an analysis of indirect speech act in x-men...

AN ANALYSIS OF INDIRECT SPEECH ACT IN X-MEN FILM

SERIES

A Thesis

Submitted to Faculty of Adab and Humanities

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requerements

for Bachelor Degree on English Letters

By

Hanum Fitrah Amalia

1111026000038

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LETTERS DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES

SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

JAKARTA

2017

i

ABSTRACT

Hanum Fitrah Amalia, An Analysis of Indirect Speech Act in X-Men Film Series.

A Thesis: English Letters Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, Syarif

Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, 2017.

This research discusses the using of Indirect Speech act in X-Men Film Series

characters conversation. The aims of this research is to find what forms and

functions of indirect speech act that perform by the characters in X-Men Film

Series. The methodology used in this research is qualitative descriptive method,

which the reseracher collected the data from the script and dialogue, then

determined the forms and functions of the indirect speech that perform by the

characters and classified the illocutionary act based on Searle’s theory. To focus

on the research, the researcher limits her research into ten data. The result of this

research is, the researcher found all the forms which are interrogatives,

declaratives and imperatives of indirect speech act used in X-Men Film Series and

three types of illocutonary; directives, commissives, expressives. Finally this

study concludes that indirect speech act has forms but different meaning. Context

of situation and social status is really important of the using of indirect speech.

Keywords: Indirect Speech Act, Illocutionary, X-Men Film Series, Searle.

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DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best f

my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or writen

by another person not material which to a substansial extent has been accepted for

the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of

higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.

Jakarta, July 19th

2017

Hanum Fitrah Amalia

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First of all, I would like to give praise to Allah SWT for the blessings and

miracles to me until I can totally finish this thesis. Then, peace and blessings are

upon to our beloved prophet Muhammad SAW. Furthermore, I want to show my

great appreciation and enermous thanks to Papa, Mama and my big family for

their dua and supports.

I also give thanks for the intellectual and moral support to all the following

people in my life:

1. The head of English Letters Department and my advisor, Drs. Saefudin,

Mpd. I would like to express my deep gratitude to him for his sharing

knowledge. I also thank to him for his guidance and support. He gives

his appreciation and willingness in reading my thesis, discussing and

giving me feedback on both suggestion and useful critiques of my thesis.

Without his guidance, this thesis would not be completed well. For the

important one, thank you for giving your time eventhough you have

schedules for a meeting but still giving your time just to check my

thesis.

2. The dean of Adab and Humanity Faculty, Prof. Dr. Sukran Kamil, M.A,

and Mrs. Elve Oktafiani, M.Hum. I thank to them for their helping and

teaching during studying here.

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3. The examiners, Hilmi Akmal, M.Hum. and Sholikatus Sa’diyah, M.pd.,

who have revised and directed this thesis much better.

4. All of the lecturer in English Letters Department who have taught me a

lot of things and educated me during my study.

5. To all my friend who also support me doing my thesis: Riska Rahman,

S.S, Bionda Helena Patty, Maryanti Wahyuningsih, Wanda Melinda,

Yuana Rossy and Edenel. Thank you for your motivation and always

asking for the thesis progress of mine. I also thank for the sadness and

the funniest things we had together. Hope our friendship will be last

forever.

6. Last, ELD class B, Lingustics Class of English Letters Department, ELD

2011, Mokosuli, KKN SINEMA, White Pearl, MACHAN, Socialites,

Intl Matokis and Mato Wolves. Thank you for being friends and giving

me so many experience, acknowledge and everything.

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LIST OF TABLE

Table 3.1.1 : Data Collection from X-Men Film Series 20

Table 3.2.1 : Data Collection from X-Men Film Series 26

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT i

APPROVEMENT ii

LEGALIZATION iii

DECLARATION iv

ACKNOWLDGEMENT v

LIST OF TABLE vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS viii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1

a. Background of Study 1

b. Focus of Study 3

c. Research Questions 4

d. Significant of Study 4

e. Research Methodology 4

1. The Objectives of Research 4

2. The Method of Research 5

3. The Techniques of Data Analysis 5

4. The Instruments of Research 6

5. Unit of Analysis 6

CHAPTER II: THEORITICAL DESCRIPTION 7

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A. Previous Research 7

B. The Definition of Pragmatics 9

C. The Definition of Speech Act 10

D. The Types of Speech Act 11

1. Locutionary Act 12

2. Illocutionary Act 12

3. Perlocutionary Act 13

E. The Classification of Speech Act 14

a. Declarations 14

b. Representatives 15

c. Expressives 15

d. Directive 16

e. Commissives 16

F. Indirect Speech Act 17

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH FINDING 20

A. Data Description 20

B. Data Analysis 28

CHAPTER IV 36

a. Conclusions 36

b. Suggestions 37

BIBLIOGRAPHY 39

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of Study

Speech act is important to people who individually want to communicate

in a certain situation. Speech act has a meaning and purpose when it happens.

