ABSTRACT

This research aims at finding out the Cooperative Principles (CP) showcasing
instances of flouting and violating any of the four maxims. This research
applies the theory of CP by Paul Grice (1975), who assumes that when
people communicate, they act rationally. The Cooperative principle
describes the best practices in communication in order to facilitate the
process of conversation to be smoother for the listener and speaker; people
frequently disobey these maxims in order to achieve certain purposes.
Speakers usually do not observe the rules which were set by Grice when
they tend to lie, mislead, or to be humorous and sarcastic. . It is to analyze
the extent to which of the maxims is either violated or flouted. The results
show that the more prominent is the flouting of the maxims with
percentage of 60% while the violation of the maxims’ percentage is 40%.
Also, flouting the maxim of relation is the prominent one. The flouting is
more prominent as it is a comedy show.

INTRODUCTION
The focus of this study is to apply the theory of CP on movie clips from the
TV series “FRIENDS”. It is a popular American television series revolves
around six friends living in Manhattan. In these movie clips only appear
three of them in addition to an old friend, who are Monica, her husband
Chandler, their friend Phoebe and the old friend Amanda. It is to analyze the
extent to which of the maxims is either violated or flouted. It also seeks to
find if there is any occasion in which one party opts out of the conversation.
The reason on selecting this series is that it has a comedy genre and there is
a great chance that one of them repeatedly either violates or flouts the
conversational maxims. According to Grice, the four maxims are maxim of
quality, quantity, relation and manner.
Speakers usually do not observe the rules which were set by Grice when
they tend to lie, mislead, or to be humorous and sarcastic. In this movie clip
there are Chandler who is Monica’s husband, their friend Phoebe and also
an old friend who called Amanda. The most prominent is the flouting of
maxims as it is a comedy genre of series, so people in the series flouts a lot
to make people laugh also, they are comedian actors. In most instances,
Amanda is flouting all the maxims, which indicates that she is very talkative
and uninformative. She is trying to show off all the time. She keeps talking
about herself, her body, her dancing, her flat, and even her smell without
anyone is asking her. The constant flouting of the maxims by Amanda seems
to place this character in a higher position in terms of verbal humor. It can
also be stated that comedies, mostly, portrays an inverse relationship
between the verbal humor and social status of the individuals. Also,
Chandler is only flouting the maxims, which lets him have a perfect sense of
humor. He is flouting only to make fun and make people laugh, and he does
not care about anything and does not involve himself in conversations that
he has nothing to do with. On the other hand, Phoebe mostly violates the
maxim of manner and quantity as she is unclear in her words, which
indicates that she is an ambiguous and talkative person. She talks so much
and gives too much information, and tricks people to exchange the situation
positively to her side, so she is also smart. Monica keeps violating the maxim
of quantity because she is a talkative person too who gives information
more than required. This study can indicate that Phoebe, Monica, and
Amanda are a talkative as any typical girl. But Chandler is very informative
by his excellent sense of humor. All the characters that are in these scenes
are humorous, but the most comedian ones are Chandler and Amanda.

To observe a maxim is to obey it fully and to observe all of the four maxims,
the speaker needs to be truthful, informative, relevance, and to be brief,
clear, and avoid ambiguity, to let the hearer understand. Otherwise, if a
speaker intentionally misleading (violating) or being ironic (flouting), this
leads to the non-observance of the maxims of the conversation because the
speaker intends to create a particular effect. The speaker might also opt-out,
which means he refuses to cooperate, so it is not violating or flouting but
opting out like in example17.

The Violation, Flouting of Maxims or Opting out of:

It takes place when speakers intentionally mislead, ironic or refrain to apply
certain maxims in their conversation to cause misunderstanding on their
participants’ part or to achieve certain purposes. The following are examples
of violation of any (or all) of the maxims:

Scene #1, example1:

Phoebe: Hey.
Chandler and Monica: Hey, Pheebs.
Phoebe: You won’t believe who moved back to town.
Monica: I know. Amanda. She called me too. She’s the worst.
Chandler: who’s Amanda?

