A study on implicature in english and vietnamese funny stories

Rationale

Language plays a crucial role in human development, serving as the primary means of communication and emotional expression However, people often do not directly articulate their thoughts during conversations As noted by Jenny Thomas in "Meaning in Interaction," speakers frequently convey more than what their words explicitly express, leading to interpretations that may not align with the intended message Context is essential for understanding these utterances, as isolated phrases can create confusion According to philosopher Paul Grice, both speakers and listeners engage in communication based on the cooperative principle, where they operate with good intentions This means that speakers aim to convey messages while listeners interpret them with the understanding that there is a deeper meaning behind the words.

Grice introduced four conversational maxims to illustrate the dynamics of conversation, where a speaker may sometimes fail to adhere to these maxims yet still convey their intended meaning to the listener This failure to observe a maxim is known as "breaking a maxim," and it often serves as a source of humor in storytelling, where such breaches are frequently employed to elicit laughter.

Humor plays a vital role in every culture, serving as a source of joy and a tool for addressing societal issues Different types of humor resonate with individuals based on their unique backgrounds and personal tastes, making it essential to appreciate the cultural context behind funny stories Each country possesses its own distinct sense of humor, which requires a deeper understanding of its societal nuances Interestingly, even seemingly nonsensical or incomplete sentences can evoke laughter, highlighting the importance of grasping the intended meanings conveyed by characters and authors.

As an English as a Foreign Language teacher, I firmly believe that incorporating humor into funny stories can greatly enhance second language acquisition However, grasping the concept of implicature in English humor can be quite challenging for learners To foster greater interest in English learning and deepen students' understanding of the mechanisms of implicature, I initiated a study titled "Implicature in English and Vietnamese Funny Stories."

Aims of the Study

The purposes of the research study could be clearly identified as followings:

-To provide background knowledge of implicature

- To uncover the implicature in terms of maxim conveyed in the English and Vietnamese funny stories under study

- To point out implicature in some English and Vietnamese funny stories in terms of maxims

- To draw out the implication in English language teaching and learning.

Scope of the Study

This research is limited to analyze implicature in some selected English and Vietnamese funny stories

This research only touches a small aspect of implicature: maxim

Within the scope of the study, no attention is paid to any other features of funny stories.

Method of the Study

The main method of the study is qualitative one executed with descriptive and contrastive analysis with the following techniques:

+ Collecting data containing funny stories with mechanism of implicature

Based on the collected data, we categorize samples according to maxims Through analyzing the mechanisms of implicature in English and Vietnamese humorous stories, we identify potential challenges faced by Vietnamese learners.

Organization of the Study

The study consists of three parts They are:

Part A: Introduction This part contains rationale, aims of the study, scope of the study, and methods of the study

Part B: Development This is the main part of the thesis and has two chapters

This chapter begins with a review of key aspects of semantics, pragmatics, and discourse It then explores the concept of implicature while providing a brief overview of humorous narratives.

This part gives the detailed description of the study, which includes data collection, data analysis and presents the results and discussion

This is the last part of the thesis which summarizes the major points and gives the implication as well as giving suggestions for further study

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Overview of Discourse Analysis

In the history of linguistics, different linguists use the term “discourse” in a number of different ways

According to Crystal (1992: 25) discourse is “a continuous stretch of (especially spoken) language larger than a sentence, often constituting a coherent unit, such as a sermon, an argument, joke or narrative”

Cook (1989: 156) shares the similar idea with Crystal, he states discourse as

Discourse is defined as stretches of language that are meaningful, unified, and purposeful According to Cook, the key aspect of discourse lies not in its adherence to rules but in its ability to communicate effectively and be recognized as coherent by its audience This form of communication is designed to convey meaning in a way that may not be fully understood by everyone, highlighting the importance of context and shared knowledge between individuals.

In Nunan‟s opinion, discourse is considered “communicative event involving language in context” (1993:118)

In general, discourse is defined differently but they have something in common Discourse is understood as language in use, which can reflect people‟s point of view and value systems

The terms "discourse" and "text" often lead to confusion, as many linguists use them interchangeably Halliday and Hasan (1976) address this in their book "Cohesion in English," highlighting the nuanced differences between the two concepts.

A text is a semantic unit that conveys meaning rather than a grammatical structure like a clause or sentence It is defined by its significance rather than its size, and it represents the encoding of one symbolic system into another Therefore, while a text is not made up of sentences, it is expressed and realized through them.

They use “text” to refer to “discourse” They see text as a “semantic unit” characterized by cohesion

Some other linguists draw a clear distinction between them They argue that discourse is language in action while a text is the written record of that interaction

According to Crystal, discourse refers to a continuous stretch of language that is larger than a single sentence, while a text is defined as a naturally occurring instance of spoken, written, or signed language that is selected for analysis.

Nunan (1993: 6) appears to share the same view when he uses “the term text to refer to any written record of a communicative event in context” and discourse refers to

“interpretation of the communicative event in context”

In conclusion, while there is some disagreement regarding the definitions of text and discourse, there is a consensus that both concepts must be understood in terms of meaning Coherent texts and discourse are characterized by their ability to create a meaningful whole.

