AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
This study is aimed to:
This article explores the pragmatic features of maxim flouting by male and female guests on "The Ellen Show," focusing on the types of maxims used, the rhetorical strategies employed, and the underlying purposes of such flouting By analyzing conversational exchanges, the study reveals how both genders utilize maxim flouting to enhance humor, convey sarcasm, and engage the audience The findings highlight the distinct approaches taken by male and female guests, shedding light on the dynamics of communication in a popular talk show setting.
- 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
This research focuses on the pragmatic aspects of conversational maxims flouting, specifically examining the differences between male and female guests on The Ellen Show It explores Grice's Cooperative Principle, which encompasses the maxims of quality, quantity, relation, and manner, to analyze how these guests navigate and manipulate conversational norms.
This article analyzes the flouting of conversational maxims, strategies, and implicatures in American talk shows, specifically focusing on The Ellen Show It examines the differences and similarities in how male and female guests violate these maxims, providing insights into conversational dynamics and gender interactions in a televised setting.
This study analyzes interview transcriptions from The Ellen Show (Seasons 15 to 17), featuring native English-speaking male and female guests Taped between September 2017 and December 2019 at Warner Bros Stage 1 in California, the data utilized in this thesis is sourced from The Ellen Show's YouTube channel.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research aims to contribute both theoretically and practically, offering valuable insights for future studies on Grice's Cooperative Principle and Implicature, particularly in the context of gender analysis of conversational maxim flouting Practically, the findings are intended to benefit English language practitioners and educators.
This research provides valuable insights for English teachers, particularly in the areas of Pragmatics, Cooperative Principle, and Implicature Educators can utilize examples of flouting maxims demonstrated by male and female participants to enrich their lectures Additionally, the study offers suggestions to enhance English language learners' pragmatic competence For learners, the findings aim to deepen their understanding of implicatures commonly used in everyday English, enabling them to engage in more productive, meaningful, and natural conversations.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The thesis consists of five chapters as follows:
This chapter outlines the rationale behind the study, detailing its aims and objectives, research questions, and scope It also highlights the significance of the research and provides an overview of the organization of the study.
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, the processes for data collection and analysis, and the procedures followed Additionally, it addresses the reliability and validity of the research findings.
This chapter explores the pragmatic aspects of how male and female guests on “The Ellen Show” flout conversational maxims, examining the types of maxims used, the strategies employed, and the underlying purposes It highlights both the similarities and differences in the ways male and female guests engage in maxim flouting during their appearances on the show.
This chapter summarizes the research findings, outlines the conclusions of the study, and discusses the implications for teaching and learning It also identifies the study's limitations and offers suggestions for future research related to the topic.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Recent studies have explored the Pragmatics approach, particularly focusing on Grice's maxims and Cooperative Principles This research paper will draw on three selected studies that are closely related to these concepts.
The study titled “An Analysis of Flouting Maxims in the Film 'Forest 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 used by characters in the film Analyzing 21 instances, the research identifies three main 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 convey hidden meanings, or implicatures, that reflect the characters' intentions within specific contexts The reasons for flouting these maxims include convincing others, expressing disagreement politely, maintaining relationships, seeking forgiveness, conveying feelings, providing clear explanations, preserving self-esteem, and requesting consideration Ultimately, the implicature generated encourages the audience to discern the true intentions of the characters, facilitating smoother conversations throughout the film.
A thesis titled “Flouting Maxim Analysis on Dialogue of Characters in Pitch Perfect” by Sekarayu Nuringtyas explores the reasons characters flout conversational maxims using the theories of Chrisstoffersen and Tupan & Natalia The study identifies motivations such as hiding the truth, saving face, jealousy, satisfying the hearer, and avoiding harm Additionally, it reveals new motivations for maxim flouting, including mocking and teasing the hearer.
The thesis "Generating Conversational Implicature Strategies on The Ellen Show," conducted by Mufidah, employs an explorative qualitative method to analyze the types and strategies of conversational implicature used by speakers The study examines conversations from an interview featuring host Ellen Degeneres and guests Adam Levine, Mila, and her mother Emily, recorded on October 16, 2015 Findings reveal that two types of conversational implicature—quality and quantity—are present in the dialogues Additionally, the research identifies two strategies for generating conversational implicature: adherence to the cooperative principle maxim and its violation.
In conclusion, previous studies on the non-observance of conversational maxims offer valuable insights in 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 this flouting have not been extensively explored Therefore, my research analyzing the flouting of conversational maxims by male and female guests on The Ellen Show aims to uncover intriguing findings.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Pragmatics
Pragmatics encompasses several key areas, as outlined by Yule, including the study of speaker meaning, contextual meaning, the communication of implied meanings beyond spoken words, and the expression of relative 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 significance in understanding how individuals interpret each other's language However, the complexity of pragmatics can lead to confusion, as it involves deciphering the intentions and thoughts of others in communication.
