RATIONALE
Entertainment plays a crucial role in our daily lives, with TV shows being a popular source of relaxation For English language learners, watching TV shows in English offers valuable exposure to natural conversations, enhancing their language skills However, mastering a foreign language involves more than just understanding its linguistic features and the four core skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing A fundamental grasp of pragmatics—the relationship between language and context—is essential for learners to fully comprehend the situations depicted in TV shows.
Conversational implicature is a crucial concept in Pragmatics, highlighting how speakers often convey messages implicitly for various purposes, as noted by Levinson Interlocutors frequently flout Grice’s maxims—quality, quantity, relation, and manner—to imply meanings While previous research has explored the flouting of conversational maxims in films and sitcoms, the examination of natural conversations in TV show interviews remains underexplored This study focuses on interviews from The Ellen Show, a globally popular program, to analyze how flouting Grice's maxims can aid English language learners in improving their language and pragmatic skills Additionally, the research investigates the differences in maxim flouting between male and female guests, using compelling examples from the show to illustrate these dynamics.
The first instance is taken from the interview entitled “Adam Levine Addresses
On November 18, 2018, rumors circulated regarding Adam Levine's anticipated performance at the Super Bowl, the prestigious National Football League championship game As a renowned American singer and songwriter, Levine addressed these speculations during his guest appearance on the show, shedding light on his potential involvement in the highly publicized event.
Ellen: Hey, let‟s talk about this rumor of you possibly performing at halftime for the Super Bowl
Adam Levin (hesitate a few seconds): What the hell are you talking about? Ellen: Yeah
Adam: It’s a rumor I can neither confirm nor deny the truth of this rumor It’s definitely a rumor And the rumor is…the rumor is that everyone seems to be discussing
Ellen: Right So you can‟t say anything because nothing has really been announced…so whether it‟s true or not
Adam: It’s the Super Bowl It’s a great event And there’s going to be a band performing or an artist of some kind performing…
( “Adam Levine Addresses Super Bowl Performance Rumors” , in The Ellen
In this conversation, Adam deliberately violates the maxim of quantity to conceal the truth, offering only widely known facts that leave Ellen and the audience without meaningful insight Ellen appears to understand Adam's implication, recognizing that his silence stems from the lack of any real announcement, ultimately accepting the situation.
The next example is utterances uttered by Judge Judy, who is best known as a no-nonsense courtroom presence on the TV show Judge Judy, in the video named
“Judge Judy Sets the Record Straight on Skin Care Scam” on November 9 th , 2018
Ellen's inquiry about Judge Judy's birthday prompts Judy to flout the maxims of quantity and quality with her response, “Do you want me…?” This response suggests that she is aware everyone is interested in the truth, yet she poses a redundant question, violating the maxim of quality Additionally, when Ellen asks about her energy at her age, Judy further disregards the maxims of quantity and relevance by providing excessive information that strays from the original question.
Ellen: When was your birthday?
Judy: Do you want me to tell the truth, or you want me to tell lie? My birthday was October 21 I was 76
Ellen: Wow Now what do you attribute that you have so much energy at that age?
Judy: You have two choices as you get older I mean…Did you ever think that you would be 60?
Ellen: No, 60 to me, feels like, I can‟t believe it
Judy: You know, at 60 my grandmother had breasts that start at her neck and they stop at her knees
Judy: I remember that That was the look
I think that, you know, who told me that an age is just a number the first time – Florence Henderson I remember having dinner with Flo when she turned
After a dinner where she enjoyed a couple of cocktails, Flora confidently insisted on driving home despite her age I expressed my concern, reminding her that 70 is still a significant number However, she dismissed my worries, proclaiming that "70 is the new 50" and emphasizing that age is merely a number This conversation stuck with me.
(“Judge Judy Sets the Record Straight on Skin Care Scam”, in The Ellen
In a studio filled with admiration for Mrs Judy, a vibrant woman in her seventies, the initial flouting of quantity and quality maxims highlights her youthful energy despite her age As the discussion unfolds, Judy further flouts the maxims of quantity and relation to clarify her perspective that age is merely a number, effectively responding to Ellen's inquiry.
Initially, I felt perplexed by instances where conversational maxims were flouted, largely due to my limited understanding of Pragmatics and the true intentions behind speakers' words However, my interest grew as I delved deeper into Pragmatics, particularly Conversational Implicature This led me to explore how male and female guests on "The Ellen Show" flout conversational maxims for specific effects Consequently, I conducted a study titled “An Investigation into the Flouting of Conversational Maxims Employed by Male and Female Guests in the American Talk Show ‘The Ellen Show’.”
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
This study is aimed to:
This article examines the pragmatic features of maxim flouting by male and female guests on "The Ellen Show," focusing on the types of maxims involved, the rhetorical strategies used, and the underlying purposes of such flouting By analyzing the conversational dynamics in the show, the research highlights how guests manipulate conversational maxims to enhance humor, convey deeper meanings, and engage the audience The study reveals significant differences in the strategies employed by male and female guests, shedding light on the role of gender in communication styles within a popular media context.
- Analyze the similarities and differences between male and female guests in terms of conversational maxims flouting in “The Ellen Show”
- Provide Vietnamese learners of English with some helpful information about cases of maxim flouting in natural conversations.
