speaker says something while
being drunk, too nervous, or too excited, and there is no utterrance in which the
speaker mentions a name in some situation which is considered taboo.
In my analysis, flouting, violating and opting out of a maxim can
contribute to the conflicts, in addition, 24 seasons 1 and 2 are action movies where
conflicts often occur. There are different ideas, interests or wills between the
characters. Therefore, they engage in conflict; for example, they push and punch
each other, point a gun at and shoot each other, threaten each other, and they also
have arguments, even handcuffing the suspect.
There are four types of maxims that are not used appropriately by the
characters in TV series 24 season 1 and 2: the maxims of quality, because the
speaker tends to tell a lie and also does not have adequate evidence for what
he/she says; the maxim of quantity, owing to the fact that the speaker is supposed
to give less information than is required; the maxim of relation, owing to the fact
that the speaker does not answer the question relevantly. I only find one data in
which the character fails to observe the maxim of manner, owing to the fact that
the character is not straight to the point in asking a question.
The non-observance of Gricean conversational maxims makes people
aware that they are not always cooperative in speaking. Sometimes the speaker
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has an intended meaning when he or she utters an utterance and the hearer has to
find out the speaker’s intended meaning to avoid misunderstanding.
In my opinion, we often commit a non-observance of Gricean
conversational maxim in daily conversation. For example, when someone asks for
some information and we do not want to tell the truth, we can be hiding the fact.
Another example is when someone asks us something and we do not want to give
the answer, so we can answer it irrelevantly. So, this theory can also be applied to
daily conversation, not only to conversation in movies.
I am of the opinion that the non-observance of Gricean conversational
maxim can create or even increase a conflict between a speaker and a listener in
daily conversation. For example, when we meet someone for the first time and we
do not speak straight to the point in asking or answering a question, the listener
will not be pleased to hear the question or the answer. This can create a conflict.
Another example is when we talk with our friend about something, but the
relationship is not very good. If we do not tell the truth, our friend will not be
pleased. This can increase the conflict.
In daily life, people sometimes do the non-observance of maxim; however,
they do not aware of the use of maxim. When conversational maxim is applied in
movies, a researcher becomes aware that the characters sometimes use maxim in
their life as in reality.
In future, it is suggested that researchers who wish to choose a similar
topic for their thesis analyse the occurrence of conflict in action or espionage
movies, or the occurrence of humour in comedy movies, or the occurrence of
suspense in detective movies.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
References
Leech, Geoffrey. Principles of Pragmatic. New York: Longman Group Limited,
1983.
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms. USA: McGrow-Hill Inc, 1972.
Thomas, Jenny. Meaning in Interaction: an Introduction to Pragmatics. London
and New York: Longman Group Limited, 1995.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Internet websites
The Definition of Movie. Arts. 10 April 2009
.
What is Language. Unixl. 5 March 2009
.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………….………..i
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………....….……..ii
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………...iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study…...……………………………...………….1
Statement of the Problems……………….....………………………....4
Purpose of the Study……………………….................……….………4
Method of Research………………….……………………………….5
Organization of the Thesis…….……………………………………...5
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK………….…..…………6
CHAPTER THREE: THE OCCURRENCE OF CONFLICTS DUE TO THE
NON-OBSERVANCE OF GRICEAN
CONVERSATIONAL MAXIMS IN THE TV SERIES 24
SEASON 1 AND 2...……………………….……………..12
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION……...……………………….…...………35
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………..…………………………..39
APPENDIX….……………………………………….………………………….40
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ABSTRACT
Dalam tugas akhir ini, yang berjudul The Occurrence of Conflicts Due
to the Non-Observance of Gricean Conversational Maxims in the TV series 24,
saya membahas beberapa situasi yang menggambarkan seseorang yang tidak
dapat mengikuti atau memperhatikan bidal. Alasan saya memilih topik tersebut
adalah karena ada beberapa karakter dalam serial TV 24 yang melanggar bidal
yang mengakibatkan munculnya konflik diantara mereka.