Monica and Phoebe are violating the maxim of manner because they are
unclear and ambiguous as the third party, who is Chandler, does not know
what they talk about and does not even know Amanda. He does not know
Amanda as he did not meet her before because she lived to live in their
building before he did.

Scene #1, example2:

Chandler: who’s Amanda?

Monica: She’s the girl who lived in the building before you did. Then she
moved to England and picked up this fake British accent. On the machine,
this is her message: “Monica darling, its Amanda calling.”

Monica is flouting the maxim of quantity. Chandler is asking about "Who is

Amanda?" But she gives more information than required. She keeps
describing Amanda and her fake British accent that implies that she does not
like her because she is fake. After all, she is an American who moved to
England and is trying to fake her British accent. So, Amanda makes people
laugh by repeating Amanda’s way of talking in British accent but she has a
hidden message that Amanda is fake.

Scene #1, example3:

Monica: She’s the girl who lived in the building before you did. Then she
moved to England and picked up this fake British accent. On the machine,
this is her message: “Monica darling, its Amanda calling.”
Chandler: Are you trying to do a British accent?

Chandler is flouting the maxim of relation. He makes fun of Monica to create

humor and implies that she doesn’t know how to do a British accent. Also,
his answer is an irrelevance to what she says as he does not pay attention
that she implies that Amanda’s fake and makes fun of her way of doing
British accent.

Scene #1, example4:

Phoebe: Know what Amanda said when she called me? “Oh, so sorry to
catch you on your mobile.” If you didn’t wanna get me on my mobile, then
don’t call me on my mobile.

Phoebe is flouting the maxim of quantity. Amanda did not ask Phoebe about
Amanda’s message to her. Phoebe just told them the message to make fun
of Amanda’s fake British accent. Phoebe implies that Amanda is fake and she
does not like her.
Scene #1, example5:

Phoebe: Know what Amanda said when she called me? “Oh, so sorry to
catch you on your mobile.” If you didn’t wanna get me on my mobile, then
don’t call me on my mobile.
Monica: What are we gonna do? I don’t wanna see her.

Monica is violating the maxim of relation. Her answer is irrelevant to what

Phoebe tells her. That also indicates how much she does not like her and
does not want to see her.

Scene #1, example6:

Phoebe: Let’s just cut her out.

Monica: What?
Phoebe: Cut her out of our lives. Just ignore her calls and dodge her till she
gets the point.

Phoebe is violating the maxim of manner. She is unclear and ambiguous as

“let’s just cut her out.” She means to cut out Amanda from their lives. She
uses ambiguous expressions and does not illustrate what she means unless
Monica asked her what she means.

Scene #1, example7:

Monica: Well, I guess we could try that. But it seems so harsh. Have you ever
done that?
Chandler: No. Had it done to me, though. Feels good.

Chandler again is flouting the maxim of relation. He is intentionally ironic. He

is irrelevant in his answer as Monica asks if he has ever done that, so she
probably expects an answer with yes or no, but his response is different as it
had done to him.
Moreover, he is flouting the maxim of quality. He lies about how it feels to
feel that someone tries to cut him out as “feels good.” He makes people
laugh because of being ironic or sarcastic.

Scene #2, example8:

Amanda on the phone machine: Hello, Monica. It’s Amanda calling again.
I’m in the neighborhood, hoping I could pop by your flat.
Monica: You’re from Yonkers! Your last name is Buffamonteezi!
Amanda: Let’s see. So should you get this directly… ring me back on my
mobile.
Phoebe: Okay, don’t hold thy breath.

Monica is flouting the maxim of relation. Amanda is calling to ask if she can
pop out to her flat. Monica is irrelevant to Amanda's question. She is
intentionally ironic because she did not even answer her call. She is not just
creating humor, but she has something beyond that in mind to make fun of
Amanda’s fake British accent. She is saying you’re from Yonkers which is in
New York, so she wants to tell her that she is an American and does not
have to speak in British accent.

Phoebe is flouting the maxim of relation. She said don’t hold thy breath. She
made people laugh because she said that to make fun of Amanda and also,
she did not say that to her directly as she did not answer the call, she just
said that to the machine.