Discourse analysis is developed by different works of different scholars One of the most prominent scholars is Yule (1997: 139), he states in his study of language that

Discourse analysis explores how language users interpret intentions and meanings beyond mere components of language It investigates how we comprehend texts, discern implied meanings in speech, identify coherent discourse, and engage effectively in conversations This field delves into the complexities of communication and understanding among language users.

It is understood that discourse analysis is concerned with the study of the relationship between language and the context in which it is used

Discourse analysis explores how language shapes diverse worldviews and understandings, highlighting the impact of participant relationships on communication It also investigates how language use influences social relations, revealing the intricate connections between language and society.

Context is an important concept in discourse analysis As Nunan (1993: 7) defines

Context plays a crucial role in discourse, encompassing both linguistic and non-linguistic elements Linguistic context includes the surrounding words and sentences that frame a text, while non-linguistic context pertains to the real-world situation in which the discourse takes place This includes the type of communicative event, its topic, purpose, setting, participants, and their relationships Additionally, non-linguistic context involves background knowledge, which can be cultural general knowledge shared among people or interpersonal knowledge unique to the speakers' shared history Understanding these contexts is essential for effective communication.

Context is crucial in discourse analysis, as it intricately relates to discourse itself Discourse not only elaborates on the context but also provides essential insights for interpreting the meaning of utterances within that context.

Word Meaning

According to Nguyen Hoa (2004: 67), words are regarded as the smallest indivisible meaningful units of a language which can operate independently

Every word possesses both lexical and grammatical meanings Grammatical meaning refers to how words relate to each other based on their arrangement and contrasting features in speech In contrast, lexical meaning is the unique definition that each word holds within the language system.

In terms of component, lexical meaning is classified into denotative and connotative meaning

Denotative meaning refers to the explicit and literal definition of a term, akin to what you would find in a dictionary It represents a widely accepted understanding that is recognized by individuals within the same culture as well as across different cultures.

For example, “dog” denotes a common animal with four legs, a tail that they are often kept as pets, and they can bark and bite

Connotative meaning encompasses the emotional associations and suggestions linked to a specific word, complementing its denotative meaning It conveys values, judgments, and evaluative implications that go beyond the literal interpretation, representing the emotional significance of the term.

It is determined by the cultural codes to which the interpreter has access and the connotative meaning of a word can have strong emotional content

For example, the word “dog” has different connotative meanings in different cultures

In Arabic culture: it has negative connotation, dirty and inferiority but in British culture, it has positive one: friendship and loyalty

Certain words can share similar definitions yet evoke vastly different feelings or associations The connotation of a word—whether positive, neutral, or negative—can significantly influence its impact based on the context in which it is used.

The terms used to describe "a young person," such as youngster, child, kid, little one, small fry, brat, urchin, juvenile, and minor, can convey varying connotations based on context For instance, while "little one" has a positive connotation, "brat" carries a negative implication, indicating disapproval of the child's behavior In contrast, the term "child" remains neutral, reflecting a straightforward description without judgment.

In short, connotation can be regarded as an additional meaning to denotation.

Sentence Meaning

Nguyen Hoa (2004) defines a sentence as a structured arrangement of words that adheres to specific grammatical rules The meaning of a sentence is intrinsic and remains constant, irrespective of the context or situation in which it is employed, indicating that sentence meaning is largely independent of context.

Halliday identifies three key components of sentence meaning: representational, interpersonal, and textual meaning, collectively referred to as "semantic functions." These functions serve as a framework for understanding how sentences convey meaning.

Representational meaning encompasses both experiential and logical functions The experiential function focuses on conveying ideas related to people, objects, events, qualities, and circumstances, while the logical function establishes relationships between these ideas, whether on an equal or subordinate level.

The experiential subcomponent of the representational meaning refers to processes, qualities and participating entities and circumstances

Let‟s look at the following example

The little boy is playing football

The participants realized by the noun phrases: the little boy and football

The process realized by the verb: playing

The interpersonal meaning serves several key functions: it establishes and maintains social relationships, influences behavior to achieve desired outcomes, and conveys the speaker's feelings, attitudes, and opinions Additionally, it allows the speaker to express their assessment of the representational content of a sentence, highlighting their perspective on the subject matter.

Good morning Establish social relationship

Can you get me some water, please? Request

What she said may be right Speaker‟s attitude

Textual meaning is to create texts It helps to give texts coherence and cohesion.

Utterance Meaning

Nguyen Hoa defines an utterance as a segment of speech that is framed by pauses before and after it The meaning of an utterance is context-dependent, reflecting what the speaker intends to convey in a specific situation Therefore, the interpretation of an utterance is largely influenced by the surrounding context in which it occurs.

In his analysis, Austin distinguishes between two types of utterances: constative and performative A constative utterance functions as a statement that represents a state of affairs or an experience Conversely, a performative utterance actively performs an action, such as making a bid, giving a blessing, or marrying someone, rather than merely conveying information Unlike constative utterances, performative utterances cannot be classified as true or false For example, when I say, “I apologize for my behavior,” I am performing the act of apologizing rather than simply describing an action, making the statement inherently performative.