Saya memilih Gricean Conversational Maxims sebagai teori dalam
analisis saya karena teori tersebut mencakup segala sesuatu yang saya butuhkan
untuk menganalisis data saya. Teori ini terdiri dari empat bidal. Pertama,
seseorang harus memberikan informasi sesuai dengan yang dibutuhkan. Kedua,
seseorang harus berkata jujur dan harus mempunyai bukti yang kuat dalam
memberikan informasi. Ketiga, seseorang juga harus menjawab pertanyaan sesuai
dengan yang ditanyakan. Keempat, seseorang harus berbicara dengan jelas dan
tidak berbelit-belit sehingga pendengar tidak mempunyai asumsi lain dari apa
yang dikatakan oleh pembicara.
Dalam serial TV 24 tersebut, ada beberapa karakter yang sedang
menginterogasi atau menginvestigasi karakter lain, seperti tersangka, orang yang
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dianggap terlibat, bahkan koleganya. Dalam interogasi atau investigasi
tersebut, karakter-karakter itu melanggar bidal. Akibat pelanggaran bidal ini
terjadilah sebuah konflik di antara karakter-karakter tersebut yang mengakibatkan
perbedaan pendapat, percekcokan, perkelahian, bahkan saling tembak.
Tugas akhir ini bertujuan untuk memperlihatkan bahwa dalam sebuah
percakapan, terkadang seorang pembicara mempunyai maksud tertentu dalam
ucapannya yang harus diinterpretasikan oleh pendengar dengan benar. Hal ini
terjadi karena seorang pembicara terkadang tidak selalu menyampaikan secara
langsung apa yang ia ingin sampaikan dalam berkomunikasi.
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UTTERANCES
CONVERSATIONAL
NONMAXIMS
OBSERVANCE
Data 1
Jack : Who’s the source ? Who tipped us on the Palmer hit ? Last August when you led
the take-down of Phillipe Darcet, all his assets were transferred to a custodial account in
Langley, Virginia. $ 200.000 fell out along the way. I traced that money to an offshore
account in Aruba. I got a funny feeling about that account, George. I think it’s yours.
George : Yeah, Well, that’s a lie.
Maxim of Relation
Jack : Good. Then you won’t mind if I send Chappelle the information. The source, Maxim of Quantity
George ?
George : You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into here.
Jack : Why don’t you explain it to me ? You’ve got five seconds.
George : Wait. There’s your source.
Jack : Thanks for your help George.
George : You’ll live to regret this, I promise you that.
Data 2
Nina : What are you doing ?
Jack : Why don’t you tell me about this ?
Nina : Tell you what ?
Jack : Skip the “ I don’t know what you’re talking about “ phase. You loaded this card
with intel. I wanna know who you’re working for and who you smuggled this card to.
Maxim of Relation
Nina : You’re delirious !
Jack : Who are you working for ? (Jack pushes Nina to the chair)
Nina : I work for you.
Jack : Whoever programmed this card is involved with the hit on Palmer. This came from
Violating a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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your computer.
Nina : I don’t care where it came from. I didn’t do it. And I can’t believe that you think I
did.
Data 3
Dan : We’d like our money now, if that’s, like, you know, okay.
Gaines : Just so we’re, like, you know, clear. What happened to the other girl ?
Dan : Janet ? Like I told you, we had to kill her.
Gaines : My people tell me, someone that fits her description was taken to a
Maxim of Quality
hospital near to where you were. How do you explain that ?
Dan : Well, the thing is…maybe she wasn’t quite dead.
Gaines : I’ll tell you, Dan. You’re either dead or you’re not dead. There’s no such thing as
“ sort of dead “. Here, let me show you. ( Gunshots )
Data 4
Penticoff : Keep him away from me.
Phillips : He wants to ask a few questions.
Penticoff : No more questions without my lawyer.
Jack : Who are you working for ?
Penticoff : Are you deaf ? I said, no questions without my lawyer.
Jack : Your lawyer can kiss my ass. Who do you work for ?
Phillips : Hey, back off !
Jack : Get your hands off me.
Phillips : I told you, he killed my partner.
Jack : I know. I was there. Where were you ?
Maxim of Relation
Violating a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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Phillips : What ?
Jack : Where were you when your partner really needed you ?
Phillips : What’s the matter with you ?
Data 5
Jack : On the other side of this wall is a suspect, who’s connected with the people that
want Palmer dead.
George : How do you know that ?