Fetzer defines pragmatics as the science of language use, emphasizing the study of context-dependent meaning and speaker-intended meaning This definition highlights the importance of language, the language user, and context, while contrasting it with context-independent meaning Fetzer notes that many definitions of pragmatics focus more on what it is not and what it does not encompass, rather than clarifying its true nature and functions.
In summary, pragmatics is a linguistic field that explores how language interacts with context It focuses on the meanings of utterances, examining how speakers convey their intentions and how listeners interpret these messages within specific situations.
Conversational Implicature
Levinson emphasizes that conversational implicature is a fundamental concept in pragmatics, highlighting that speakers often convey their messages implicitly to achieve specific goals This means that the intended meaning can extend beyond the literal words spoken, requiring the listener to interpret the underlying message Philosopher Grice introduced the theory of implicature, which explains how individuals utilize language to suggest propositions that are not explicitly stated in their utterances Essentially, implicature addresses instances in communication where a speaker's intention transcends the literal meaning of their words.
In a scenario where a young girl named Anna sits beside her friend John, who is enjoying an ice cream, she casually asks, "What flavor is it?" John's response includes offering her a bite, indicating that he interprets her question as a desire to taste the ice cream However, Anna did not explicitly express a wish to try it, leaving her the option to deny any implied intention.
Implicature plays a crucial role in understanding communication, as demonstrated in the interaction between Anna and John regarding ice-cream Although Anna's statement, "Oh, I didn’t mean I wanted to have a bite," implies her desire to taste John's ice-cream, this implicature is not explicitly stated in her words Furthermore, it does not necessarily follow from her utterance, highlighting that context significantly influences meaning For instance, when John's mother asks, "What flavour is it?" while he enjoys his ice-cream, the implicature shifts; she is merely curious about his favorite flavor, knowing she does not like ice-cream herself This illustrates that implicatures can vary widely based on the context and the participants involved in the conversation.
Cooperative Principle
In conversations, individuals typically collaborate to ensure smooth communication Grice proposed that speakers and listeners adhere to cooperative principles to facilitate effective dialogue The cooperative principle suggests that participants should contribute to the conversation in a manner that aligns with the purpose and context of the exchange.
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 a conversation Participants should aim to share contributions that are neither too brief nor overly detailed, ensuring that the information aligns with the specific needs of the exchange.
The Maxim of Quality emphasizes the importance of sincerity and truthfulness in communication Participants are expected to provide genuine contributions, ensuring that they do not present false information or make claims without sufficient evidence.
Maxim of Relation This maxim states that each participant’s contribution should be relevant to the subject of the conversation.
Maxim of Manner This maxim requires each participant to present meaning clearly and concisely Their contribution should avoid obscurity and ambiguity.
Recent research has raised questions about the validity of Gricean maxims Huang.Y notes that Laurence Horn and Stephen Levinson introduced the neo-Gricean theory, which includes the Q (Quantity) and R (Relation) principles The Q-principle posits that individuals should provide as much information as possible, while the R-principle emphasizes that speakers should not divulge more information than necessary The Q-principle aligns with the first sub-maxim of Grice’s quantity maxim, advocating for maximal informativeness, whereas the R-principle relates to the second sub-maxim, which advises against excessive information This study favors Gricean maxims over the neo-Gricean approach due to their more specific categorizations, facilitating clearer definitions and analyses in research contexts.
Grice's four conversational maxims serve as norms rather than strict laws, guiding participants to achieve effective communication When any of these maxims—sincerity, relevance, clarity, and sufficient information—are not fully adhered to, the conversational goal may be compromised Levinson suggests that these principles outline how individuals can engage in efficient and cooperative dialogue However, the inherent complexities of communication raise immediate objections to this framework.
As Levinson [1, p.102] suggested, the view of four conversational maxims may describe a philosopher's paradise, but no one actually speaks like that the whole time.
He illustrated an instance as follow:
B: There’s a yellow VW outside Sue’s house.
B's response to A's question seems inadequate, potentially breaching the maxims of Quantity and Relation To maintain the assumption of cooperation, A must infer connections, 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 conversational maxims are not always followed Grice noted that when interlocutors disregard 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 partner's utterance.
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 a deliberate attempt to mislead Opting out signifies a speaker's unwillingness to adhere to the maxim's requirements Infringing typically results from a speaker's linguistic limitations or cognitive impairments, leading to unclear communication Lastly, suspending a maxim arises from cultural or situational contexts that prevent direct expression, such as the use of taboo language.