1.4.1 Related acts in producing an utterance

When attempting to express themselves, people not only produce utterances containing grammatical structures and words, they perform actions via those utterances

A: Would you like to go fishing tomorrow?

B: My father will visit me, tomorrow

In this conversation, A wants to invite B to go fishing, but B does not agree and he/she refuses A‟s invitation Both A and B‟s utterances are speech acts

In his seminal work "How to Do Things with Words," John Austin introduces the concept of speech acts, which are actions executed through verbal utterances Austin identifies three interconnected components of a speech act: the locutionary act, which refers to the actual utterance; the illocutionary act, which conveys the speaker's intention; and the perlocutionary act, which describes the effect the utterance has on the listener.

Locution: The actual form of the utterance

Illocution: The communicative force of the utterance

Perlocution: The communicative effect of the utterance

This can be illustrated in this example

Would you close the door, please?

The utterance "Close the door" serves as both a question and a directive Its illocutionary act represents a request from the speaker, while the perlocutionary act reflects the speaker's intention for the listener to take action and close the door.

A locutionary act refers to the fundamental act of producing a meaningful utterance, as defined by Yule (1996: 48) This involves articulating words in a specific form to convey a clear meaning based on the rules of a language If an individual struggles to form the correct sounds and words, they may be unable to successfully execute a locutionary act.

Austin analyses the locutionary act into three sub-types

Phonetic act is the act of producing an utterance in the phonetic medium of sound

Phatic act is the act constructing a particular sentences in particular language

Rhetic act is the act contextualizing a sentence

The illocutionary act is central to speech act theory, representing the action a speaker performs when making an utterance It is closely linked to the speaker's intentions, such as stating, questioning, promising, requesting, or commanding According to Yule (1996: 48), the illocutionary act is executed through the communicative force, also known as the illocutionary force, of the utterance Essentially, the illocutionary act clarifies how the entire utterance should be interpreted within the context of the conversation.

The success of an illocutionary act hinges on the hearer's recognition of the speaker's communicative intentions, which fundamentally rely on the hearer's understanding However, misunderstandings can occur when the hearer misinterprets the speaker's utterance, often leading to humorous situations that serve as a rich source for jokes.

The perlocutionary act, as defined by Austin in his three-part framework of speech acts, aims to create a specific effect on the listener While it may appear that perlocutionary acts closely resemble illocutionary acts, they serve distinct functions in communication.

For example, “Would you close the door?”

In the context of communication, a request can be viewed as an illocutionary act, which is deemed successful when the listener understands the intention behind the request, such as recognizing the need to close the door However, the effectiveness of this act is measured as a perlocutionary act only when the listener follows through and actually closes the door.

Austin classifies speech acts into five categories Verdictives involve issuing a verdict, as seen in juries or arbitrators, with examples like acquit, grade, and diagnose Exercitives pertain to the exercise of authority or influence, including actions such as appointing, ordering, and advising Commisives bind the speaker to a commitment, encompassing declarations of intention like promises, guarantees, and bets.

Behabitives relate to social behaviors and attitudes, including actions like apologizing, criticizing, blessing, and challenging In contrast, expositives serve to clarify the role of utterances within ongoing discourse, encompassing functions such as arguing, postulating, affirming, and conceding.

Searl categorizes speech acts into five distinct types: Commissives, which involve commitments from the speaker for future actions like promises or threats; Directives, aimed at prompting the listener to take action through suggestions, requests, or commands; Declaratives, which alter the state of affairs in the world; Expressives, where the speaker conveys feelings and attitudes, such as in apologies, complaints, or expressions of gratitude and congratulations; and Representatives, which describe facts or events, including assertions, claims, or reports.

Speech act classified in accordance with the correspondence between structure and function of the utterance

According to Yule (1996: 55), a direct speech act occurs when there is a clear relationship between a structure and its function, while an indirect speech act arises from an indirect relationship In English, the three structural forms—declarative, interrogative, and imperative—correspond to three communicative functions: statement, question, and command/request For instance, a declarative sentence used to convey information represents a direct speech act, whereas a declarative used to make a request exemplifies an indirect speech act.

When someone asks, “Could you move over a bit?” they are making a request rather than expecting a direct affirmative response The primary intention behind this phrase is to politely ask the listener to shift their position slightly.

Various expressions can convey the same fundamental idea, as illustrated by the following examples: "Please move aside," "Is it necessary for you to block the TV?" "You are currently obstructing the TV," and "You would serve better as a door than as a window."

Implicature

Implicature, a concept introduced by Grice, refers to what a speaker implies or suggests beyond their literal words This idea highlights the difference between the actual statement made and the underlying meaning conveyed through that statement.

Consider the following example Yule (1996: 43)

Rick: Hey!, coming to the wild party tonight?

Tom: My parents are visiting

To ensure Tom's response is relevant, Rick must rely on the shared understanding that college students typically possess Tom indicates that he will be spending the evening with his parents, suggesting that this time will be quiet and occupied Consequently, Tom implies he is unable to attend the party tonight.

