THE USE OF ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS IN JESSIE NELSON’S I AM SAM

Reni Wiji Astuti, English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Language and Arts, State University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract


Abstract

This research focuses on the types and functions of illocutionary acts performed by the characters in I am Sam movie. The research is under pragmatic scope which aims to 1) identify the types of illocutionary acts; and 2) describe the functions of illocutionary acts in I am Sam movie. This research used qualitative method to examine the data which were in the form of utterances. The contexts of the data were the dialogues and the setting in Jessie Nelson’s I am Sam. The main instrument of the research was a data sheet. The data were collected, classified and interpreted based on the types of illocutionary acts by Searle (1969) and their functions of illocutionary acts by Leech (1993). To make sure that the data were acceptable, trustworthiness was employed through peer triangulation process. The results of the study are as follows. First, out of five types of illocutionary acts, the researcher only found four types in the movie. Representative is used when the characters want to inform, explain, argue, remind, state an opinion, and make a guess. Directive is used when the speaker wants to question command, request, and give an advise. Expressive is used as a tool to say that the characters want to state love, apologize, greet, offer, thank somebody, and order something  The last type that is fond by the researcher is commissive and it is used by the characters to say promise and deny something. Second, there are four functions of illocutionary act that are found in the movie. Competitive function is used for questioning, advising, and requesting. Convivial function is used for thanking, greeting, and informing. Collaborative function is used for praising, convincing, explaining, and asserting. The last one is conflictive function that is used for denying and refusing. Overall, the findings are classified based on the illocutionary forces.

 

Keywords: pragmatic, illocutionary acts, I am Sam


Full Text:

PDF

References


A. Printed Sources

Austin, J.L. 1962. How to do Things with Words. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Bogdan, R. and S.J. Taylor. 1975. Introduction to Qualitative Research Method. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons.

Bogdan, R. and S.K. Biklen. 1982. Qualitative Research for Education: an Introduction to Theory and Methods. Massachusetts: Newburry House.

Finch, G. 2000. Linguistic Terms and Concepts. London: Mac Millan Press Ltd.

Grundy, P. 2008. Doing Pragmatics. London: Hodder Education.

Horn, L.R. and G.Ward. 2006. The Handbook of Pragmatics. Oxford : Blackwell Publisher.

Johnston, D.D. and S. W. Vanderstoep. (2009). Research Methods For Everyday Life Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.

Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. New York: Longman Group, Ltd.

Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Rumaria, Choerunnisa. 2015. An Analysis of Speech Acts in the Dead Poets Society. Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta Sate University.

Rukmanasari,Indah. 2012. A Pragmatic Analysis of the Main Character’s Speech Acts in Date Night Movie. Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta State University.

Searle, J. R. and D. Vanderveken. (1985). Foundations of Illocutionary Logic. Cambridge: University Press.

Searle, John R. 1969. Speech Acts. An Essay in the Philosophy of Language. Cambridge: University Press.

Vanderstoep, Scott W. and Deirdre D. Johnston. Research Methods for Everyday Life.2009. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.

Widdowson. H.G. 1996. Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Yule, George. 1996. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

B. Electronic Sources

IMDB. 2006. I am Sam. http://www.imdb.com/tittle/tt0277027/. Retrieved on February 29th, 2016.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.