Objectives
To achieve the aim of the study, the following objectives are intended to:
Identify and describe types of conversational maxims flouting, purposes and strategies which are employed by male guests in “The Ellen Show”
Identify and describe types of conversational maxims flouted, purposes and strategies which are employed by female guests in “The Ellen Show”
Compare and contrast pragmatic features of maxim flouting employed by male and female guests in “The Ellen Show”
Suggest some implications for teaching and learning English in Vietnam.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The research aims at answering the following questions:
1 What are pragmatic features of flouting maxims employed by male guests in The Ellen Show in terms of types of maxims, strategies and purposes?
2 What are pragmatic features of flouting maxims employed by female guests in The Ellen Show in terms of types of maxims, strategies and purposes?
3 What are similarities and differences between male and female guests in terms of conversational maxim flouting in The Ellen Show?
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
In the field of Pragmatics, there are various problems that can be raised from
Grice's Cooperative Principle includes four maxims: quality, quantity, relation, and manner This research focuses specifically on the pragmatic aspects of how male and female guests flout these conversational maxims on The Ellen Show.
This article explores the flouting of conversational maxims in American talk shows, specifically focusing on The Ellen Show It examines the strategies and implicatures involved, while also conducting a contrastive analysis to highlight the similarities and differences in how male and female guests engage in maxim flouting.
This study analyzes interview transcriptions from The Ellen Show, focusing on conversations between host Ellen Degeneres and native English-speaking male and female guests from Seasons 15 to 17, recorded between September 2017 and December 2019 at Warner Bros Stage 1 in California The data for this thesis is sourced from the official YouTube channel of The Ellen Show.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research aims to contribute both theoretically and practically to the understanding of Grice’s Cooperative Principle and Implicature, particularly in the context of gender analysis of conversational maxims The findings are expected to serve as a valuable reference for future researchers and to enhance the teaching of Pragmatics for English language educators Teachers can utilize examples of maxim flouting from the study to enrich their lectures and improve students' pragmatic competence Additionally, the research seeks to assist English language learners in gaining a deeper understanding of implicatures commonly used in everyday conversations, enabling them to engage in more meaningful and natural dialogue in English.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The thesis consists of five chapters as follows:
This chapter outlines the rationale, aims, objectives, and research questions of the study, while also defining its scope and significance Additionally, it details the organization of the study, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the research.
Chapter 2: Literature Review and Theoretical Background
This chapter reviews previous studies on maxim flouting, provides the theoretical background and the key notions of important issues related to maxim flouting and TV show
This chapter outlines the study's methodology, detailing the research design and methods employed It includes a description of the sample population, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures Additionally, it addresses the reliability and validity of the research findings.
This chapter explores the pragmatic aspects of flouting conversational maxims by male and female guests on "The Ellen Show," focusing on the types of maxims used, the strategies employed, and the underlying purposes It highlights both the similarities and differences in how male and female guests navigate the flouting of these maxims during their appearances on the show.
This chapter summarizes the research findings and outlines the conclusions derived from the study, highlighting their implications for teaching and learning It also addresses the limitations of the research and offers suggestions for future studies related to the topic.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Recent studies have utilized the Pragmatics approach grounded in Grice's maxims and Cooperative Principles This research paper focuses on three relevant studies that serve as a framework for the investigation.
The study titled “An Analysis of Flouting Maxims in ‘Forrest Gump’ Based on Grice’s Cooperative Principles” by Mulyani is a qualitative descriptive research that explores how flouting maxims and cooperative principles aid in understanding the implicature conveyed by characters in the film Analyzing 21 instances, the research identifies three categories of flouting: clash between maxims (13 instances), maxim of Quantity (7 instances), and maxim of Quality (1 instance) The findings indicate that the flouted maxims contain hidden meanings, or implicatures, that are contextually significant Characters flout maxims for various reasons, including persuading others, expressing disagreement politely, maintaining relationships, seeking forgiveness, conveying feelings, providing clarity, preserving self-esteem, and requesting consideration Ultimately, the implicature generated encourages the audience to discern the speaker's true intentions, facilitating smoother conversations among the characters.
In the thesis "Flouting Maxim Analysis on Dialogue of Characters in Pitch Perfect," Sekarayu Nuringtyas explores the reasons behind characters' maxim violations using the theories of Chrisstoffersen and Tupan & Natalia The study identifies motivations such as concealing the truth, saving face, jealousy, pleasing the listener, providing encouragement, avoiding harm, reinforcing beliefs, and persuading the audience Additionally, the research uncovers new motivations for maxim flouting among the characters, including mocking and teasing the listener.
The thesis "Generating Conversational Implicature Strategies on The Ellen Show" by Mufidah employs an explorative qualitative method to examine the types and strategies of conversational implicature used by interlocutors Data was gathered from interviews featuring host Ellen Degeneres and guests Adam Levine, Mila, and her mother Emily during a segment aired on October 16, 2015 The findings reveal that two types of conversational implicature—quality and quantity—are present in the conversations Furthermore, the study identifies two strategies for generating conversational implicature: adherence to the cooperative principle maxim and its violation.
In summary, previous studies on the non-observance of conversational maxims have proven to be both engaging and practical within the field of Pragmatics, showcasing examples from films and TV shows where speakers intentionally flout these maxims to create implicatures However, the differences between male and female speakers regarding their use of maxim flouting remain underexplored Therefore, my research focusing on the conversational strategies of male and female guests on The Ellen Show aims to uncover significant insights into this phenomenon.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Pragmatics
Pragmatics encompasses several key areas, as outlined by Yule, including the study of speaker meaning, contextual meaning, the communication of implied messages, and the expression of relational distance between speakers and listeners Yule defines pragmatics as “the study of the relationships between linguistic forms and the users of those forms,” highlighting its focus on how individuals interpret each other's language While pragmatics offers valuable insights into linguistic interactions, it can also be challenging due to the complexities of understanding people's intentions and thoughts, often leading to confusion.