Grice discussed two different types of implicatures, including the conventional and the conversational

The conventional implicature has the same implication no matter what the context is

It means that it does not have to occur in conversation, and they do not depend on special contexts for their interpretation

Even John came to the party

When “even” is included in any sentence describing an event, it means “contrary to expectation”

Conversational implicature, on the other hand, is generated directly by the speaker depending on the context The same expressed meaning can have different implications on different occasions

A: Am I in time for supper?

Speaker B‟s implication is that speaker A is late for dinner because as usual, after meal, we clear and tidy the table

1.5.2 The cooperative principal and maxims

In order to explain how hearers interpret the utterance implicature, Grice introduced the cooperative implicature (CP) The CP runs like this

Contribute to the conversation appropriately based on the accepted purpose and direction of the discussion at hand.

The cooperative principle suggests that both the speaker and the listener engage in conversation with the intent to effectively convey and interpret messages This mutual cooperation is essential for achieving efficient communication between the two parties.

In order to illustrate how we interpret, Grice presented four conversational maxims, to show how we communicate effectively in the light of rules

1 Make your contribution as informative as is required (for the current purposes of the exchange)

2 Do not make your contribution more informative than is required

The maxim of quantity emphasizes that speakers should provide an appropriate amount of information in conversations, avoiding both excessive detail and overly brief responses Violations of this maxim can lead to prolixity, where too much information is shared, or terseness, where insufficient information is given.

Woman to a friend: “We haven’t reached an agreement yet- I’d like a Bermuda honeymoon, and he doesn’t want a wedding”

The woman humorously violated the maxim of quantity by sharing excessive details about her "Bermuda honeymoon," despite her boyfriend's lack of interest in having a wedding.

A farmer allowed two city hunters to hunt on his land, requesting a small favor in return: to bring him a couple of jugs of moonshine from a nearby still However, as the hunters approached the still, they were met with gunfire and quickly ran back to inform the farmer that his still was under attack.

“Oh, that’s probably the old man Turner” the farmer said

“Who’s he “the hunter wanted to know

“My neighbour” the farmer replied “He owns the still”

In this case, the farmer breached the principle of quantity by only mentioning the existence of the still, failing to provide sufficient information This lack of detail led to misunderstandings among his listeners, highlighting the importance of clear communication.

Try to make your contribution one that is true

1 Do not say what you believe to be false

2 Do not say that for which you lack evidence

The quality maxim emphasizes the importance of providing accurate information, requiring speakers to avoid stating anything they know to be false or lack sufficient evidence for This principle underpins the other maxims of communication; if a speaker fails to convey the truth, their message remains false, regardless of the clarity or organization of their delivery.

Consider the following Vietnamese funny story “Thầy bói xem voi”

Trong một ngày ế ẩm, năm thầy bói mù đã tụ tập và chia sẻ những câu chuyện với nhau Họ đều bày tỏ sự thắc mắc về hình dạng của con voi Khi nghe tin có voi đi qua, họ quyết định góp tiền để thuê người quản tượng cho con voi dừng lại Mỗi thầy lần lượt sờ vào các bộ phận của con voi: thầy sờ vòi, thầy sờ ngà, thầy sờ tai, thầy sờ chân, và thầy sờ đuôi Sau khi khám phá, năm thầy ngồi lại để thảo luận về những điều họ đã cảm nhận.

- Tưởng con voi nó thế nào, hóa ra nó dài như con đỉa!

- Không phải, nó cứng như cái đòn càn chứ!

- Ðâu có! Nó to bè bè như cái quạt thôi!

Thầy sờ chân cãi lại:

- Ai bảo? Nó sừng sững như cái cột nhà!

Thầy sờ đuôi lại nói:

- Các thầy nói không đúng cả Chính nó tua tủa như cái chổi xể cùn

Năm thầy, thầy nào cũng cho mình nói đúng, không ai chịu ai, thành ra xô xát, đánh nhau toạt đầu, chảy máu

Blind fortunetellers violated the principle of quality by making claims without evidence, each providing a unique definition of an elephant based on their limited experience One, who touched the elephant's heliotrope, likened it to a leech, while another, who felt its tusk, compared it to a lever A third, who examined the ear, described it as resembling a paper fan Their differing perceptions led to humorous arguments, highlighting the importance of comprehensive evidence in forming accurate conclusions.

The maxim of relevant requires the speaker to be relevant to the context and situation in which the utterance occurs

B: There is a garage round the corner

In this exchange, Grice indicates that speaker B may be breaching the maxim of relevance The implicature suggests that the garage is not only nearby but also operational and selling petrol To grasp this implicature, one must recognize certain world knowledge, such as the fact that garages typically sell petrol and that "round the corner" implies proximity A's statement serves not only as a description of a situation but also functions as a request for assistance.

The maxim of manner emphasizes clarity and orderliness in communication, encouraging speakers to present information in a logical sequence while avoiding ambiguity and obscurity.

The plane took off to the west and taxied down the runway

To avoid confusion, it is essential to present events in a clear and logical order Describing occurrences accurately enhances understanding; for instance, instead of a disorganized narrative, one should say, "The plane taxied down the runway and took off to the west."

In summary, the cooperative principle suggests that conversational maxims should ideally guide all interactions However, real-life communication often deviates from these ideals, leading to instances where one or more maxims are not fully adhered to There are various ways in which speakers may fail to observe these maxims during conversations.