Flouting conversational maxims is a prominent topic in linguistics, attracting attention from scholars like Grice, Thomas, and Grundy due to its frequent occurrence in everyday conversations This phenomenon occurs when a speaker intentionally disregards one or more maxims, prompting listeners to seek deeper meanings beyond the literal interpretation, a process known as conversational implicature According to Thomas, flouting does not aim to deceive but encourages recipients to uncover hidden meanings, fostering greater understanding Grundy further emphasizes that flouting serves as a subtle method for prompting listeners to draw inferences and recover implicatures, highlighting its significance in effective communication.
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 context demands For instance, in a dialogue between a mother and her daughter, this can be illustrated through their exchange, where one party may either withhold essential details or overwhelm the other with unnecessary information.
Mom : Have you cleaned the floor and washed the dishes?
Daughter: I have just cleaned the floor.
The girl's response reveals a lack of sufficient information, as she only states that she has cleaned the floor without mentioning whether she has washed the dishes This omission leads her mother to infer that the dishes remain unwashed, suggesting that the daughter may be avoiding potential criticism by intentionally flouting the maxim of quantity.
2.2.4.2 Flouting of the Quality Maxim
Flouting the maxim of quality occurs when a speaker makes statements that are clearly false or unsupported by evidence, yet does not intend to deceive the listener Instead, the speaker aims to imply an alternative meaning through their untrue remarks.
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 principle of quality by making an insincere compliment, not intending to genuinely praise the student The student, however, perceives the underlying implication of the teacher's words and responds with an apology and justification.
2.2.4.3 Flouting of the Relation Maxim
The maxim of relation is violated when a participant responds in a manner that renders the conversation off-topic and irrelevant to the subject at hand.
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 principle of relevance to protect his wife's feelings, fearing that the truth might upset her To avoid discussing the sensitive issue, he hastens her departure.
2.2.4.4 Flouting of the Manner Maxim
The maxim of manner is violated when a speaker deliberately disregards its principles by being overly verbose, disorganized, using unclear language, or introducing ambiguity According to Levinson, this maxim is also flouted when a speaker employs slang or fails to project their voice adequately.
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 violates the maxim of manner by speaking ambiguously, referring to "funny white stuffs" and "somebody" instead of directly mentioning "ice creams" and his daughter's name, "Anna." This suggests he is concerned that mentioning her favorite treat, ice cream, will overly excite his daughter and lead to requests for it before mealtime, prompting him to keep his statements vague.
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
Strategies of Maxim Flouting
When violating conversational maxims, speakers often employ specific strategies to effectively communicate implicature to their listeners Grundy identified six rhetorical strategies, including tautology, metaphor, overstatement, understatement, rhetorical question, and irony, which serve as tools for maxim flouting These rhetorical devices inherently possess the ability to subvert maxims through their definitions and applications Below, we provide definitions of these six rhetorical devices to illustrate their effectiveness as strategies for maxim flouting.
Tautology refers to the unnecessary repetition of phrases or words with similar meanings As noted by Grundy, tautology simplifies complex ideas into more digestible expressions While Levinson argues that tautologies lack communicative value, they can effectively convey messages in specific contexts, particularly in pragmatics An example of tautology can illustrate its use in intentionally violating the maxim of quantity for a particular effect.
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 circumvent the quantity maxim, allowing the audience to infer the implied meaning regarding the church's financial capabilities without stating an exact number of individuals they can afford to pay.
According to Levinson's interaction theory, metaphor is defined as an expression that establishes a relationship between metaphorical and literal meanings, allowing one to alter the interpretation of the other Essentially, metaphors convey descriptions of individuals or objects in a literary manner by drawing comparisons to other entities that share similar traits.
The metaphor "My love is a red rose" exemplifies a breach of the maxim of quality, as it conveys a sentiment 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?
In Levinson's analysis, Ben appears to violate the maxim of relation by providing a response that seems unrelated to Andy's question He employs the metaphor "the lion roared" to subtly indicate to Andy that their boss is in a bad mood, suggesting that he is as angry as a roaring lion.
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" serves as an example of overstatement, highlighting the speaker's extreme hunger This exaggeration flouts the maxim of quality, as it is implausible for anyone to consume an entire horse in one sitting, thereby emphasizing the intensity of their hunger.
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, exemplified by phrases like, “I wasn’t overimpressed by her speech.” This reflects an uninformative denial, a common tactic of understatement In this context, the speaker utilizes understatement to intentionally flout the maxim of quantity, aiming to maintain politeness.
A rhetorical question is a strategic device used to emphasize a point or provoke thought 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 employs a rhetorical question, which serves to convey a point without expecting a response This technique flouts the maxim of relation, suggesting that the answer is clearly negative.
Grice (12, p.34) posits that irony involves a clear understanding between the speaker (A) and the audience (B) that A's statement is not a reflection of their true beliefs In employing irony, A assumes that B will grasp the underlying meaning or implicature of the utterance.
