A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT OF REQUESTS EXPRESSED BY THE CHARACTERS IN OFFICE SPACE

Abstract

The research is a pragmatic study which focuses on the analysis of speech act of requests. The objectives are:  (1) to investigate the types of request and (2) to identify the strategies of request employed by the  characters in Office Space movie. The type of the research was qualitative-quantitative. The main and secondary instruments of this research were the researcher himself and the data sheets. The technique used to collect the data was visual analysis. To ensure the trustworthiness of the data, the researcher applied triangulations by conducting peer discussions with friends majoring in linguistics and routine consultations with his supervisors. The result shows that the characters perform all types of request, they including conventionally indirect request (hearer-oriented condition), conventionally indirect request (speaker-oriented condition), unconventionally indirect request, and direct request. In applying the strategies of request, the characters use seven strategies including hints, questioning hearer`s ability and willingness, suggestory formulae, statements of speaker`s wishes and desires, statements of speaker`s needs and demands, statements of obligations and necessities, and imperatives.

Kata Kunci
pragmatics, speech act, request, Office Space