Overview of Funny Stories

A funny story is designed to elicit laughter, often characterized by humorous elements The primary theories explaining what makes people laugh are the incongruity theory and the superiority theory The incongruity theory, the more widely accepted explanation, suggests that we find humor in unexpected situations that defy our expectations, such as clowns with oversized shoes or animals that talk This theory also encompasses the concept of "incongruity-resolution," where the contrast between a joke's setup and punchline creates a surprising twist, leading to laughter as we resolve this unexpected disparity.

The superiority theory suggests that we laugh at certain jokes because they evoke a sense of superiority over others These jokes often highlight the foolishness of individuals who misunderstand obvious situations, make silly mistakes, or find themselves in unfortunate circumstances By showcasing others in a less favorable light, these jokes trigger laughter as they reinforce our feeling of being smarter or more competent than those portrayed.

Funny story may be based on four typical forms as follow

- eccentricity ( against the authority of social convention)

- wordplay ( against the authority of serious discourse)

- non sense ( against the authority of sense)

- black humor ( against the authority of moral)

The article highlights various prominent themes in storytelling, including family dynamics, which encompass love, marriage, and the relationships between parents and children Political satire emerges as another significant theme, where social and political contexts serve as a backdrop for critiquing authority figures and their dishonesty, often through humor Additionally, the theme of sex is prevalent, as people have historically exchanged risqué jokes both privately and among friends, contributing to the overall amusement found in these narratives.

THE STUDY

Research question

What are the implicature mechanisms in English and Vietnamese funny stories?

Data collection

The author gathers data from various published books and reputable websites to illustrate the creation of humor through implicature in humorous narratives The sources include "Reader's Digest," "Nụ cười nước Anh" (English funny stories), "Tuyển tập tiếu lâm hay nhất," and "Tuyển tập truyện cười dân gian Việt Nam" (Vietnamese folklore funny stories), along with online platforms like LaughLab (www.laughlab.co.uk) and www.English-world.org.

The samples have been carried out with funny stories whose humor mechanisms are based on the violation and flouting of the maxims of implicature

The non-oberservance the author finds out are flouting and violating The author investigates randomly 100 breakings of maxims in English and 100 breakings of maxims in Vietnamese funny stories

The author analyzes dialogues to identify violations and flouts of the four conversational maxims: quality, quantity, relevance, and manner By documenting instances where these maxims are broken, the author determines which maxim is most frequently disregarded Additionally, the author explores the reasons and contexts behind these breaches to understand how they contribute to humor in comedic narratives.

Data Analysis

This maxim is often violated to inject humor into situations where characters hesitate to disclose sensitive information or overwhelm others with excessive details In English comedic narratives, this phenomenon occurs in 9% of instances.

Let‟s consider this English funny story

“It is sad when you are away!”

“Honey, I’ll be back sooner than you expected…”

In this narrative, the wife disregards the maxim of quantity by providing insufficient information for the context, leaving her sentence unfinished Her intent is to avoid upsetting her husband, as she implies, “Yes, that’s why…” but omits the crucial details that express her sadness about his return and her inability to be with another man.

The character is actually not as informative as required, and as a result, cause misunderstanding on the part of his listeners

For example, in an English funny story

There is a woman sitting on a park bench and a large dog lying on the ground in front of the bench A woman comes along and sits down on the bench

Man: Does your dog bite?

(The man reaches down to pet the dog The dog bites the man’s hand.)

Man: Ouch! Hey! You said your dog does not bite

Woman: He does not but that is not my dog

The woman's brief response of "No" to the man's question, "Does your dog bite?" led to a misunderstanding, as he assumed her answer referred to the dog present Consequently, the man felt her reply lacked the expected detail, suggesting she should have clarified her statement further.

The following example taken from Vietnamese funny stories violates the maxim of quantity because less information than required

Một người sắp đi chơi xa, dặn con: Ở nhà có ai hỏi thì nói bố đi chơi nhé!

Sợ con mải chơi quên mất, nên cẩn thận lấy bút viết vào giấy, rồi bảo:

Có ai hỏi thì con đưa cái giấy này

Cả ngày cầm giấy trong túi áo mà không ai hỏi han, đến tối, khi có ánh đèn, nó lấy giấy ra xem thì không may bị cháy mất.

Hôm sau có người đến hỏi: “Thầy cháu có nhà không? Nó ngẩn ngơ hồi lâu sờ vào túi không thấy liền nói:

- Mất rồi! Khách giật mình hỏi: “Mất bao giờ?”

A man prepared to leave for an extended period and entrusted his son with a letter to deliver to a guest Unfortunately, the boy accidentally burned the letter before the guest's arrival.

The humorous effect in this story arises from a violation of the quantity maxim, where the guest and the son misinterpret each other's words When the guest inquires, "Where is your father?" the son responds with "Lost," referring to his father's letter instead of directly answering about his father This misunderstanding escalates when the guest asks "Why?" and the son replies "On fire," again indicating the letter rather than the father This miscommunication between the characters not only highlights the humor but also illustrates how a lack of sufficient information can lead to comedic situations.

