FLOUTINGS IN GEORGE BERNARD SHAW'S PLAY SAINT JOAN

Abstract

The present paper studies the communicative function of language and the basic properties of the meaning that is conveyed through language. The paper is based upon the Theory of Implicature of Grice and its cooperative principle in pragmatics which has great importance in modern studies in linguistics. The cooperative principle contains four major maxims, namely: maxims of quality, quantity, relation, and manner. These try to identify that utterance meaning would not be accomplished if it would not take in consideration the speaker's intentions (Lyons 2002:5). The chief objective of this paper is to exhibit that the four Gricean maxims are not very reliable basis but they may be easily abandoned or flouted on several occasions. G.B.Shaw's play Saint Joan is taken as an example to show how flouting of Gricean maxims is applicable in this play. Characters throughout the play are consistently flouting these maxims. Flouting is used for comic purposes or sarcasm by Shaw in an attempt to show that the Catholic Church has committed unjust decisions concerning the burning of the innocent Joan de Arc who was canonized 25 years after she was charged with excommunication.