Utilization of Conversational Maxims and Relevance Theory: Analysis of Bilawal Bhutto’s Interview

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the reasons that cause the violation of Grecian Maxims and Relevance that are often violated by politicians during their interviews. For this purpose, the researchers chose a video conversation of a VOA interview with Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party. There were 2 active persons taken as the topic. The purposive sampling technique was used. The samples were a man and a lady. The descriptive and analytical qualitative method was used in the data analysis. There were two techniques used: observation and interview for collecting data. Later, the data were composed; the recorded talks (the length of both discussions is approximately 7 minutes and 15 seconds) were fixed. The outcomes presented that the maxim of quality was violated (2) times, the maxim of quantity (3), the maxim of relevance (3) and the maxim of manner (1). It is renowned that Relevance Theory played the most prominent part since the utterer deliberately applied "ostensive clues" in order to get his listeners to "reconceptualise" Pakistan from "the attacker" to "the responsible state." The sense of balance between the processing efforts needed to understand the past background and the high reward made him inform people's opinions and certify optimal relevance.