Scene #2, example9:

Monica: Look, I’m so sorry for screwing up that “cutting her out” plan, but I
have a new plan. Chandler will call in a few minutes with an emergency.
Phoebe: Oh, okay, what kind of emergency gets us both out of here?
Monica: What do you think of Mike and Chandler being in a car accident?
Monica is violating the maxim of manner. She is unclear about her plan.
Monica and Phoebe do not like Amanda, and Amanda suggests a plan to cut
her out by ignoring her calls until Amanda gets the point. Monica screwed
up Phoebe's plan as she agrees to meet her. So, Monica suggests a new plan
to leave.

Scene #3, example10:

Phoebe: Hi.
Amanda: Hello. It’s so nice to see you. Both of you look at me. Look how
young I look. Oh, gosh, we have so much to catch up on. But first things first.
Touch my abs. I don’t exercise at all. Oh, gosh. So, Monica, you’re married.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of quantity, relation and the maxim of quality.
She is giving more information than required to make people laugh. Also,
Amanda is irrelevant and is not giving answers related to the conversation
because they have just met, and Amanda is saying too much information
about her that is unrelated to create humor. She lies about her look that she
looks young because Amanda has a hidden message or wants to drive an
intended meaning that she looks younger than them.

Scene #3, example11:

Amanda: Oh, gosh. So, Monica, you’re married.

Monica: Yeah, his name is Chandler and he’s…
Amanda: Oh, smell my neck. It’s not perfume. It’s me. It’s my natural scent.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of relation. She asks Monica if she’s married.
Suddenly, she interrupts her while she answers her to say something
irrelevant to the conversation which is her smell.

Monica also is violating the maxim of quantity. Amanda asked if Monica is

married while she is answering her yes and is telling the name of her
husband, which Amanda did not ask for, Amanda interrupted her to say
something irrelevant. Monica was about to continue giving information
about her husband before Amanda interrupted her.

Scene #3, example12:

Amanda: Oh, smell my neck. It’s not perfume. It’s me. It’s my natural scent.
Phoebe: Musty.
Amanda: Oh, Gosh. This is brilliant. Gosh, it’s just like old times. I’m so happy
you two are friends again.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of relation and manner. She keeps saying
things that are irrelevant at the same time. Amanda has just seen them and
said that it’s just like old times then, said she is happy that both of them are
friends again. She is flouting the maxim of relation because that is irrelevant
to the conversation and also flouting the maxim of manner because she
used indirect and unclear words to imply something in her mind. She did so
in a sarcastic way because she has an intended meaning that Phoebe was
about to cut Monica out of her life before, she knows that Monica does not
know that.

Scene #3, example13:

Monica: When were we not friends?

Amanda: Well. It was 1992. And I remember, because that was the year I
had sex with Evel Knievel. Ha, ha.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of relation. Monica asks her when Monica and
Phoebe were not friends; Amanda answers in 1992 and keeps talking about
her relationship with Evel Knievel, which is unrelated to Monica's question
but only to be sarcastic.

Scene #3, example14:

Monica: Uh, we were friends in 1992.
Amanda pointing at Phoebe: No, I distinctly remember you were dodging
her calls... and trying to avoid seeing her.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of quantity. She has something beyond that in
mind. She wants to get them mad at each other, so she gives more
information than required.

Scene #3, example15:

Monica: Oh, I’m so sorry, but Chandler was in a car accident.

Amanda: Oh, my God.
Monica: Yeah.
Phoebe: Was Mike with him?
Monica: Nope.

Monica is flouting the maxim of quality. She is lying about the car accident.
Monica planned to leave Amanda; the plan was that mike should have been
with Chandler in the car accident, so Phoebe also could leave her. Monica is
flouting the maxim of quality with Phoebe because she changed the plan
and left Phoebe with Amanda to imply that she is mad at her because she
wanted to cut her out of her life, so she tricked her.

Scene #4, example16:

Monica: We are not friends with Phoebe anymore.

Chandler: If she asks, I protested a little, but okay.

Chandler is flouting the maxim of quantity. He did not just say yes, but he
said if she asks, I protested a little. He used sarcasm because he has an
intended meaning that they are friends despite what happened, they will
still be friends that cannot happen to cut her out from their lives.