Jack : Walsh and Baylor were killed because they obtained information that led me to
him. If you interfere, and something happens to Palmer, you’ll be seen as impeding me Maxim of Quality
because you’ve a grudge against me. So, why don’t we cut the crap ? How do you want to
play this ?
George: I’ll talk to him myself. Look, you’re lucky. I haven’t already put you in cuffs.
Just sit down, read a magazine.
Data 6
Nina : Where’s the keycard ?
Jack : What ?
Nina : Somebody replaced the keycard that Walsh gave you with this one.
Jack : Who ?
Nina : Milo thinks it was you.
Maxim of Relation
Jack : What are you talking about ?
Nina : The only time Milo took his eyes off the system, when you distracted him. Where’s
the keycard ? Give it to me, Jack, or I’ll call Division myself.
Jack : Here, the keycard, ( pointing a gun ).
Nina : What are you doing ?
Flouting a
Maxim
Flouting a
Maxim
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Jack : I’m sorry Nina, but believe me, I will kill you if I have to. Now, no screaming.
Data 7
Nina : Who were you contacting in the bathroom ?
Jamey : None of your bussiness, it was personal.
Nina : Are they the same people who set me up to be killed ?
Jamey : Set you up to be killed ? What are you talking about ?
Tony : We don’t have time for this.
Nina : Talk to us, Jamey. Who’s got Jack’s wife and daughter ? What are they making Maxims of Relation
Jack do ?
Maxims of Quality
Jamey : I don’t know.
Nina : Richard Walsh is dead, so is Scott Baylor. You’ll be charged with murder and
treason. I suggest you start telling me what’s going on.
Jamey : They said no one would get hurt.
Nina : Who are they ?
Jamey : I can’t tell you.
Tony : Tell us everything ! It’s your only way out ! Do you understand ?
Data 8
Jack : Where is my wife ?
Kevin : She’s safe.
Jack : And my daughter ?
Kevin : Safe.
Jack : Where ?
Kevin : ( laughing )
Jack : Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.
Maxim of Quantity
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
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Kevin : I was just about to say the same to you.
Jack : But, I’m the man with the gun.
Kevin : If you kill me, how are you gonna find your family ?
Jack : Who said anything about killing ?
Kevin : I’m pretty good at withstanding pain. But, if you don’t get there soon, it may be
too late. Since you are no longer any use to us, Jack. There’s no reason to keep your
family alive. So, we need to come to an agreement
Data 9
Krugman : Who the hell is this?
Frank : Just some friends of mine. Don’t worry about it.
Krugman : How do you know Frankie?
Kim : I’m a friend of Rick’s.
Krugman :Who’s Rick?
Rick : I am.
Krugman : What happened to you?
Frank : Are we going to play “20 questions” or do some business?
Maxim of Relation
Krugman : I just want to know who’s in the room. Is that a problem?
Frank : No, man. Knock yourself out. Get a medical history and urine sample for all I
care. Let’s just get on with it, come on.
Krugman : Fine, let’s do this. You got cash Frankie?
Frank : I got what you need. Don’t worry. Let’s see the E first.
Krugman : Pure MDMA. No Caffeine. Want to check it?
Frank : No, man. I trust you.
Krugman : All right, Homey. Where’s the money?
Frank : Did you hear that?
Violating a
Maxim
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[chuckling]. This guy called me “homey”. Stand down!
Krugman : Come on homey.
Frank : Stand down, or you’re eating one.
Krugman : Pull that trigger and you’re going down, too.
Data 10
Eddie : Jack? Jack? What happened? Where’s the guy? Look at me.
Jack : I don’t know.
Eddie : Where’s the telephone guy?
Jack : I don’t know. I was looking out like you asked me to. The next thing I know, you’re
slapping me in the head.
Eddie : Okay. So, listen, what are you telling me, Jack? Are you saying you let the son of Maxim of Quality
a bitch go?
Jack : I didn’t tie him up.
Rush : You’re saying it’s my fault? Do you believe this guy? He walks in off the street,
then breaks Dave’s ankle.
Eddie : Hey, hey. Back off!
Rush : You punk.
Eddie : Back off! Shut up, Jack, get in the front of the van. Get in the front. We got seven
minutes until this building goes down. Get in!
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Data 11
Gary : Kim! Stop the car, I will kill you.
Gary : Who are you calling, Kim? The Police? Cause they’re already looking for
kidnapping. Where is she?