In various Vietnamese humorous tales, characters often exhibit foolishness by either failing to recognize when to stop or by excessively sharing information to boast about themselves This tendency to break social norms is evident in 7 out of 100 stories, accounting for 7% of the narratives.

For example, in a Vietnamese funny story,

Có một anh chàng thích khoe khoang Một ngày, anh ta mua được một chiếc áo mới và liền mặc nó ra đứng ở cửa, mong chờ có ai đó khen Tuy nhiên, đứng từ sáng đến chiều mà không ai hỏi thăm, anh ta cảm thấy rất tức giận Đúng lúc đó, anh ta nhìn thấy một người bạn cũng có tính khoe khoang, đang hối hả chạy tới và hỏi với giọng to.

- Bác có thấy con lợn cưới của tôi chạy qua đây không?

Anh kia liền giơ ngay vạt áo ra, bảo:

- Từ lúc tôi mặc cái "áo mới" này, tôi chẳng thấy con lợn nào chạy qua đây cả

A pig for wedding, a new shirt

A man known for his boastful nature showcased his new shirt by standing in front of a door, hoping for compliments from passersby Despite his efforts to attract attention throughout the day, he received no praise and ultimately felt frustrated and angry.

Suddenly, there was a man running across, he shouted:

“Do you know where my pig for wedding is?”

The man touched his shirt and answered:

“I have not seen any pig running across here since I wore this new shirt”

In a humorous Vietnamese story, the first speaker inquired about the whereabouts of his pig, but the second speaker, eager to boast, responded with irrelevant information about his new shirt, stating he hadn't seen any pigs This exchange exemplifies a violation of the maxim of quantity, as the second speaker provided excessive information while failing to directly answer the question Instead of a simple "No," he chose to brag, highlighting his wedding preparations and new attire This amusing anecdote not only elicits laughter but also serves as a critique of the habit of showing off, emphasizing how humor can challenge negative attitudes and behaviors in society.

In some funny stories, the character does not know where to stop or intentionally give much information for other purposes These superfluous utterances cause laughter

For example, in an English funny story;

For our honeymoon, my fiancée and I selected a trendy hotel renowned for its opulent suites During the reservation process, the desk clerk asked if we were celebrating a special occasion.

"Yes," I replied "It's our honeymoon."

"And how many adults will there be?" she asked

The desk inquired is this stoty violated the maxim of quantity, because he said an unnecessary sentence Obviously, the honeymoon is for couple Such a stupid question made readers laugh

As in this Vietnamese funny story, the humor causes by a superfluous utterance

Một người nghèo muốn thể hiện sự sang trọng đã nhờ một cậu bé hàng xóm mang thức ăn đến khi có khách đến chơi Sau khi dặn dò cậu bé, anh ta ngồi chờ nhưng mãi vẫn không thấy cậu bé xuất hiện Cuối cùng, cậu bé chỉ dám thập thò ngoài cửa, khiến anh ta cảm thấy bực bội và ra oai gọi to.

- Sao không vào bưng cơm nước ra, kẻo khách đã đói bụng, còn chờ đến bao giờ nữa? Lúc bấy giờ, chú bé mới lễ phép thưa:

- Xin lỗi ông miễn cho, tôi sợ con chó nhà ông nó dữ quá nên từ nãy đến giờ tôi đứng đây chưa dám vào

A man, eager to impress a guest, secretly enlisted the help of a neighbor's young son to assist him After giving the boy instructions, he returned home and waited anxiously for his arrival After a long wait, he finally saw the boy standing at his door, prompting him to shout with excitement.

“Why don't you bring the meal? How long do I have to wait for you?”

“I am sorry I'm afraid of your dog, so that’s why I stand here so far but I don't dare to come in"

In this humorous tale, a boy disregards the principle of quantity when a poor man requests his assistance After waiting for a considerable time, the man impatiently asks, "Why haven't you brought the meal? How long must I wait?" Instead of offering a simple apology, the boy responds with an unnecessarily elaborate explanation.

The humorous narrative highlights a man's fear of a dog, leading to his hesitant stance, which serves as a critique of snobbish individuals in society Readers find amusement in the man's awkwardness while also recognizing the boy's cleverness, creating a blend of humor and social commentary.

And this situation also exists in English funny stories, the character gives too much information

Second Marriage 'If I were to die first, would you remarry?" the wife asked

"Well," says the husband, "I'm in good health, so why not?"

"Would she live in my house?"

"It's all paid up, so yes."

"Would she drive my car?"

"Would she use my golf clubs?"

Discussion

2.4.1 Result and discussion of the result

I investigate 100 breakings of maxims in English funny stories and 100 breakings of maxims in Vietnamese funny stories Here is the result

Maxim English funny stories Vietnamese funny stories

Table 1: Breaking maxims in English and Vietnamese funny stories

Chart 1: Breaking maxims in English and Vietnamese funny stories

The chart indicates that the maxim of manner is the most frequently violated in both English and Vietnamese funny stories, with 44% and 39% respectively Characters often break this maxim by employing obscure and ambiguous utterances, utilizing devices such as metaphor, metonymy, homophones, and idiomatic expressions Both Vietnamese and English humor leverage ambiguity to create misunderstandings for the audience Ultimately, these jokes aim to convey a sense of wisdom and intelligence.