Pragmatics, as defined by Fetzer, is the science of language use that focuses on context-dependent meaning and the intended meaning of the speaker It acknowledges the interplay between language, the user, and context, while distinguishing between context-dependent and context-independent meanings Fetzer notes that many definitions of pragmatics often emphasize what it is not, rather than clarifying its true nature and functions.
In summary, pragmatics is a linguistic branch focused on the interplay between language and its contextual usage It examines how utterances derive meaning from their contexts, highlighting the speaker's intentions in producing an utterance and the listener's role in interpreting it.
Conversational Implicature
Levinson emphasizes that conversational implicature is a crucial concept in pragmatics, highlighting that speakers frequently convey their messages implicitly to achieve specific goals This means that the intended meaning often extends beyond the literal words spoken, requiring the listener to interpret it correctly Philosopher Grice further developed this idea, presenting implicature as a theory that explores the nuances of language use in communication.
An utterance can suggest a proposition that is not explicitly stated and does not necessarily follow from the utterance itself The term "implicature" is utilized to address instances in communication where a speaker's intended meaning extends beyond the literal interpretation of their words.
In a scenario where Anna, a young girl, sits beside her friend John who is enjoying an ice cream, she innocently inquires, "What flavor is it?" John's response, offering her a bite of his treat, suggests he interprets her question as a desire to taste it However, Anna did not explicitly express a wish to try the ice cream, allowing her to clarify her intentions if needed, either directly by stating, "Oh, I didn't mean I wanted a bite," or more subtly.
In the conversation where Anna expresses curiosity about her friend's ice cream without directly stating her desire to taste it, several key points about implicature emerge Firstly, Anna's desire for a bite is implied rather than explicitly stated Secondly, this implicature does not necessarily arise from her words alone Lastly, an utterance can generate multiple implicatures depending on the context; for instance, when John's mother asks about the flavor, her inquiry implies a wish to know her son's favorite rather than a desire to share the ice cream Thus, implicatures are significantly influenced by the context and the individuals involved in the conversation.
Cooperative Principle
Effective conversations rely on cooperation between participants, as suggested by Grice, who identified a set of cooperative principles that speakers and listeners share in social interactions The cooperative principle emphasizes that individuals should contribute to conversations in a manner that aligns with the purpose and direction of the exchange, ensuring smooth communication.
In his Logic and Conversation, Grice [7] analyzed cooperation as consisting of four conversational maxims: Quantity, Quality, Relation and Manner
The Maxim of Quantity emphasizes the importance of providing the appropriate amount of information in communication Participants should ensure their contributions are neither too brief nor overly detailed, but rather offer just the right level of informativeness necessary for the context of the exchange.
The Maxim of Quality emphasizes the importance of sincerity and truthfulness in communication Participants are expected to provide genuine contributions, avoiding false statements and ensuring they only share information supported by adequate evidence.
Maxim of Relation This maxim states that each participant‟s contribution should be relevant to the subject of the conversation
The Maxim of Manner emphasizes the need for clear and concise communication, urging participants to avoid obscurity and ambiguity in their contributions While the validity of Gricean maxims has faced scrutiny in subsequent research, scholars like Laurence Horn and Stephen Levinson have proposed the neo-Gricean theory, which introduces the Q (Quantity) and R (Relation) principles The Q-principle advocates for providing as much information as possible, while the R-principle advises against over-explaining These principles stem from the Gricean maxims of quantity, which stress the importance of being informative without unnecessary elaboration However, this study favors Gricean maxims due to their more specific categorization, facilitating clearer definitions and analyses in research contexts.
Grice's four conversational maxims serve as norms rather than scientific laws, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of communication When any of these sub-maxims—sincerity, relevance, clarity, and informativeness—are not fully adhered to, the overall conversational goal is compromised Levinson posits that for a conversation to be maximally efficient and cooperative, participants must ensure their contributions are truthful, pertinent, and clear, while also offering adequate information.
While the concept of four conversational maxims presents an idealized view of communication, it does not reflect the reality of everyday speech Levinson highlights this discrepancy, noting that people do not consistently adhere to these maxims in their conversations.
B: There‟s a yellow VW outside Sue‟s house
B's response seems to overlook A's question, potentially breaching the maxims of Quantity and Relation To maintain the cooperative assumption, A must draw inferences, leading to the implicature that if the yellow VW is Bill's, he could be at Sue's house.
Flouting of Conversational Maxims
In Levinson's example, B's failure to adhere to the maxims of Quantity and Relation highlights that Grice's maxims are not always followed in conversations When interlocutors neglect these maxims, it becomes essential to differentiate between what is said and what is meant This non-observance leads to conversational implicature, which is crucial for understanding the intended meaning behind a speaker's words.
Grice identified five ways in which conversational maxims can be non-observed: flouting, violating, infringing, opting out, and suspending Flouting occurs when a speaker intentionally disregards a maxim without intending to deceive the listener, while violating involves an intention to mislead Opting out signifies a speaker's unwillingness to adhere to the maxim's requirements Infringing typically arises from a speaker's linguistic limitations or cognitive impairments that hinder clear communication Lastly, suspending a maxim happens due to cultural norms or specific situations that prevent direct expression, such as the use of taboo language.
