A Pragmatic Analysis of Conversational Implicature in "Anna and the French Kiss": Grice’s Maxims and Adolescent Communication

Ghevira Meilsa Darmawan; Afriana

doi:10.37304/ebony.v6i1.23790

Authors

Ghevira Meilsa Darmawan Universitas Putera Batam
Afriana Universitas Putera Batam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v6i1.23790

Keywords:

Pragmatics, Conversational Implicature, Grice’s Maxims, Young Adult Fiction

Abstract

This study investigates the use of conversational implicature in Stephanie Perkins’s novel Anna and the French Kiss through the framework of Grice’s (1975) theory of conversational
maxims. The research aims to identify the types of flouted maxims and interpret the implied meanings embedded in the characters’ utterances. Employing a qualitative descriptive method supported by frequency analysis, the data were drawn from 602 utterances in the novel that violated the Maxims of Quality, Quantity, Relation, and Manner. The findings reveal that the Maxim of Relation is the most frequently flouted, with 233 instances, followed by the Maxim of Manner with 220 instances, the Maxim of Quality with 103 instances, and the Maxim of Quantity with 46 instances. These violations function to express irony, maintain politeness, and manage emotional tension, reflecting the characters’ preference for indirect and context-sensitive communication. The frequent flouting of Relation and Manner indicates adolescents’ reliance on ambiguity and topic shifting to preserve social harmony and emotional balance. The study concludes that Grice’s framework effectively accounts for the implied meanings in literary dialogue and demonstrates how pragmatic strategies construct authenticity, emotional depth, and relational nuance in young adult fiction.

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DOI: 10.37304/ebony.v6i1.23790 DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v6i1.23790

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