In a scenario where a boy tells his friend, “You’ve been a great help!” after a mishap, the statement appears positive but is actually ironic, highlighting the friend's incompetence This use of irony serves to tease the friend, who struggles to provide assistance By making a statement that contradicts the truth, the boy flouts the maxim of quality, emphasizing the humorous contrast between expectation and reality.
Language and Gender
Defining gender is crucial for understanding theories of language and gender, 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 differentiate 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
Personhood encompasses not only logical and analytic features but is also shaped by socially instituted norms that regulate gender constructions Wardhaugh highlights that sex is a biologically determined characteristic, while gender is understood as a social construct influenced by genetic, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Lakoff was a pioneer in the study of Language and Gender, introducing the 'deficit' theory, which suggested that women's speech exhibits features of uncertainty and lack of confidence compared to men's In contrast, the 'dominance' approach posits that male speech is inherently dominant, reflecting men's societal power and allowing them to assert their superiority through language However, proponents of the 'difference' approach argue that variations in language use between genders stem from socialization and psychological differences rather than dominance This theory highlights that men's greater social power influences their interactions, often leading to a more assertive communication style, while those in less powerful positions, typically women, tend to adopt a more polite form of speech.
Culture approach explains that differences in language appeared in childhood where physical social separation is made [17].
Men and women exhibit distinct language styles in conversation, with male speech often reflecting power and dominance, while female speech emphasizes intimacy and politeness These differences stem from varying backgrounds and societal roles, highlighting the unique communication approaches of each gender.
Talk show and Description of the Ellen Show
A talk show is an interactive communication platform, typically a television or radio program where well-known individuals discuss their work and share opinions on various subjects in a casual setting, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary Each talk show focuses on specific themes, including politics, education, environment, and entertainment This research examines the entertainment talk show The Ellen Show to analyze instances where male and female guests violate conversation maxims.
2.2.7.2 Description of the Ellen Show
The Ellen Show is an American talk show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, an
The Ellen Show, hosted by American comedian Ellen DeGeneres, debuted on September 8, 2003, and has enjoyed a successful run of 17 seasons with over 1,000 episodes The show has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including Daytime Emmy Awards and People's Choice Awards, highlighting its enduring popularity among global audiences Featuring a diverse array of entertaining segments such as monologues, game shows, musical performances, and guest interviews, the show invites participation from celebrities, remarkable individuals, and viral video stars, ensuring a captivating viewing experience.
The Ellen Show is a globally popular talk show that serves as an engaging resource for English language learners, allowing them to practice and familiarize themselves with natural English conversations Additionally, the interview segments often feature guests who intentionally violate conversational maxims, creating intriguing situations that enhance the viewing experience.
This study aims to explore how male and female guests flout conversational maxims during the Interview segment of the show, which has been a part of the program since Season 10 (2011-2012) The Interview segment features natural interactions between the host and guests and has produced 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 examines previous studies that analyze how characters in films and TV shows intentionally violate conversational maxims to create implicatures These studies serve as both a foundation and an inspiration for the current research paper.
This article presents key definitions related to the theoretical background of pragmatics, including Conversational Implicature, the Cooperative Principle, and the Flouting of Conversational Maxims It categorizes the Flouting of Conversational Maxims into four main types based on Grice's framework: Flouting of the Quantity Maxim, Flouting of the Quality Maxim, Flouting of the Relation Maxim, and Flouting of the Manner Maxim Additionally, it explores rhetorical strategies for maxim flouting, identifying six types proposed by Grundy: Tautology, Metaphor, and Overstatement, among others The discussion also touches on the relationship between language, gender, and talk shows.
Understatement, Rhetorical Questions, Irony Furthermore, the description of the
American talk show “The Ellen Show” is presented to give the overview of the show as well as the reason why the researcher choose this show to investigate.
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 identified, described, and analyzed the pragmatic features present when male and female guests on The Ellen Show flout conversational maxims.
By utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the researcher effectively identified, described, and analyzed the pragmatic features of maxim flouting exhibited 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 observed in the utterances of both male and female guests on The Ellen Show.
The comparative method was utilized to analyze and contrast the frequency of maxim flouting, rhetorical strategies, and the implicatures associated with these flouts among male and female guests on The Ellen Show.
To conduct the thesis, the researcher reviewed all videos of the Interview
Segment in The Ellen show from Season 15 to one-third of Season 17, which is from
The official channel for the show can be found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheEllenShow, featuring around 400 videos per season, with individual durations ranging from 1 to 8 minutes Currently, Season 17 is ongoing, and only one-third of the episodes have been released.
The study analyzed instances of maxim flouting in interviews from Seasons 15, 16, and 17 of The Ellen Show, focusing on both male and female guests Researchers ensured the reliability of the thesis by confirming that all selected celebrities were native English speakers and not part of the third gender On average, 30 instances of maxim flouting were identified for each gender in Seasons 15 and 16, while 12 instances were selected from each gender in one-third of Season 17 Ultimately, the research sample comprised 72 instances of maxim flouting from male guests and 72 from female guests, all transcribed for data analysis.