Flouting conversational maxims is a significant area of interest in linguistics, drawing attention from scholars like Grice, Thomas, and Grundy due to its prevalence in everyday conversations This article will specifically explore the phenomenon of maxim flouting and its implications in communication.
Flouting conversational maxims occurs when a participant deliberately disregards one or more of these guidelines, aiming to convey a deeper meaning beyond the literal interpretation, known as conversational implicature According to Thomas, this approach is not meant to mislead the listener but rather encourages them to seek additional meaning The speaker hopes to enhance understanding by prompting the interlocutor to uncover the underlying significance of their words Additionally, Grundy notes that flouting maxims serves as a subtle method for prompting the listener to infer and retrieve the intended implicature.
2.2.4.1 Flouting of the Quantity Maxim
Flouting the maxim of quantity happens when someone in a conversation deliberately gives too little or too much information than what the situation demands For instance, in a dialogue between a mother and her daughter, one might see this principle in action.
Mom : Have you cleaned the floor and washed the dishes?
Daughter: I have just cleaned the floor
The daughter's response to her mother's inquiry about household chores is lacking in detail, as she only mentions cleaning the floor and omits any reference to washing the dishes This selective communication leads the mother to infer that the dishes remain unwashed, suggesting the daughter may be intentionally withholding information to avoid potential criticism This scenario illustrates a clear violation of the maxim of quantity, where the daughter provides insufficient information to convey the complete picture.
2.2.4.2 Flouting of the Quality Maxim
Flouting the maxim of quality occurs when a speaker's contribution is clearly false or lacks sufficient evidence, yet the speaker does not intend to deceive the listener Instead, the speaker uses these untrue statements to suggest an alternative meaning.
Professor to a student who arrives late half an hour to the class: Wow! You‟re such a punctual fellow! Welcome to the class
Student: Sorry sir but I had a flat tire on the way to school
In this scenario, the professor playfully undermines the maxim of quality, not to commend the student but to tease her instead The student, aware of the underlying implication of the teacher's compliment, responds with an apology and an excuse.
2.2.4.3 Flouting of the Relation Maxim
The maxim of relation is violated when a participant's response is irrelevant and fails to align with the ongoing topic of conversation For example, in a dialogue where the focus is on a specific subject, an off-topic reply disrupts the coherence and relevance of the discussion.
Wife: Darling, do I look attractive in this evening dress?
Husband (look at the clock): Oh, it‟s time to go
In this scenario, the husband chooses to disregard the maxim of relation to spare his wife's feelings, fearing that the truth could upset her To avoid discussing the sensitive topic, he hastens her departure.
2.2.4.4 Flouting of the Manner Maxim
The maxim of manner is violated when a speaker intentionally disregards its principles by being overly verbose, disorganized, using unclear language, or introducing ambiguity Additionally, the use of slang or insufficient vocal volume can also lead to flouting this maxim, as noted by Levinson An example of this can be observed in specific conversational contexts where clarity and order are compromised.
Wife: Where are you off to? Dinner‟s nearly ready
Husband (notices that his little daughter is around): Oh, I‟m about to go out to get some funny white stuffs for somebody
The husband intentionally disregards the maxim of manner by speaking ambiguously, referring to "funny white stuff" and "somebody" instead of clearly mentioning ice cream and his daughter Anna This suggests that he fears his daughter might become overly excited about her favorite treat, prompting her to ask for ice cream before mealtime To manage this situation, he aims to keep his language as vague as possible.
The flouting of conversational maxims are summarized in model by the researcher as follows:
Figure 2.1 Instances of flouting maxims where speaker intentionally fails to observe one or more maxims
Information Lack of adequate evidence
Strategies of Maxim Flouting
When violating conversational maxims, speakers often employ specific strategies to effectively communicate their intended meaning According to Grundy, six rhetorical strategies can be utilized for this purpose, including tautology, metaphor, overstatement, understatement, rhetorical questions, and irony These figures of speech serve as tools for flouting maxims while still conveying implicature to the listener.
Rhetorical devices are categorized as strategies for maxim flouting, as their definitions and applications inherently demonstrate their ability to challenge conversational maxims Below, we provide definitions of six rhetorical devices to illustrate their effectiveness in this role.
Tautology refers to the redundant use of phrases or words with similar meanings As noted by Grundy, tautologies often simplify complex ideas for easier understanding While Levinson argues that tautologies lack communicative value in principle, they can effectively convey messages in pragmatic contexts An example of tautology can illustrate its use in intentionally violating the maxim of quantity for a specific communicative purpose.
At the end of the day the church can only afford to pay the number of people it can afford to pay
In this case, the speaker employs the rhetorical strategy of tautology to bypass the quantity maxim, allowing the audience to infer the underlying meaning regarding the church's financial capacity to compensate individuals.
According to Levinson's interaction theory, metaphor is defined as an expression that establishes a relationship between a "metaphorical" expression and a "literal" expression, where the former can alter the meaning of the latter and vice versa Essentially, a metaphor conveys a description of a person or object in a literary manner by drawing parallels to something that shares similar characteristics.
The metaphor "My love is a red rose" illustrates a violation of the maxim of quality, as it conveys information without sufficient evidence Through this metaphor, the speaker implies that their love is passionate and romantic, akin to the beauty and allure of a red rose.
Another example of maxim flouting using metaphor as its strategy is in the following dialogue
Andy : What kind of mood did you find the boss in?
