Flouting Conversational Maxims as a Reflection of Political Identity and Inclusion Strategies in Gubernatorial Debates
Dian Purnama Sari (a)*, Nadhira Dwi Prastiwi (b)

STBA Prayoga

Abstract

This study investigates the flouting of conversational maxims in the 2024 West Sumatra Gubernatorial debates. It aims to identify how and why the candidates violate Grice^s maxims during their political discourse. The data were obtained from the official YouTube broadcast by TVRI Sumbar, the media partner of the Indonesian General Election Commission. The analysis reveals that both Governor candidates flouted all four maxims-quality, quantity, relevance, and manner-primarily to strengthen their arguments and discredit their opponents. The maxim of relevance emerged as the most frequently flouted, often used to divert sensitive questions, while the maxim of quantity was flouted the least. Notably, instances of exaggeration and misleading statements were observed as forms of flouting the maxims of quality and quantity. These pragmatic strategies not only reflect the candidates^ rhetorical approaches but also suggest how language is employed to shape public perception and engage diverse voter communities.

Keywords: Conversational Maxims- Flouting Maxims- Gubernatorial Debate- Political Discourse

Topic: Bridging Communities through Linguistic Diversity and Inclusion