This research analyzed a total of 144 instances of maxim flouting on The Ellen Show, with 72 examples from male guests and 72 from female guests Each gender contributed equally to the dataset, highlighting the prevalence of maxim flouting in the show's interactions.
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, both male and female, are required to be native English speakers This 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 the context of utterances to identify the flouting maxims used by male and female participants, drawing on Grice’s Cooperative Principle and rhetorical strategies outlined by Grundy By analyzing conversational exchanges, the study reveals distinct patterns in how different genders navigate the principles of effective communication The findings highlight the interplay between language use and social dynamics, providing insights into the rhetorical techniques employed in everyday interactions.
- 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 results of each category including types of maxim, strategies and implicatures of maxim flouting situations were displayed in the tables in percentage.
From that the frequency of each category was determined, compared and contrasted between two groups of male and female, the results then were discussed and evaluated.
PROCEDURE
The steps involved in the research procedure were:
To develop a comprehensive understanding of the research topic, it is essential to thoroughly examine relevant materials and prior studies, which aids in selecting an appropriate theoretical framework This thesis is grounded in Grice's (1975) theory of flouting conversational maxims and Grundy's (2013) rhetorical strategies, providing a solid foundation for the analysis.
- 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 sourced from the official channel of The Ellen Show, focusing on maxim flouting situations from interviews aired between September 2017 and December 2019 This ensures the data is both authentic and current, utilizing real examples rather than fabricated ones Additionally, the data collection and analysis were grounded in the theoretical frameworks established by reputable linguists, as discussed in Chapter Two, ensuring the reliability and quality of the information presented.
To ensure the validity of the data analysis, the researcher sought assistance from an experienced expert in English Linguistics and Pragmatics at Danang University of Foreign Language Studies This collaboration involved reanalyzing the research data, a crucial step to minimize subjectivity and enhance the reliability of the findings.
Chapter FourFINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF MAXIM FLOUTING EMPLOYED BY MALE
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 simultaneously flouted 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
In this scenario, Blake humorously downplays Ellen's compliment about his attractive appearance, intentionally providing vague responses This flouting of the maxim of quantity serves to inject humor and foster a lighthearted atmosphere.
(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
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 maxim of manner by giving an unclear response to Ellen's question His intention behind this flouting is to preserve his self-image, as he attempts 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 Ed's house and plans to ask him to sell it, but Ed tactfully declines her offer by violating the relation and quality maxims, responding with an irrelevant and false statement His intention is to refuse her politely while avoiding a direct confrontation.
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
All six types of rhetorical strategies proposed by Grundy consisting of
In interviews, male guests often engage in maxim flouting, utilizing rhetorical strategies such as tautology, metaphor, overstatement, understatement, rhetorical questions, and irony Nevertheless, there are several instances where these guests flout maxims without employing 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 "I know" four times, leading to ambiguity in his message He also violates the manner maxim by avoiding directness; instead of revealing the ending of "Game of Thrones," he circumvents the truth, creating a sense of confusion.
Finding personal happiness and recognizing one's own skills and talents are essential for fulfillment When both partners in a relationship achieve self-actualization, their combined potential significantly enhances their overall happiness and success, creating a powerful synergy.
Stedman employs metaphor to illustrate that, just as one and one cannot equal six, a successful relationship hinges on partners who support each other in realizing their full potential This synergy enables them to achieve greater outcomes together.
In the article, Alec uses overstatement through the superlative "loudest" and the adverb "even" to humorously tease Ellen, flouting conversational maxims in a friendly manner Similarly, Ben employs overstatement to highlight his intense effort in achieving his goals, indicating his need for rest after such hard work.
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 his statement, Garth employs an overstatement strategy to highlight his age compared to other nominees, despite being born in 1962, which makes his claim factually incorrect This approach illustrates a clear violation of 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 exceptional sense of humor, while he downplays his talent by describing it as merely "moderate." This understatement clearly contradicts the recognition of his humor, which is far beyond just moderate Consequently, Thomas intentionally violates the quality maxim to present himself as modest.
(10) Ellen: How do I know it’s not intentional?
Mark: How do you know I'm not narcoleptic ?
In (10), Ellen is trying to tease Mark because of the fact that he falls asleep easily anywhere Mark then jokes with Ellen in return by using a rhetorical question
“How do you know I'm not narcoleptic?” , which requires no answer but implies a joke.
(11) Ellen: Yeah, you got an “aw” because there’s the two of you kissing.
Blake: Can you believe that she's with me?
What's wrong with her? There's something wrong with her
Blake Shelton's admiration for Gwen Stefani shines through in a recent photo of them sharing a kiss, capturing the hearts of many With a touch of irony, Blake expresses his overwhelming luck and joy in being in love with Gwen, showcasing their sweet romance.
