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

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