Ben's response to Andy's question is deemed irrelevant, as he appears to disregard the maxim of relation By using the metaphor "the lion roared," Ben subtly implies that their boss is in a bad mood, evoking the image of a lion roaring to suggest his anger.
According to Leech [11, p.145], overstatement is similar to hyperbole, in which a speaker describes something stronger than the actual state of affairs
The phrase "I'm starving I can eat a horse right now" exemplifies overstatement, as it is unrealistic for someone to consume an entire horse at once In this case, the speaker intentionally exaggerates to highlight their extreme hunger, thereby flouting the maxim of quality.
Understatement is the opposite of overstatement [11, p.145] While overstatement describes something stronger than the actual state of affairs, understatement or litotes describes something weaker than the actual state of affairs
Understatement is often employed in criticism, as seen in the phrase, “I wasn’t overimpressed by her speech,” which exemplifies an uninformative denial This rhetorical device serves to flout the maxim of quantity while maintaining politeness in communication.
A rhetorical question is a strategic device used to emphasize a point without expecting a direct answer This technique often challenges the norms of the Cooperative Principle, as demonstrated in various dialogues.
Bert: Do vegetarians eat hamburgers?
Ernie: Do chickens have lips?
In this dialogue, Ernie's use of a rhetorical question illustrates a disregard for the maxim of relation, as it suggests that the answer is clearly negative without seeking a response.
Grice (12, p.34) proposed that irony involves a clear understanding between the speaker (A) and the audience (B) that A's statement is not a genuine belief In employing irony, A trusts that B will grasp the underlying implication of the utterance.
When a boy sarcastically tells his friend, "You've been a great help!" after a disaster, he uses irony to highlight his friend's ineptitude This statement, while positive in tone, actually conveys a negative sentiment, demonstrating how the speaker flouts the maxim of quality by saying something untrue.
Language and Gender
Defining gender is crucial for understanding language and gender theories, yet a consensus on its definition remains elusive The diverse approaches to defining gender have resulted in various theories regarding its connection to language use While many individuals use "gender" and "sex" interchangeably, sociolinguistic researchers make a clear distinction between the two concepts.
Bulter (1990) cited in [13, p.305] argued that the coherence of “gendered” subjects does not depend on the actual features of individuals (what she calls the
The concepts of sex and gender are distinct, with sex being a biologically determined state and gender recognized as a social construct shaped by psychological, social, and cultural differences Lakoff, a pioneer in Language and Gender studies, identified that women's speech exhibits different features compared to men's, leading to the development of the 'deficit' theory, which suggests that women's speech reflects uncertainty and a lack of confidence In contrast, the 'dominance' approach posits that male speech dominates female speech, as men often leverage their power to assert superiority, highlighting language as a tool for expressing male supremacy.
The "different approach" challenges the suggestive dominance theory, which posits that the varied linguistic styles of men and women stem from early socialization, reflecting psychological and social power differences Proponents of the social power theory argue that men's higher social status results in their dominance during interactions, necessitating more politeness from the less powerful segment of society Conversely, the Difference Dual-Culture approach suggests that these language disparities originate in childhood due to physical social separation.
Men and women exhibit distinct language styles, with male speech often reflecting power and dominance, while female speech emphasizes intimacy and politeness These conversational differences stem from their varied backgrounds and societal roles.
Talk show and Description of the Ellen Show
A talk show is an interactive television or radio program where famous individuals discuss their work and opinions informally, covering various topics such as politics, education, environment, and entertainment This article focuses on the entertainment talk show, The Ellen Show, to analyze how male and female guests sometimes disregard conversation maxims during their discussions.
2.2.7.2 Description of the Ellen Show
The Ellen Show, hosted by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, is a popular American talk show that premiered on September 8, 2003 Over its 17 seasons and more than 1,000 episodes, the show has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including Daytime Emmy Awards and GLAAD Media Awards, highlighting its global appeal and popularity The show features a diverse range of entertaining segments, such as monologues, game shows, and musical performances, making it a favorite among audiences worldwide.
Me More Show, Guest Interviews, etc., which involve the participation of guests (including celebrities, extraordinary people or those who have viral videos) or audiences
The Ellen Show serves as a valuable resource for investigation due to its global popularity and appeal, particularly among English language learners who benefit from exposure to natural conversational English Additionally, the show's interview segments often feature guests who intentionally violate conversational maxims, creating intriguing situations that enhance the viewing experience and provide deeper insights into communication dynamics.
This study aims to explore the flouting of conversational maxims by male and female guests during the Interview segment of the show, which has been featured since Season 10 (2011-2012) The segment includes between 100 to nearly 400 videos on the show's YouTube channel For this research, interviews from Season 15 to one-third of Season 17 were selected, as English subtitles are fully available from Season 15 onward.
SUMMARY
In this chapter, two main sections are presented: literature review and theoretical background
This literature review highlights previous studies that explore how characters in films and TV shows intentionally flout conversational maxims to create implicatures These studies serve as both a foundation and inspiration for the current research paper.
This article explores key theoretical concepts including Pragmatics, Conversational Implicature, and the Cooperative Principle, focusing specifically on the Flouting of Conversational Maxims and related strategies Grice identifies four primary types of maxim flouting: Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner, while Grundy outlines six rhetorical strategies: Tautology, Metaphor, Overstatement, Understatement, Rhetorical Questions, and Irony Additionally, the article provides an overview of the American talk show "The Ellen Show," highlighting its relevance as a case study for the research.
