Breaking maxims in a crime drama : A study on non-observances of maxims in crime drama Blindspot

Abstract: The conversational maxims are guidelines to how a conversation should be conducted, but sometimes these maxims can be broken for different reasons. The aim of this thesis is to identify breakings of the conversational maxims in the crime drama Blindspot and to study which maxims are broken, for what purpose the maxims are broken and if there are any changes to the number of maxims broken between different seasons of the series. The results show that the maxim of quantity is most frequently broken in the episode from season one and the maxim of quality is broken most frequently in the episodes from season three and five. Some of the reasons for the breakings are sarcasm used for a comedic effect, not giving enough information to keep the viewers in suspense and as a way to change the subject or focus of a conversation.