Flouting, Implicatures, and Hedges in Contemporary Media Discourse: A Gricean Pragmatic Analysis of Selected Tiktok Shorts

Authors

  • Intan Pauline Marbun Universitas Pamulang
  • Radhwa Zahrany Nafisah Universitas Pamulang

Keywords:

Grice's Maxims, Pragmatics, Flouting, Cooperative Principle, Conversational Analysis

Abstract

This study explores how real-life and fictional dialogues in popular media employ pragmatic strategies that both align with and subvert Grice’s Cooperative Principle (1975). Through a qualitative analysis of selected excerpts from The Lion King (2019), Frozen (2013), and celebrity interviews featuring Andrew Garfield and Jackson Wang, the paper examines how the maxims of quality, relevance, and manner are flouted, hedged, or indirectly manipulated to produce layered meaning. Findings reveal that speakers use implicature, hedging, and maxim flouting not as communicative failures but as intentional tools for managing social relationships, protecting face, expressing philosophical stances, or complying with professional constraints. For instance, Timon and Pumbaa’s "Hakuna Matata" reflects a reorientation of truth from factual accuracy to existential authenticity; Elsa’s veiled disapproval illustrates implicature functioning as a face-saving strategy; Kristoff’s use of “hopefully” exemplifies hedging for politeness and risk management. Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield’s ironic denial and Jackson Wang’s culturally sensitive deflection showcase strategic relevance manipulation in public discourse. The study underscores the enduring relevance of Gricean pragmatics in understanding how meaning is contextually negotiated and socially embedded in contemporary audiovisual texts. It also highlights the pedagogical potential of using popular media as a resource for teaching and analyzing pragmatic competence.

References

Attardo, S. (1993). Violation of conversational maxims and cooperation: The case of jokes. Journal of Pragmatics, 19(6), 537–558. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-2166(93)90102-V

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.

Cutting, J. (2002). Pragmatics and discourse: A resource book for students. Routledge.

Dynel, M. (2008). No aggression, only teasing: The pragmatics of teasing and banter. Lodging Complaints: Studies in Pragmatics, 5, 147–168.

Fraser, B. (2010). Pragmatic competence: The case of hedging. In R. Facchinetti, D. Crystal, & B. Seidlhofer (Eds.), From International to Local English—and Back Again (pp. 15–34). Peter Lang.

Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and conversation. In P. Cole & J. L. Morgan (Eds.), Syntax and Semantics: Vol. 3. Speech Acts (pp. 41–58). Academic Press.

Holmes, J. (2013). An introduction to sociolinguistics (4th ed.). Routledge.

Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.

Mey, J. L. (2001). Pragmatics: An introduction (2nd ed.). Blackwell.

Sperber, D., & Wilson, D. (1995). Relevance: Communication and cognition (2nd ed.). Blackwell.

Yule, G. (1996). The study of language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-27

How to Cite

Intan Pauline Marbun, & Radhwa Zahrany Nafisah. (2025). Flouting, Implicatures, and Hedges in Contemporary Media Discourse: A Gricean Pragmatic Analysis of Selected Tiktok Shorts. Paradigma Lingua, 5(3), 84–90. Retrieved from https://openjournal.unpam.ac.id/index.php/Paradigma/article/view/50588