Kim : Let go of me! (Gary holds her shoulder hardly and tries to frighten her and also
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tries to push her)
Gary : Where is she?
Kim : Why don’t you go home and talk to Carla. If it’s okay with her, I’ll bring back Maxim of Relation
Megan.
Gary : No. You don’t tell me what to do, okay? Tell me where my daughter is?
Kim : I wasn’t
Gary : Where is my daughter? [Grunts]
Data 12
Nina : Let’s keep this simple. If you wanna stop the bomb, I need to be on a plane to
Visalia now.
Jack : Did you pick Visalia for a reason or would anywhere outside the blast zone work?
Jack : Who is it?
Nina : The only person who can tell us where the bomb is. I’m not gonna tell you who it is
till we get there.
Jack : Fine. Then you can sit here and wait for the blast to hit.
Nina : Stop wasting time. I’m sitting here looking at the president’s signature.
Jack : I’m here. He’s not. And I’m not gonna make a move until I believe you’re credible. Maxim of Quality
Nina : Don’t even bother, Jack. If you lay a hand on me, you’ll be taken off the case.
You’re just gonna have to follow my lead.
Jack : [yells] You are going to tell me everything. I wanna know. Or I swear to God I will
hurt you before I kill you. And no one will stop me. Do you understand me?
Mason : Open it! Open the door! Jack, let her go now!
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
Data 13
Mason : Mr. Naiyeer.
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Naiyeer : What?
Mason : Who is Marko Khatami? Who is he?
Naiyeer : I have no idea. [All Shouting] ( Mason tries to punch and to push him)I don’t
know what you’re talking about! You’re crazy!
Maxim of Quality
Mason : You’re gonna tell me who he is! Where’s the bomb?
Naiyeer : You’re crazy! You’re mad!
Almeida : Cool it. Cool down.
Violating a
Maxim
Opting out of a
Maxim
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Language can be defined as a system of communication with other people
by using sounds, symbols and words to express a meaning or a thought. Language
can be used in many forms, primarily through oral and written communication
and also through body language (What Is Language para 1).
In daily conversation, people use language to express meaning or a
thought. In some situations, sometimes the hearer does not understand what the
speaker means. As a result, a misunderstanding often occurs between the speaker
and the hearer. The speaker sometimes means more than what he/she utters.
For example, in the utterance Cold in here, isn’t it ?, this utterance has the
implicature that the speaker wants the hearer to switch the heater on to make the
room warmer. Yet, this is not the only interpretation; there are other possibilities.
It could be about the temperature, to make small talk, or to make friendly social
relations.
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The hearers can make their own interpretation in interpreting the utterance (Leech
39).
Pragmatics is the study of how we discover the speaker meaning in a
particular context. Pragmatics is concerned with the speaker meaning, which has
three connections: speaker-utterance-hearer. This means that the utterance is
communicated by a speaker or user of the language and interpreted by a hearer
(Leech 6).
There is a distinction between what a speaker says and what the speaker
means. Grice’s theory explains how a hearer gets a meaning from the level of the
expressed meaning to the level of the implied meaning. In his theory, Grice
introduced four conversational maxims which are concerned with the listener.
These are the assumptions about what the speaker means.
I choose conversational maxims as my topic because misunderstanding of
perception or meaning often occurs between the speaker and the hearer in daily
conversation. Sometimes people do not really understand what the speaker means.
The reason is the speaker does not always convey clearly what he/she means;
therefore, Gricean Maxims offer ways to understand that the speaker does not
always convey clearly what he/she means. They have to discover the hidden
meaning behind the speaker’s utterance.
My topic is the occurrence of conflicts due to the non-observance of
Gricean conversational maxims in the TV series 24 seasons 1 and 2. In 24 I find
that conflicts are created by non-observance of the conversational maxims. Before
I took this topic, I discovered that 24 had been analysed by another student but
with a different topic: the occurrence of tense atmosphere due to the
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miscalculation of FTA in 24. Therefore, I conclude that my analysis on 24 through
conversational maxims will be acceptable.