Figure 2.2 is the theoretical framework summarized by the researcher
RESEARCH DESIGN
The thesis design is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches
The quantitative approach was applied to measure the frequencies and percentage of the features of maxim flouting employed by male and female guests in The Ellen Show
The qualitative approach effectively identifies, describes, and analyzes the pragmatic features present when well-known male and female guests on The Ellen Show flout conversational maxims.
Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the researcher successfully identified, described, and analyzed the pragmatic features of maxim flouting used by male guests on The Ellen Show, ultimately drawing conclusions that align with the objectives of the thesis.
RESEARCH METHODS
In this thesis, different methods were employed simultaneously
The descriptive method was primarily used to analyze and characterize the types of maxims flouted, along with the strategies and implicatures derived from the utterances of male and female guests on The Ellen Show.
The comparative method was utilized to analyze the frequencies of maxim flouting, rhetorical strategies, and implicatures among male and female guests on The Ellen Show.
The researcher analyzed all interview segment videos from The Ellen Show, covering Seasons 15 to one-third of Season 17, spanning from September 2017 to December 2019.
The official channel for "The Ellen Show" on YouTube, found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheEllenShow, features around 400 videos per season, with each video ranging from 1 to 8 minutes in length Currently, Season 17 is still airing, and only one-third of the season's content is available.
In a study analyzing instances of flouting Grice's maxims, interviews featuring male and female guests were examined to identify their conversational strategies To ensure the reliability of the research, the researcher verified that all selected celebrities were native English speakers and not part of the third gender, utilizing Wikipedia for background checks.
In the research conducted on The Ellen Show, a total of 72 instances of maxim flouting were analyzed, with equal representation from male and female guests, comprising 30 examples from each gender in Seasons 15 and 16, and 12 instances from each gender in one-third of Season 17 All instances were meticulously transcribed into written form to serve as the study's data.
This research analyzed a total of 144 instances of maxim flouting from The Ellen Show, equally divided between male and female guests, with 72 occurrences attributed to each gender This balanced sample serves as the foundation for the study's findings on the use of maxim flouting in conversational contexts.
In order to prepare for the research, the samples were chosen with the following criteria:
- The sample must be chosen based on Figure 2.1 about Instances of flouting maxims
Guests on The Ellen Show are required to be native English speakers, which includes individuals from countries where English is an official language, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
- The situations taken from interviews in The Ellen Show were released in the period of 2017-2019, thus they are not out-of-date.
DATA ANALYSIS
After being collected, the situations of maxim flouting are thoroughly examined The procedure for data analysis was carried out as follows
This article examines how male and female participants utilize flouting maxims within the framework of Grice's Cooperative Principle, as well as the rhetorical strategies outlined by Grundy By analyzing the context of their utterances, the study aims to uncover the different ways in which gender influences communication styles and maxim flouting.
- Representing the data in code Coding was used as a sign of categorization of the data in the thesis The coding systems were described in the following table
Gender ma: male fe: female
Types of maxim flouting quan: quantity qual: quality re: relation man: manner
Rhetorical strategies tau: tautology me: metaphor over: overstatement under: understatement rhe: rhetorical question ir: irony no: no Grundy‟s rhetorical strategies are found out
E.g ma/01/qual/ir, fe/02/quan/rhe
- Finding out, describing and analyzing implicatures of utterances of male and female guests where maxim flouting occurs
The article presents the results of various categories, including types of maxims, strategies, and implicatures related to maxim flouting, displayed in percentage tables It analyzes the frequency of each category, comparing and contrasting the findings between male and female groups, followed by a discussion and evaluation of the results.
PROCEDURE
The steps involved in the research procedure were:
To establish a solid foundation for the research, it is essential to thoroughly examine related materials and prior works to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject This thesis is grounded in Grice's (1975) theoretical frameworks on the flouting of conversational maxims and Grundy's (2013) rhetorical strategies.
- Collecting interviews which consist of utterances where maxim flouting appears The title, duration and uploaded date of the interviews are shown in the Appendix
- Transcribing the situations of maxim flouting into written forms
- Classifying and coding the data according to Table 3.1
- Describing and analyzing the data in terms of the types of maxim flouting, rhetorical strategies and implicatures
- Making comparison and contrast in terms of pragmatic features between male and female groups
- Drawing conclusions and putting forward some implications for teaching and learning English.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
The thesis samples were gathered from the official channel of The Ellen Show, focusing on maxim flouting instances found in interviews aired between September 2017 and December 2019.
The data used in this research is authentic and current, drawn from reliable publications by experienced linguists, ensuring its credibility To further validate the findings, the researcher collaborated with a seasoned expert in English Linguistics, particularly in Pragmatics, from Danang University of Foreign Language Studies This collaboration involved reanalyzing the data to minimize subjectivity and enhance the validity of the results.
Chapter Four FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF MAXIM FLOUTING EMPLOYED BY
Types of Maxim Flouting Employed by Male Guests
A study analyzing 72 instances of male guests during interviews reveals that all four types of maxim flouting—Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner—are utilized Additionally, the research identifies occurrences of mixed maxim flouting, where two or three maxims are flouted simultaneously in a single contribution.
(1) Ellen: It‟s changing, look how sexy, the whole new look I mean the room just got hotter, it really did
Blake: I mean you can’t be the Sexiest Man Alive unless you’re the sexiest man alive
Blake humorously responds to Ellen's compliment about his attractive appearance, intentionally flouting the maxim of quantity to inject a lighthearted tone into the conversation.