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 navigate conversational norms to enhance humor and engagement during their appearances.
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 strategies Among these, the Overstatement strategy is the most prevalent, comprising 43.1% of their rhetorical choices In contrast, the use of Metaphor and Understatement strategies is minimal, each accounting for less than 6%.
Purposes of Maxim Flouting Employed by Male Guests
In the show, male guests utilize maxim flouting for various reasons, including joking and teasing the listener, expressing emotions, and refusing requests They also employ this technique to provide clear explanations, save face, and demonstrate modesty Additionally, it serves to emphasize facts, conceal the truth, maintain self-esteem, avoid hurting the listener's feelings, persuade others, 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 “TheEllen Show”.
Table 4.3 Purposes of maxim flouting employed by male guests in “The Ellen Show”
No Purposes of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
Maxim flouting serves various purposes, with joking, emphasizing a fact, and providing clear explanations being the most common, occurring 18, 13, and 9 times respectively The predominant use of these purposes highlights the ways in which males frequently engage in maxim flouting.
Ellen complimented Ted on looking fantastic and inquired about his upcoming 70th birthday Ted explained that, due to recent fires, he had to postpone his birthday celebration, so he still considers himself 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 participates in any activities Ray humorously responds that, being older, he prefers sports like boogie boarding that allow him to relax and take it easy.
Instances (12), (13), and (14) exemplify how joking can serve as a purpose for flouting conversational maxims Notably, only the maxims of quality and quantity are utilized in these examples to achieve the humorous effect.
In (12), Ted humorously exaggerates the delay in celebrating his birthday, claiming it prevents him from aging By flouting the quantity maxim, he cleverly jokes about the common reluctance to accept the reality of growing older, highlighting a shared sentiment about aging that resonates with many.
In a humorous exchange, Dax responds to Ellen's surprise at his unusual beard growth by ironically comparing it to a spaghetti strainer or a cereal bowl, rather than acknowledging it as a typical beard Despite describing it as awful, he continues to let it grow, flouting the maxim of quality to create a lighthearted joke aimed at uplifting the mood.
In his response about sports, Ray humorously disregards the maxims of quality and quantity Instead of simply stating his interest in sports and naming his favorite, he begins by mentioning his age, which adds unnecessary information This approach not only flouts the quantity maxim but also exaggerates his situation, enhancing the comedic effect of his answer.
“ 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.
(4) and (8) are the examples of relation and quality maxim flouting, respectively.
In the conversation, Ben disregards the relation maxim by giving an irrelevant response to Ellen's compliment, using overstatement to highlight his hard work and the need for rest Meanwhile, Garth adheres to the quality maxim, stressing his age and experience as he celebrates his sixth win for entertainer of the year, showcasing his distinction among the 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 context, Dave flouts the quantity maxim by providing an overly detailed response to a simple Yes/No question He emphasizes his compatibility with Alison by highlighting her shared love for cats, using the exaggerated phrase "the only person I could find" to underscore his belief that she is the perfect match 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?
Colton humorously avoids specifying a number when asked about his desired number of children, telling Ellen not to limit it to a figure By doing so, he emphasizes his desire for a large family, flouting the maxim of manner to convey that he wants 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 humorously reflects on a comment about his age, acknowledging that after living over sixty years, he embraces being old He views aging as a positive achievement, claiming it has made him significantly wiser, stating he feels "82% smarter."
Harvey expresses his frustration to Ellen regarding the negativity he faces on Instagram from haters Instead of directly stating his age, he offers a convoluted description that violates the manner maxim Additionally, he flouts the quality maxim by claiming that this experience has made him "82% smarter," a statement lacking evidence Through this mixed maxim flouting, Harvey emphasizes that the opinions of haters are insignificant and do not impact his life, showcasing his resilience and the wisdom that comes with age.
In the show, the principle of quantity is often disregarded to enhance clarity in explanations, and the use of mixed maxim flouting is also utilized to achieve this goal.
Darren expresses that his admiration for famous individuals is rooted in their impact on his life rather than their celebrity status He enjoys the opportunity to connect with icons like Ellen and Ricki, reminiscing about how their work influenced him growing up For Darren, celebrating these connections and acknowledging those who have inspired him is a fulfilling experience.
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.
PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF MAXIM FLOUTING EMPLOYED BY
Types of Maxim Flouting Employed by Female Guests
An investigation of 72 instances involving female guests has identified the use of all four types of maxim flouting: quantity, quality, relation, and manner Additionally, the study reveals occurrences of mixed maxim flouting, where two or three maxims are flouted simultaneously within a single contribution.