The significance of my topic is to make readers know and understand that
sometimes people do not always say what they actually mean. This analysis will
make them more aware that sometimes the speaker has an intended meaning when
they utter an utterance, and sometimes the speaker even deliberately tries to
mislead or lie to the listener. This analysis will also help readers understand that
people often fail to observe Grice’s conversational maxims in conversation. For
the other researchers, this analysis will help them to look at the other effects of
failing to observe the Gricean conversational maxims. They will understand that
the non-observance of Gricean maxims can lead to the occurrence of conflict,
comedy, suspense, and tense atmosphere.
The reason I choose a movie as the data source is that a movie can provide
detailed information, through dialogue, context, intonation, situation, events,
setting, plot and also characters. Movie is “a powerful source of education and
entertainment” (The Definition of Movie para 1).
Based on the above reason, I decide to choose the TV series 24 as the data
source of my thesis. The TV series 24 is a drama-action about a special agent
named Jack who works in a military organization. He is ordered by the head of a
military organization to solve a case in 24 hours. There are non-observances of
maxims and conflicts which occur in the TV series 24 caused by failure to observe
conversational maxims. Jack has a number of conflicts in his social life and
environment. In 24, there are many scenes when the characters in 24 investigate
or interrogate someone. They could be a colleague, a suspect or even an enemy.
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So, the data are not only obtained from the main characters in 24 but from other
characters as well.
During the interrogation scene, there is something, or certain information,
that cannot be revealed. The characters try to hide any proof or evidence while
they are interrogated. Therefore, they often commit the non-observance of
maxims, as they do not want to be a suspect. In other situations, they also often
commit non-observance of maxims, in order to get the proof, explanation or even
the answer of their question. By performing non-observance of maxims, conflict
occurs between the characters.
The opposition of persons or forces upon which the action depends in
drama and fiction is called conflict. Dramatic conflict is the struggle which grows
out of the interplay of opposing forces (ideas, interests, wills). Conflict may also
occur between a character and society or environment and there may also be
internal conflict (Shaw 47).
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Statement of the Problem
1. What type of non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim occurs in
the speech event ?
2. How does the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim contribute
to the conflict ?
Purpose of the Study
1. To present the type of non-observance of Gricean conversational maxim that
occurs in the speech event.
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2. To show how the non-observance of the Gricean conversational maxim
contributes to the conflict.
Method of Research
In this thesis, the method of research is library research. To analyse the
data, I use the following procedure:
First, I watch the TV series 24 seasons 1 and 2 several times to understand the
story and the language. I use the subtitles of the film that deviate from the theory
of conversational maxims and I classify the selected deviated utterances in
relation to Grice’s theory. Then I try to analyse the utterances according to the
deviation, and I analyse the reason that the character fails to observe the
conversational maxim that creates a conflict. Finally, I draw some conclusions
based on the discussion of the data.
Organization of the Thesis
This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One is the Introduction,
which contains the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose
of the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two
provides the theoretical framework, which is concerned with the linguistic theory
and the approach used in writing the thesis. Chapter Three contains the discussion
of conversational maxims, which consists of the presentation of the findings and
analysis of the data. Chapter Four is the conclusion, containing my comments on
my findings and analysis about conversational maxims in the TV series 24.
Finally, this thesis ends with the Bibliography and Appendices.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
Now that I have reached the end of my study about the occurrence of
conflicts due to the non-observance of Gricean conversational maxims in the TV
series 24 season 1 and 2, I would like to make some concluding points. I choose
conversational maxims as my topic because a misunderstanding of perception or
meaning often occurs between a speaker and a hearer in daily conversation. In
addition, I choose TV series 24 season 1 and 2 as the data source of my thesis
because there are non-observances of maxims and conflicts which are caused by
failure to observe conversational maxims.
Having analysed the data of my thesis, I conclude that the characters in
intentionally often cover the fact or the proof, which leads to conflicts. In 24
season 1 and 2, there are many scenes when the characters investigate or
interrogate someone. The characters often fail to observe Gricean conversational
maxims because they try to hide some proof or evidence while they are
interrogated. As a result, conflicts often occurs.
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I conclude that there are three types of non-observance of maxims which
the speaker fails to observe, namely, flouting, violating and opting out of a
maxim. In data 5, the character flouts a maxim when the speaker blatantly fails to
observe a maxim without any intention of misleading. Jack flouts the maxim of
quality, but he has no intention of misleading his colleague, George, because he
does not have adequate evidence and he does not witness the murder. Jack is also
considered to flout the maxim of relation because he gives an irrelevant answer;
he deliberately does not answer Nina’s question although he does not have an
intention to mislead Nina. In data 6, Nina also flouts the maxim of manner
because she is not straight to the point in asking Jack.