In both English and Vietnamese funny stories, the maxim of relation is frequently broken, accounting for 31% of instances in English narratives Characters often sidestep direct subjects for various reasons, adding to the humor Conversely, in Vietnamese funny stories, the maxim of quality is the second most commonly violated, representing 29% of occurrences These stories often employ hyperbole, making the broken maxim evident to the audience and enhancing the comedic effect.

In both English and Vietnamese funny stories, the third most frequently broken maxim is that of quality, accounting for 21% of instances Authors depict characters who make false statements, presenting them as peculiar and eccentric Additionally, the maxim of relation is also commonly violated in Vietnamese humor, with 20% of cases involving speakers whose irrelevant comments lead to misunderstandings and, consequently, comedic effects.

In both English and Vietnamese humorous stories, the maxim of quantity is the least frequently violated, with infractions occurring in less than 10% of cases Characters may deliberately provide minimal information to prevent offending others or to conceal their own knowledge Conversely, they may also overwhelm listeners with excessive details, often to showcase their own achievements in Vietnamese tales or due to a lack of self-control in English narratives.

While the observance of conversational maxims is generally expected, some narratives may simultaneously violate multiple principles, particularly the maxims of manner and relevance The author has opted to focus on identifying the most prominent maxim that is being breached in these cases.

Both English and Vietnamese humor rely on similar mechanisms that involve flouting the maxims of implicature, which violate the cooperative principle Humor arises from breaking the maxim of quantity through tautologies, while overstatement, understatement, irony, and hyperbole disrupt the maxim of quality Additionally, the maxims of relation and manner are flouted by using irrelevant or obscure statements.

In both English and Vietnamese humorous stories, the maxim of manner is frequently violated to generate comedy, often depicting characters as peculiar or foolish due to their vague and ambiguous speech Conversely, the maxim of quantity is rarely breached in either language.

After investigating from the limited breakings of maxims, the author can draw out some differences between implicature in English and Vietnamese funny stories in terms of maxims

Vietnamese funny stories make up 58% of the analyzed content, with 29 stories compared to 42% (21 stories) in English humor A notable characteristic of Vietnamese humor is the portrayal of characters as boastful or foolish, often making claims that are either untrue or unsupported by evidence.

In examining the maxim of relation, English funny stories frequently violate this principle, with 61% (31 stories) showcasing such violations compared to 30% (20 stories) in Vietnamese humor In these English narratives, characters often fail to understand each other intentionally, avoid directly addressing the topic, or misinterpret their interlocutors, resulting in irrelevant remarks that generate humor.

When analyzing the maxim of manner, it is evident that Vietnamese humor utilizes this principle more frequently than its English counterpart, with 53% of Vietnamese funny stories adhering to it compared to 47% in English Additionally, linguistic ambiguity is a common feature found in both Vietnamese and English comedic narratives.

Major Findings

This study explores the broken maxims in English and Vietnamese funny stories, revealing a shared implicature mechanism based on flouting or violating these maxims The findings emphasize the significance of maxims for writers in eliciting emotions and reactions from readers, as characters breaking maxims are essential for creating humorous and dramatic situations in verbal interactions Grice's maxims play a crucial role in describing the dynamics of interaction and understanding cooperation and non-cooperation Writers often adhere to these conversational maxims to convey intended meanings, while breaking them is necessary to develop humor and highlight character traits However, comprehending the implicature in native funny stories poses challenges for non-native speakers, as a substantial background knowledge is required for proper understanding.

Grice's maxims and the cooperative principle are essential for understanding communication dynamics, highlighting both cooperative and uncooperative behaviors During conversations, we often intentionally flout these maxims to emphasize messages, create irony, or navigate uncomfortable situations, ultimately aiming for effective communication These non-observances result in varied interpretations, which are influenced by the specific context in which they arise.

2 Implications for language learning and teaching

Incorporating funny stories into the classroom fosters a positive learning environment by enhancing enjoyment, which is crucial for teaching English to language students Humor reduces tension, improves the classroom atmosphere, strengthens the rapport between students and teachers, and ultimately facilitates the learning process.

Funny stories serve as valuable resources for non-native speakers to gain insight into the cultural values and aspects of life in English-speaking countries By engaging with these humorous narratives, learners can enhance their understanding of English culture and humor, which reveals what the English find amusing and the traits they admire This knowledge helps bridge the cultural gap between English and Vietnamese speakers, reducing the chances of miscommunication during interactions.

Funny stories that incorporate implicature serve as effective tools for explaining complex linguistic concepts such as hyponymy, polysemy, metaphor, and metonymy These narratives often highlight the violation of implicature maxims, which can enhance learners' understanding of these linguistic categories in everyday contexts where language is creatively manipulated The goal of this study is to assist Vietnamese learners of English in recognizing and avoiding the pitfalls of creating humor or nonsensical statements in their communication For instance, consider the following example.

-“Have you ever hunted bear?”