Ellen inquires if Beth's husband enjoys watching The Bachelor, to which Beth humorously responds that she wouldn't watch it if it weren't for him She reveals that they both love watching the show together, although her husband often gets annoyed with her during episodes Due to their early bedtime at 8 o'clock, they typically catch up on the show the following day.
In the given example, Beth disregards the quantity maxim by providing an overly detailed response to Ellen's simple Yes/No question She aims to highlight her husband's strong enthusiasm for the TV show "The Bachelor."
(21) Ellen: We got you a $500 Postmates card It’s the real deal Dude Auli’i: I am never leaving my apartment
In a recent episode, Ellen surprises Auli’i with a $500 Postmates card, highlighting the convenience of local delivery services Auli’i humorously claims she will never leave her apartment again, showcasing her excitement and the card's impact on her lifestyle This playful exaggeration illustrates Auli’i's feelings while cleverly flouting the quality maxim.
(22) Ellen: So when are you turning 40? Soon, right?
Tiffany: I'm never going to be 40, but I am turning 21 for the 19th year really soon In December I'll be 21 for the 19th year
In a humorous exchange, Tiffany cleverly flouts the manner maxim by stating, “I'll be 21 for the 19th year,” when Ellen mentions her impending 40th birthday This playful remark highlights Tiffany's attempt to joke about age in a lighthearted and obscure manner.
(23) Ellen: Are you adventurous? Like would you jump out of the plane?
In (23), when being asked whether she is adventurous, Judy mentions “Jews” , which seems irrelevant to the question Therefore, she flouts relation maxim.
(24) Ellen: Did you have fun at the birthday?
Chrissy: Did I have fun? It was like the Oscars, the Grammys, the
Emmys all in one gorgeous tent It was incredible I've never seen this kind of group You have an incredible group of friends
[fe/13/quan&qual/rhe&me]
In response to a question about Ellen's birthday party, Chrissy employs a rhetorical question, demonstrating a flouting of the quantity maxim Additionally, she flouts the quality maxim by using metaphorical references like "the Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys" to characterize the guests at the party This deliberate maxim flouting serves to convey her immense excitement about attending Ellen's celebration.
Table 4.4 below is the summary of the types of maxim flouting of its presenting from 72 instances where female guests employ maxim flouting in “The Ellen Show”.
Table 4.4 Types of maxim flouting employed by female guests in
No Types of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
The table shows that of all types of maxim flouting, Quantity Maxim Flouting is employed the most frequently by female guests, taking up 41.7%; whereas, Relation
Maxim is flouted the least frequently, accounting for only 11.1%.
Rhetorical strategies for Maxim Flouting Employed by Female Guests 42 4.2.3 Purposes of Maxim Flouting Employed by Female Guests
It can be concluded from the investigation that all six types of rhetorical strategies called Tautology, Metaphor, Overstatement, Understatement, Rhetorical
Instances of female guests flouting conversational maxims reveal a blend of question and irony, highlighting the use of mixed rhetorical strategies These occurrences demonstrate how two rhetorical approaches can be employed simultaneously in situations where maxims are disregarded.
(25) Ellen: I’m just confirming what the tabloids are saying, which is that y’all are getting married.
Gwen: Oh, so if I say we are, then I say we are And if I say no we're not, then that would be sad too
In response to the rumor Ellen mentioned, Gwen employs a tautological structure to obscure the truth, reflecting her desire as a celebrity to keep her private life confidential.
Judy, born into a Jewish family, employs the metaphor of “Jews” to describe herself, using this strategy to preserve her self-image By avoiding a direct admission of her lack of adventurousness, she seeks to save face and mitigate potential embarrassment.
Another instance of the application of metaphor is identified in (26).
(26) Ellen: Well, this is Thursday But Monday, it came out that you were pregnant And so I’m just saying, how’s that going?
Dakota: Well, the only thing I'm pregnant with is a lot of really good ideas
Ellen: Yeah? You’re preagnant with a lot of good ideas?
Dakota: Yeah, but not any babies.
Ellen addresses the rumor surrounding Dakota's alleged pregnancy, which Dakota refutes through a clever metaphor She suggests that instead of being pregnant, she is "pregnant with a lot of really good ideas," clearly indicating that the rumor is false By flouting the quality maxim, Dakota effectively highlights her lack of pregnancy while emphasizing her creative mindset.
Overstatement strategy is found out in the maxim flouting instance of (21).
Auli’i exaggerates her condition in “I'm never leaving my apartment” to show her great excitement when receiving the gift from Ellen.
Here is another example of overstatement strategy extracted from the sample of female guests.
(27) Ellen: So your birthday is coming up, a big one You’re going to be 50.
Jenifer: What? It's the first time I've heard that Ahem
Ellen's announcement of turning 50 catches Jenifer off guard, prompting her to express disbelief through exaggerated remarks Jenifer's reaction suggests that it's the first time she's learned of Ellen's age, a statement that is clearly false and violates the principle of quality in communication.