(2) Ellen (imitates Columbo‟s voice): Pardon me, ma‟am, I hate to bother you, but-
Alec: You know who’s cheering loudest are those who don’t even know who Columbo is
In (2), Alec‟s utterance seems lack of adequate evidence, not based on any logical facts In this case, his purpose is to tease Ellen in a friendly way
(3) Nick: So I‟m trying to get better at French
Ellen: What do you have so far?
Nick: Someone asked me how is your French? And I said it depends on who I’m talking to
In this scenario, Nick violates the manner maxim by providing an unclear response to Ellen's question His intention behind flouting this maxim is to maintain his self-image, as he seeks to conceal his limited knowledge of French despite filming in Montreal, a city he describes as predominantly French-speaking.
(4) Ellen: And you‟re only 24, right? So to achieve all this by the time you‟re 24…
Ben: I’m just going to go to bed now
In (4), while Ellen compliments Ben on what he has achieved at his age, his response seems irrelevant so he flouts the maxim of relation
(5) Ed: Ellen wanted to buy my house a few years ago for Porsche
Ellen: Yes So her birthday is next week So maybe
Ed: My wife would kill me
Ellen expresses interest in purchasing Ed's house, prompting her to consider asking him to sell it However, Ed subtly rejects her offer by violating the principles of relevance and quality, responding with an irrelevant and factually incorrect statement His intention is to decline Ellen's request while maintaining politeness.
Table 4.1 below is the summary of the types of maxim flouting of its presenting from 72 instances where male guests employ maxim flouting in “The Ellen Show”
Table 4.1 Types of maxim flouting employed by male guests in “The Ellen Show”
No Types of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
The table indicate that Quality Maxim Flouting is performed the most frequently by male guests, accounting for 41.7% while Relation Maxim is the maxim flouted the least frequently, taking up 11.1%.
Rhetorical Strategies for Maxim Flouting Employed by Male Guests
All six types of rhetorical strategies proposed by Grundy consisting of
In interviews, male guests frequently exhibit maxim flouting through various rhetorical strategies, including tautology, metaphor, overstatement, understatement, rhetorical questions, and irony Nonetheless, there are several instances where these guests flout maxims without utilizing any rhetorical techniques.
In (1), in order to make a joke, Blake uses tautology strategy since the phrase
“the Sexiest Man Alive” is repeated
Another example of tautology is identified in (6)
(6) Ellen: Because he may be just saying that to make you think you don‟t know but you may know
John: I may ultimately know – But I’m not going to know that I know until I know that I know
In John's statement, tautology is evident as he repeats the phrase "I know" four times, leading to ambiguity in his message Additionally, he flouts the manner maxim by avoiding a direct answer about the ending of "Game of Thrones," instead choosing to be evasive and obscure in his response.
Stedman emphasizes the importance of self-actualization in achieving personal happiness and satisfaction He highlights that discovering and embracing one's own skills and talents can lead to fulfillment When both partners in a relationship are able to realize their potential, their combined strengths create a powerful synergy, significantly enhancing their overall happiness and success together.
In Stedman's metaphor, he highlights the fundamental truth that one plus one cannot equal six, illustrating that a supportive partner in a relationship fosters self-actualization This synergy not only enhances individual potential but also enables couples to achieve greater success together.
In the dialogue, Alec uses overstatement, evident through the superlative "loudest" and the adverb "even," to playfully tease Ellen while flouting conversational maxims Similarly, Ben employs overstatement to highlight the intense effort he has put into achieving his goals, indicating that he now requires a well-deserved break.
Another example of the strategy is illustrated as follows
(8) Ellen: So congratulations, you won entertainer of the year again This is like your sixth time
Garth: I think the more impressive thing is, if you took the other four nominees’ age and add them all together I still was older than all of them
In (8), with the intention of emphasizing the fact that he is much older than other nominees, Garth applies overstatement strategy Actually, he was born in
1962, so what he states is definitely untrue That way he flouts the maxim of quality
(9) Ellen: It‟s so nice to meet you I‟m a big fan
Ellen: You‟re very very funny
Ellen expresses her admiration for Thomas's remarkable sense of humor, while he downplays his talent by describing it as merely "moderate." This understatement is clearly an attempt to appear modest, despite the fact that his humor is widely acknowledged and appreciated beyond just a moderate level.
(10) Ellen: How do I know it‟s not intentional?
Mark: How do you know I’m not narcoleptic ?
In this scene, Ellen playfully teases Mark about his ability to fall asleep anywhere, prompting a lighthearted exchange Mark responds with a humorous rhetorical question, "How do you know I’m not narcoleptic?" This quip not only showcases his wit but also adds a layer of humor to their interaction, highlighting the playful dynamic between the two characters.
(11) Ellen: Yeah, you got an “aw” because there‟s the two of you kissing Because y‟all are cute
Blake: Can you believe that she’s with me?
What’s wrong with her? There’s something wrong with her
Everyone admires the sweet love shared between Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, especially when they see their affectionate kissing photos Blake humorously conveys his deep appreciation for their relationship through ironic questions, expressing how fortunate and thrilled he feels to be in love with Gwen.
Table 4.2 summarizes the rhetorical strategies utilized by male guests on "The Ellen Show," highlighting 72 instances of maxim flouting This analysis reveals how these guests creatively bend conversational norms to enhance their comedic impact and engage the audience.