-“No, I always hunt with my clothes on”

The first speaker mentioned one kind of animal but the second misunderstood by interpreting the first‟s question by “bear” for “naked” instead of “one kind of animal”

To fully appreciate the humor in selected English and Vietnamese funny stories, readers must grasp the concept of implicature and recognize the maxims that characters violate For instance, a violation of the maxim of manner indicates that the characters' statements are unclear and ambiguous By utilizing context and background knowledge, readers can uncover the implicit meanings within these stories This background knowledge is crucial for joke-tellers, as it encompasses a variety of cultural references, including geographical names, historical events, notable figures, and societal values Thus, understanding implicature requires a deep familiarity with culture-specific information.

Một quan huyện tham lam và tàn nhẫn với dân, khiến cuộc sống của họ trở nên khốn khổ Khi có giấy chuyển giao quan đi nơi khác, bà huyện chờ đợi nhưng mãi không thấy ai đến tiễn đưa, nên đã gọi nha lại để trách móc.

-“Dân tình ở đây sao mà bạc thế ! Quan phụ mẫu sắp đổi đi nơi khác mà chẳng thấy đứa nào lên tiễn chân cả”

-“Bẩm bà lớn, cả làng huyện đã sắp sẵn đồ lễ tiễn quan rồi đấy ạ!”

Bà huyện mừng rỡ hỏi:

-“Họ lễ gì thế các thầy!”

Nha lại ân cần thưa:

A poorly behaved mandarin, who loved money more than people, was forced to relocate As he departed, he waited in vain for someone to bid him farewell, but no one came to see him off, prompting his wife to voice her complaints about their situation.

- “How bad the people are! Their mandarin is moving to another place., why are not there any people to see him off?

- “Yes! Madam, the villagers are going to give him some presents”

The yamen clerk's communication was unclear, violating the principle of manner In Vietnamese culture, the custom of sending off the dead with rice and salt symbolizes disdain for the mandarin, indicating that villagers disliked him During the feudal era, mandarins often mistreated farmers, leading to widespread resentment among the populace.

Understanding the humor in a nation's culture often requires a deep knowledge of its traditional customs, as jokes can be obscure and challenging to interpret This cultural context is essential for readers to fully appreciate the humor, particularly when it involves characters like the elderly, doctors, and lawyers In English comedic narratives, the elderly are often depicted as absent-minded and weak, while doctors and lawyers may be portrayed as dishonest However, since these professions are typically held in high regard within Vietnamese culture, local readers may not find such jokes amusing.

An old man is talking to the family doctor

-"Doctor, I think my wife's going deaf."

To assess her hearing ability, start by standing a distance away and asking her a question If she doesn't respond, gradually move closer and repeat the question Continue this process until she answers, which will help you determine the extent of her hearing difficulties.

The man goes home and tries it out He walks in the door and says,

- "Honey, what's for dinner?" He doesn't hear an answer, so he moves closer to her

- "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no answer He repeats this several times, until he's standing just a few feet away from her

- "For the eleventh time, I said we're having MEATLOAF!"

Cultural differences between Vietnam and English-speaking countries present significant challenges for Vietnamese learners of English As a result, these learners must remain mindful of cultural nuances while studying, especially when exchanging ideas in English, to minimize ambiguity and enhance clarity in communication.

In the Appendix, the author presents a collection of humorous English and Vietnamese stories designed to assist English teachers and Vietnamese students in learning implicature through maxims These stories are organized into distinct categories, enabling educators and learners to easily select appropriate anecdotes that align with their lesson objectives.

3 Limitation of the study and suggestions for further study

Due to limitations in time and available resources, the current study may not adequately address reader demands, as it relies on a limited dataset Consequently, it is challenging to generalize which maxims are most frequently violated in humorous stories The focus has been primarily on the humor mechanisms based on maxims within English and Vietnamese funny stories, representing only a small facet of the broader landscape of short humorous narratives The author acknowledges that several significant questions remain unresolved, highlighting the need for further research into these intriguing aspects.

- A contrastive analysis study on implicature in English and Vietnamese funny stories in terms of themes

- A pragmatic study on humor in English and Vietnamese funny story

- Some major cross-cultural differences and similarities in phenomena which cause laughter in English and Vietnamese funny story

Although great efforts have been made on the research, shortcomings and mistakes are unavoidable The author with sincere gratitude will appreciate any comments and advices from the readers

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APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: ENGLISH FUNNY STORIES

For our honeymoon my fiancée and I chose a fashionable hotel known for its luxurious suites When I called to make reservations, the desk clerk inquired, "Is this for a special occasion?"

The conjurer was arranging a new stage trick, and on the day before its introduction he asked his young son to help him

When I request a boy to come on stage, it is essential to respond immediately However, it is crucial to refrain from any actions or words that might suggest familiarity with me to the audience.

Limitation of the Study and Suggestions for Further Study

Due to time constraints and limited resources, the current study may not fully satisfy reader demands, as it relies on a small dataset that prevents broad generalizations about frequently broken maxims in humorous stories The focus is primarily on the humor mechanisms related to maxims in English and Vietnamese funny stories, addressing only a narrow aspect of short humor The author acknowledges that several significant questions remain unresolved, highlighting the need for further research into these intriguing areas.