Opting out of a maxim is done by the suspect when he or she hides
information, as he or she does not want to give the answer. This happens in data 7,
10, 11, 12, and 13. The characters try to hide the fact and refuse to cooperate. The
characters do not want to be accused as a suspect although they know something,
they still keep silent or are unwilling to give any information because of legal or
ethical reasons.
Violating a maxim is done by the speaker or the suspect. The speaker
tends to fail to observe a maxim with an intention of deceiving or misleading. The
reasons are to cover the fact, to hide the proof or try to defend themselves. The
non-observance of conversational maxims that the characters fail to observe the
most is violating a maxim, because in the TV series 24 season 1 and 2, the
utterance is given when the characters are being interrogated or investigated.
Therefore, they violate a maxim in order not to be accused as a suspect or as a
collaborato. This can be seen in data 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The
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characters violate the maxim of quantity owing to the fact that the speaker or the
suspect gives less information than is required. They also violate the maxim of
quality owing to the fact that the speaker or the suspect does not give a relevant
answer, for the reason that they want to hide the evidence or cover their fault.
I do not find infringing a maxim and suspending a maxim in my analysis,
because I do not find any utterrances in which the speaker says something while
being drunk, too nervous, or too excited, and there is no utterrance in which the
speaker mentions a name in some situation which is considered taboo.
In my analysis, flouting, violating and opting out of a maxim can
contribute to the conflicts, in addition, 24 seasons 1 and 2 are action movies where
conflicts often occur. There are different ideas, interests or wills between the
characters. Therefore, they engage in conflict; for example, they push and punch
each other, point a gun at and shoot each other, threaten each other, and they also
have arguments, even handcuffing the suspect.
There are four types of maxims that are not used appropriately by the
characters in TV series 24 season 1 and 2: the maxims of quality, because the
speaker tends to tell a lie and also does not have adequate evidence for what
he/she says; the maxim of quantity, owing to the fact that the speaker is supposed
to give less information than is required; the maxim of relation, owing to the fact
that the speaker does not answer the question relevantly. I only find one data in
which the character fails to observe the maxim of manner, owing to the fact that
the character is not straight to the point in asking a question.
The non-observance of Gricean conversational maxims makes people
aware that they are not always cooperative in speaking. Sometimes the speaker
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has an intended meaning when he or she utters an utterance and the hearer has to
find out the speaker’s intended meaning to avoid misunderstanding.
In my opinion, we often commit a non-observance of Gricean
conversational maxim in daily conversation. For example, when someone asks for
some information and we do not want to tell the truth, we can be hiding the fact.
Another example is when someone asks us something and we do not want to give
the answer, so we can answer it irrelevantly. So, this theory can also be applied to
daily conversation, not only to conversation in movies.
I am of the opinion that the non-observance of Gricean conversational
maxim can create or even increase a conflict between a speaker and a listener in
daily conversation. For example, when we meet someone for the first time and we
do not speak straight to the point in asking or answering a question, the listener
will not be pleased to hear the question or the answer. This can create a conflict.
Another example is when we talk with our friend about something, but the
relationship is not very good. If we do not tell the truth, our friend will not be
pleased. This can increase the conflict.
In daily life, people sometimes do the non-observance of maxim; however,
they do not aware of the use of maxim. When conversational maxim is applied in
movies, a researcher becomes aware that the characters sometimes use maxim in
their life as in reality.
In future, it is suggested that researchers who wish to choose a similar
topic for their thesis analyse the occurrence of conflict in action or espionage
movies, or the occurrence of humour in comedy movies, or the occurrence of
suspense in detective movies.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
References
Leech, Geoffrey. Principles of Pragmatic. New York: Longman Group Limited,
1983.
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms. USA: McGrow-Hill Inc, 1972.
Thomas, Jenny. Meaning in Interaction: an Introduction to Pragmatics. London
and New York: Longman Group Limited, 1995.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Internet websites
The Definition of Movie. Arts. 10 April 2009
.
What is Language. Unixl. 5 March 2009
.
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