Pragmatics and film discourse : the invention of lying as a sample

Abstract EN

In everyday communication, it is theoretically agreed on that people need to obey the four maxims of conversation to make their communication cooperative, namely the maxims of quantity, quality, manner, and relevance.

This process of obeying maxims is represented by Grice under the cooperative principle.

But, maxims are sometimes deliberately flouted for a reason or another; one important deliberate flouting of such rules may occur in film discourse.

Based on this fact, it is hypothesized that film makers make great cinematic chances from the utilization of such linguistic rules in their works, just like many other linguistic phenomena; linguistics contributes deeply to TV-show makings.

The current paper, therefore, first aims to investigate the flouting and/or observance of Grice's maxims as a tool for making "The Invention of Lying" film.

The study also aims to highlight the different purposes that observance and/or flouting serves in the film and, thus, the different messages that are successfully conveyed through them.

On the other hand, avoiding threatening people's face is another essence in any interaction in life.

Linguistic studies have long discussed the means to save one another's face, both the positive and negative.

Taking this into consideration, the current study hypothesizes, also, that "The Invention of Lying" film may constitute a suitable ground to investigate the relationship between the cooperative principles and politeness theory.

From this point, another aim for the study is set.