(28) Ellen: And the last time you were here, you were starting the “Endgame” movie right? Is that what you - you were starting that?
Brie: Yeah The little movie that could
In a discussion about Brie Larson's role in the blockbuster film "Endgame," she refers to it as "the little movie," which misrepresents its significance This statement reflects a violation of the quality maxim, as Brie downplays her involvement to convey modesty.
(29) Ellen: But what happens if they want to be comedians? Would you want them to be comedians?
Ali expresses a strong reluctance to have his children pursue a career in comedy, highlighting the challenges of the profession He points out the difficulties of traveling, including uncomfortable accommodations and safety concerns, particularly for women in the industry.
I think that's a big reason why a lot of women don't do stand up, because of the road
Ali clearly expresses her desire for her children not to pursue a career in comedy by posing a rhetorical question: “Would you want any of your progeny to be comedians?” This response to Ellen's inquiry highlights her strong feelings on the subject, suggesting that her comments may be more elaborate than necessary, thus violating the principle of quantity in conversation.
(30) Ellen: And what were you last year?
Halsey: Oh, well, I really wanted to do something really glamorous and feminine I like flowers and pink and stuff like that So I went as Marilyn Manson
Ellen and Halsey engage in a lighthearted conversation about Halloween parties, prompting Ellen to inquire about Halsey's costume from the previous year In a humorous twist, Halsey employs irony to flout the quality maxim, revealing her desire to create a unique and memorable outfit.
“glamorous and feminine” and she liked “flowers and pink stuff” but she chose to dress up as Marilyn Manson, who has a scary appearance.
In the analysis of mixed rhetorical strategies, we observe that Chrissy employs two distinct techniques in her response to Ellen Initially, she poses the rhetorical question, "Did I have fun?" which engages the audience Subsequently, she enhances her message by using metaphorical language, enriching her contribution with vivid imagery.
“the Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys”, which refer to those whose win those prestigious awards.
Table 4.5 below is the summary of the rhetorical strategies of its presenting from
72 instances where female guests employ maxim flouting in “The Ellen Show”. Table 4.5 Rhetorical strategies of maxim flouting employed by female guests in “The
No Rhetorical strategies of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
Statistics reveal that female guests rarely utilize rhetorical strategies, with a significant 44.4% of instances showing no strategies employed at all The use of mixed rhetorical strategies is minimal, accounting for just 2.8% Among the strategies analyzed, overstatement is the most frequently used at 20.8%, while both metaphor and understatement strategies are seldom applied, each representing less than 6%.
4.2.3 Purposes of Maxim Flouting Employed by Female Guests
An investigation into 72 instances involving female guests identified 14 key purposes for the use of maxim flouting, including joking, teasing the listener, expressing emotions, refusing requests, providing clear explanations, saving face, demonstrating modesty, exhibiting politeness, emphasizing facts, concealing the truth, maintaining relationships, satisfying the listener, avoiding causing hurt, and sparking curiosity.
Table 4.6 below is the summary of purposes of maxim flouting of its presenting from 72 instances where female guests employ maxim flouting in “The
Table 4.6 Purposes of maxim flouting employed by female guests in “The Ellen
No Purposes of Maxim Flouting Frequency %
Emphasizing a fact, giving a clear explanation, and joking are the most common purposes employed by female guests and their frequencies are 15, 14, and 10 respectively.
The investigation into the samples of female guests shows that the emphasis on a fact is evident across all four types of maxim flouting: quantity, quality, relation, and manner, including instances of mixed maxim flouting.
(31) Ellen: Really, one of them is the sexiest, he’s in the sexiest issue He’s the sexiest at every age Did you know that?
Victoria: I don't know if I want to know that I don't know if I need to know — is that Brooklyn?
In a lighthearted exchange, Ellen highlights that Victoria and David Beckham's son is considered the sexiest at any age, prompting Victoria to respond to the question with a flouting of the quantity maxim This suggests that, regardless of attractiveness, he remains her son, and she may also be mindful of her other sons' feelings, particularly Brooklyn's Victoria's use of tautology in her response, exemplified by the phrase "I don’t know if I ", underscores her indifference to the title of "sexiest," emphasizing that all her sons are equally cherished in her eyes.
(32) Mindy: And I think I have a nice career and I'm doing well But the minute I go to the Met, I'm the least famous person there
Mindy reflects on her experience at the Met Gala, highlighting the grandeur of the event and the presence of numerous celebrities and billionaires She modestly downplays her own status in comparison to the other attendees, showcasing the overwhelming nature of such a prestigious gathering.
“I'm the least person there”, which flouts quality maxim since her contribution is lack of adequate evidence.
(33) Ellen: You look so good and so rested You were at the Staples Center last night.
P!nk: I have a very good makeup artist
Ellen: Yeah No, you do You look great.