The Flouting and Hedging Maxims Found in Surah Yasin

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on analyzing flouting and hedging maxims of texts in the English translation of Surah Yasin. Maxims are the rules of cooperative principles, one part of discourse analysis study which is distinguished into four categories, namely; maxim of quantity, maxim of quality, maxim of relevant, and maxim of manner. If these maxims are used in conversation, these can go on smoothly. However, the texts often break the maxims deliberately (flouting maxims), and sometimes they break them secretly (hedging maxims). The English translation of Surah Yasin is the example, how it often flouts and hedges the maxims.

Based on the background, the study about flouting and hedging maxims of the text in the English translation of Surah Yasin was conducted with the following problems; (1) “How do the maxims flout in the English translation of Surah Yasin? (2) “How do the maxims hedge in the English translation of Surah Yasin?.This research was conducted using descriptive-qualitative method based on Grice’s maxims.

Data analysis revealed some findings covering the formulated research questions. The maxims could be flouted/hedged by the formulation of the texts. The maxims are flouted if the texts violate some maxims when the texts is formulated in the form of rhetorical strategies namely tautology, metaphor, overstatement, understatement, rhetorical question and irony. For example; “Do they not see how many of the generations We have destroyed before them? Verily,
they will not return to them” (31st ayat of Surah Yasin). The formulation of text
signifies that it is not a sincere question, It means that the question does not need the answer. In this case, this text is classified into rhetorical question.

On the other hand, maxims are hedged when the information is not totally accurate but it seems informative, and relevant. For examples: “And if it had been Our Will, We would surely have wiped out (blinded) their eyes” (67th ayat of Surah Yasin). The formulation of the text is hedged because this text is not totally accurate, less informative than is required and the text does not make the contribution as informative as what is required. In this case this text is classified into hedging maxims of quantity.

Based on those findings, this study will be the additional references in the field of discourse. In addition, it is also suggested to the next researcher to investigate on the literary work. Furthermore, other relevance theories are also suggested to be used in conducting the study on the same field.