No Rhetorical strategies of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
Table 4.2 reveals that male guests frequently employ rhetorical strategies, with only 22.2% of instances lacking such techniques The Overstatement strategy is the most prevalent among them, comprising 43.1% of their rhetorical usage In contrast, the Metaphor and Understatement strategies are rarely utilized, each representing less than 6% of their overall strategies.
Purposes of Maxim Flouting Employed by Male Guests
In the show, male guests utilize maxim flouting for various reasons, including joking, teasing the listener, expressing emotions, and refusing requests They also employ it to provide clear explanations, save face, and demonstrate modesty Additionally, maxim flouting serves to emphasize facts, conceal the truth, maintain self-esteem, avoid hurting others, persuade individuals, and spark curiosity.
Table 4.3 below is the summary of purposes of maxim flouting of its presenting from 72 instances where male guests employ maxim flouting in “The Ellen Show”
Table 4.3 Purposes of maxim flouting employed by male guests in “The Ellen
No Purposes of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
Maxim flouting serves various purposes, with joking, emphasizing a fact, and providing clear explanations being the most common, recorded at frequencies of 18, 13, and 9 respectively This article highlights examples of these three predominant uses of maxim flouting among males.
Ellen complimented Ted, asking if he had just turned 70 or was about to celebrate the milestone Ted clarified that, while he technically is 70, his birthday party was postponed due to fires, so he still feels like he is 69.
Dax: Thank you for calling it that That’s like calling a spaghetti strainer, a cereal bowl There’s a lot of holes It’s not really a beard But there is hair there
Ellen inquires about Ray's interest in sports, asking if he plays any Ray humorously responds that he prefers activities like boogie boarding, highlighting that, at his age, he appreciates sports that allow him to relax and take breaks easily.
In instances (12), (13), and (14), humor is effectively achieved through the flouting of conversational maxims Notably, the types of maxim flouting utilized to create humor are limited to quality and quantity.
In (12), Ted humorously exaggerates that the delay in celebrating his birthday means he hasn't aged yet By intentionally violating the quantity maxim, he makes a lighthearted joke about aging, acknowledging that many people struggle to accept the reality of growing older.
In a humorous exchange, Dax responds to Ellen's surprise at his unusual beard growth by ironically comparing it to a spaghetti strainer and a cereal bowl, indicating that he does not view it as a typical beard Despite describing it as awful, he chooses to let it grow, which suggests he is not being entirely truthful and is flouting the maxim of quality His intention is to lighten the mood and make a joke that engages the audience.
Ray in (14) flouts both quality and quantity maxims in order to make a joke
When discussing sports, Ray typically responds by stating his interest and naming his favorite sport However, he often begins by mentioning his age, which appears unnecessary and violates the principle of providing concise information Additionally, he tends to exaggerate his physical condition, further straying from the expected norms of conversation.
“ at the age where any sport where I can lay down and pee” , which flouts quality maxim Everyone in the studio bursts into laughter because of his sense of humour
The purpose of emphasizing a fact appears in all four types of maxim flouting (i.e quantity, quality, relation, and manner) as well as mixed maxim flouting
In the examples of flouting the maxim of relation and quality, Ben's response to Ellen's compliment appears irrelevant, highlighting his need for rest after a hard-working period He uses overstatement to underscore his achievement Similarly, Garth emphasizes his age and experience by noting that this is his sixth win for entertainer of the year, showcasing his superiority over the other nominees.
(15) Ellen: And, of course, Alison loves cats?
Dave: She was the only person I could find who was willing to sleep with my two 16-pound cats on top of her every night
In this scenario, Dave intentionally flouts the maxim of quantity by providing an overly detailed response to a simple Yes/No question He emphasizes his compatibility with Alison by highlighting their shared love for cats, using the exaggerated phrase "the only person I could find" to underscore her uniqueness and suitability for him.
(16) Ellen: So someone who‟s a good mother – so how many kids do you want to have?
Colton: Uh, I mean, let’s not put a number on it
Ellen: Really? You want a lot of kids?
When asked about his desired number of children, Colton avoids giving a specific answer, telling Ellen not to limit him with a number By doing so, he intentionally flouts the maxim of manner, highlighting his eagerness to have as many children as possible.
(17) Harvey: Yeah, I mean, there‟s some haters, haters, always Instagram, they just stay on that I don‟t know what they do They just, they don‟t like nothing
Harvey reflects on a comment about his age, acknowledging that after living over sixty years, he embraces being old He humorously notes that this experience has made him significantly wiser, claiming it has increased his intelligence by 82%.
In a conversation with Ellen, Harvey expresses his frustration with Instagram haters, highlighting their insignificance in his life Instead of directly stating his age, he offers a convoluted description that flouts the manner maxim Additionally, he claims that this has made him "82% smarter," which violates the quality maxim due to a lack of evidence Through these mixed maxim floutings, Harvey underscores his resilience and the fact that the opinions of haters do not impact his life, reflecting his wealth of experience as an older individual.
In the show, the quantity maxim is often disregarded to provide clearer explanations, and mixed maxim flouting is also utilized to enhance understanding.
Darren expresses that his admiration for famous individuals is rooted in the impact they have had on his life rather than their celebrity status He enjoys moments of connection, like sitting with Ellen or meeting Ricki, whose music he cherished as a child For him, it's about celebrating the artists who have influenced his journey, and he feels no hesitation in expressing his fandom.
It is obvious that Darren flouts quantity maxim since his response to Ellen‟s
Yes/ No question is much more excessive than required The purpose of quantity maxim flouting is to provide a clear explanation about his opinion of celebrities