Scene #4, example17:

Phoebe: Oh, Chandler, thank God you’re alive. Monica, can I talk to you
outside?
Monica: I have nothing to say to you.
Amanda: Wow, My flat is twice this size.

Phoebe is violating the maxim of quality. Phoebe said thank God you’re alive
to Chandler despite her knowledge that this is Monica’s plan to leave the
hanging out with Amanda. She does so because she has a hidden message to
drive to Amanda to assure that Amanda believes that Chandler has an actual
car accident.

There is an instance of opting out here as Monica refused to talk with

phoebe when she asked her “Can I talk to you outside?”; she said she has
nothing to say to her, so Monica implied that she did not want to talk to her
because she is mad at her.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of relation. She said that her flat is twice this
size; she meant Monica’s flat without anyone questioning about her flat. She
only said that to imply that Monica’s flat is small and she is richer.

Scene #4, example18:

Amanda to Chandler: Ooh, that accident must have been terrible. You look
positively ghastly.
Chandler: Well aren’t you a treat.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of quality. She is saying that he looks horrible
which is a lie to make fun of his appearance.

Chandler is flouting the maxim of relation. Amanda is telling him that he

looks horrible from the accident while there is no accident. So, he is making
fun of her to create humor.

Scene #4, example19:

Monica: I can’t believe you tried to cut me out. Why, Phoebe? Why?
Phoebe: It was right after we were living together…and you were driving me
crazy, okay? You were really controlling and compulsive and shrill.
Monica: Well, I’m still all those things.

Phoebe is violating the maxim of quantity. She is giving information more

than required. Monica is not asking when that was, but she is just asking
why. She is violating because she wants to justify why she tried to cut her
out of her life.

Monica is flouting the maxim of relation. She is making fun of herself that
she is saying that even if she was all these things, she is still them and stills
the same person. She is implying that why now Phoebe wants to be friend
with her.

Scene #4, example20:

Phoebe: You’re also so generous and kind and scrappy.

Monica: I am scrappy.
Phoebe: Exactly. No matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t keep you out of my
life. Of all the people I’ve cut out…you were the only one who ever clawed
her way back in.
Monica: That’s because I’m scrappy.
Phoebe: Yeah, you are, and I’m so glad that you fought your way back in…
because I don’t know what I would do without you.

Phoebe is flouting the maxim of quantity. She is saying information more

than required but only to justify to Monica why she did so. She is trying to
calm her down by telling her that she is scrappy, and she is glad that Monica
fought her way back in her life, and so on. She has something in mind which
is to calm her down.

Scene #4, example21:

Amanda’s dancing: Can you believe it? I’ve never had any professional dance
training.

Amanda is flouting the maxim of quantity. She is dancing in front of

Chandler and saying that she has never had any professional dance training.
The fact, he did not ask her if she had any training or not. She is not lying
because she cannot dance at all. But she is flouting to be intentionally ironic.

TEXT
Scene#1

Phoebe: Hey.

Chandler and Monica: Hey, Pheebs.

Phoebe: You won’t believe who moved back to town.

Monica: I know. Amanda. She called me too. She’s the worst.

Chandler: who’s Amanda?

Monica: She’s the girl who lived in the building before you did. Then she
moved to England and picked up this fake British accent. On the machine,
this is her message: “Monica darling, its Amanda calling.”

Chandler: Are you trying to do a British accent?

Phoebe: Know what Amanda said when she called me? “Oh, so sorry to
catch you on your mobile.” If you didn’t wanna get me on my mobile, then
don’t call me on my mobile.

Monica: What are we gonna do? I don’t wanna see her.

Phoebe: Let’s just cut her out.

Monica: What?

Phoebe: Cut her out of our lives. Just ignore her calls and dodge her till she
gets the point.

Monica: Well, I guess we could try that. But it seems so harsh. Have you ever
done that?

Chandler: No. Had it done to me, though. Feels good.

Scene#2

Amanda on the phone machine: Hello, Monica. It’s Amanda calling again.
I’m in the neighborhood, hoping I could pop by your flat.

Monica: You’re from Yonkers! Your last name is Buffamonteezi!

Amanda continues: Let’s see. So should you get this directly….ring me back
on my mobile.

Phoebe: Okay, don’t hold thy breath.

Chandler answers the phone call: Hello? Is someone on the line?

Amanda: yes. I was looking for Monica.

Chandler: Hang on, she’s right here. Someone’s on the phone for you.

Monica: We weren’t picking up. It’s Amanda.

Monica answers the phone: Hi, Amanda. Actually, now is not a good time.
Dinner tomorrow night? Okay, Phoebe and I will see you then.

Phoebe: Why? Why? Why didn’t you just say no?

Monica: Well, I said no to her coming over now. I couldn’t say no twice. I got
this uncontrollable need to please people.
Scene#3

Monica: Hi, Phoebe.

Phoebe: Hey.

Monica: is Amanda here yet?

Phoebe: No.

Monica: Look, I’m so sorry for screwing up that “cutting her out: plan, but I
have a new plan. Chandler will call in a few minutes with an emergency.

Phoebe: Oh, okay, what kind of emergency gets us both out of here?

Monica: What do you think of Mike and Chandler being in a car accident?

Phoebe: Are you kidding? I love it.

Monica: Okay.

Amanda: Hi. Ha, ha.

Phoebe: Hi.

Amanda: Hello. It’s so nice to see you. Both of you look at me. Look how
young I look. Oh, gosh, we have so much to catch up on. But first things first.
Touch my abs. I don’t exercise at all. Oh, gosh. So, Monica, you’re married.

Monica: Yeah, his name is Chandler and he’s…

Amanda: Oh, smell my neck. It’s not perfume. It’s me. It’s my natural scent.

Phoebe: Musty.

Amanda: Oh, Gosh. This is brilliant. Gosh, it’s just like old times. I’m so happy
you two are friends again.

Monica: When were we not friends?

Amanda: Well. It was 1992. And I remember, because that was the year I
had sex with Evel Knievel. Ha, ha.

Monica: Uh, we were friends in 1992.

Amanda pointing at Phoebe: No, I distinctly remember you were dodging

her calls... and trying to avoid seeing her.

Monica to Phoebe: You were going to cut me out?

Phoebe: Well, kind of.

Monica: Oh, my God.

Amanda: Oh, bugger. Should I not have said that? Unh! I feel like a perfect
arse.

Phoebe: Well, in America, you’re just an ass.

[CELL PHONES RINGS]

Monica: Hello? Chandler, what’s wrong? Oh, my God, are you all right?
Yeah, I’ll be right there.

Oh, I’m so sorry, but Chandler was in a car accident.

Amanda: Oh, my God.

Monica: Yeah.

Phoebe: Was Mike with him?

Monica: Nope.

Scene#4

Monica: We are not friends with Phoebe anymore.

Chandler: If she asks, I protested a little, but okay.
Phoebe: Oh, Chandler, thank God you’re alive. Monica, can I talk to you
outside?

Monica: I have nothing to say to you.

Amanda: Wow, My flat is twice this size.

Phoebe: Please, Monica, in the hall?

Amanda to Chandler: Ooh, that accident must have been terrible. You look
positively ghastly.

Chandler: Well aren’t you a treat.

[MONICA AND PHOEBE OUTSIDE]

Monica: I can’t believe you tried to cut me out. Why, Phoebe? Why?

Phoebe: It was right after we were living together…and you were driving me
crazy, okay? You were really controlling and compulsive and shrill.

Monica: Well, I’m still all those things.

Phoebe: You’re also so generous and kind and scrappy.

Monica: I am scrappy.

Phoebe: Exactly. No matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t keep you out of my
life. Of all the people I’ve cut out…you were the only one who ever clawed
her way back in.

Monica: That’s because I’m scrappy.

Phoebe: Yeah, you are, and I’m so glad that you fought your way back in…
because I don’t know what I would do without you.

Monica: I don’t know what I would do without you.

Well, I guess we should go back in. I mean, you gave me another chance. We
should do the same for Amanda.

Phoebe: Yeah, I guess you’re right.

Amanda’s dancing: Can you believe it? I’ve never had any professional dance
training.

https://youtu.be/SlCApAgyayI (Till 1:56)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3BcfI685G4