To do the speech act, people do not only produce utterance but they also

perform it into actions.1 Thus, when people say an utterance for example

apology or promise, they do not only utter but also perform actions via those

utterances. Austin states that there are three kinds of speech act; locutionary

act, illocutionary act and perlocutionary act.2

In speech act there is an indirect speech act, a speech act where the speaker

utters the sentence with a different content. It is only imperative, declarative

and interrogative sentence to produce the indirect speech act. In indirect

speech act when the speaker utters a question asking, it is not to get the

answer but the speaker has a goal to interpret the utterance. For example, the

speaker utters the sentence “can you pass the salt?” it means it is not merely a

question but a request to pass the salt.3 In the other word, indirect speech act

has an implicit meaning.

1 George Yule, Pragmatics, (UK: Oxford University Press, 1996), p.47

2 F.X Nadar, Pragmatik & Penelitian Pragmatik, (Yogyakarta: Graha Ilmu, 2009)., p.7.

3 John R. Searle, Expression and Meaning; Study in the Theory of Speech Acts, (UK:

Cambridge University Press, 1979)., p.30.

2

Utterance can be found not only in reality but the utterance also occurs in a

movie in which conversation happens among the characters. The utterances

found in the movie are perfomed directly or indirectly. This research will

focused on analyzing indirect speech act in X-Men Film Series. The X-Men

Film Series consists of superhero films based on the Marvel Comics

superhero team of the same name. 20th Century Fox obtained the film rights

to the characters in 1994.4 The film tells about a mutant who effort to get an

equality with humans in the world. So far, the film has seventh series released

from 2000 until 2015. There are many indirect speech act on the films, so it is

interesting to analyze.

To understand the indirect speech act, the context of forms and the

functions which performed indirectly by the characters of X-Men Film Series

will be analyzed. Look at the examples below:

(1) “Would you help me to my study, please?”

In this context, “Would you help me to my study, please?” this is an

interrogative form. Yet, the intterogative form is not a question to answer, it

has another function of it. By saying this, Charles obviously makes an

indirectly request to Hank to carry him to his study room, because he feel

numb and unable to walk by himself. He feel upset after Logan tried to

conviced him to make a X-Men squad to release Erik from jail and stop

Mystique who have a plan to kill Trask for a sake of their future. In this

conversation between Charles and Hank, Charles came from an educated and

4 X-Men Film Series, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men_(film_series). Accessed in

April 2016.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men_(film_series)

3

honor family, he has young professor as his title. The way he speaks is in

formal way. So does he requests to Hank to bring him to his study room using

indirect speech act which is a polite way to request after he had an argument

with Logan. According to Searle, the type of illocutionary act is directives.

(2) “Now if you’ll excuse me”

This is an imperative structure but has different function. The function of

this structure is to requests Logan to leave him so he could find Rogue using

the Celebro. Logan told all the teachers that he could not find Rogue

anywhere and Professor X took him to the Celebro. Instead of using direct

speech act that would offend Logan because he kicks him out from the

Celebro, thus he uses an indirect speech act for request as a polite way for

Logan to leave him. Furthermore, he is the professor in his school, he should

using formal language in order of his status. According to Searle, the type of

this illocutionary act is directive.

Based on the background describe above, this research will focused on

analyzing the form and the function of indirect speech act in a conversation of

X-Men Film Series using Searle‟s theory.

B. Focus of Study

Based on background of study above, this research focuses on the use of

indirect speech act and describe what forms and functions of indirect speech

act that perform in a conversation by the characters of X-Men Film Series

using Searle‟s theory.

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C. Research Question

Referring to background of study and focus of study that have been

explained, the research questions are formulates as follow:

1. What are the forms of indirect speech act uttered by the characters of X-

Men Film Series?

2. What are the functions of indirect speech act that implied from each

utterance in X-Men Film Series?

3. What is the speech act typology?

D. Significance of Study

It is hope that this research would help other linguistics student to find new

ideas for developing some researches with speech act as the basic theory. And

to present and add enough information about related topic for other

researcher. Also to introducing linguistics to societies, especially in the study

of pragmatics and speech act.

E. Research Methodology

1. The Objective of Research

The objectives of the research are:

1. To analyze forms of indirect speech act uttered by the characters in

X-Men Film Series.

2. To analyze the functions of indirect speech act from each utterance

that implied in X-Men Film Series.

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3. To analyze the typology of speech act.

2. The Method of Research

Because the data that will be analyzed is verbal description,

qualitative method as the basis of analysis in discussing the problem of this

research is used. The method is based on method, theories or revelant

approach, such as hictorical approach, sociological approach,

psychological approach, and textual approach.5 Moreover, qualitative

researchers focus on subjective meanings, definitions, metaphors, symbols

and descriptions of specific cases.6 The researcher explains the indirect

speech act in X-Men Film Series based on Searle‟s theory.

3. The Technique of Data Analysis

In this research, documentation technique as the technique of data

collecting is used.7 Documentation technique is a technique that use

written sources to get the data. The written sources which used can be a

magazines, newspapers, literatures, books and research. This technique

also consist of several steps:

a. First, choosing and noting down the utterance which contain

indirect speech act.

b. Second, classifying indirect speech forms and the functions.

c. The next step, describing the result by using the appropriate theory.

5 Muhammad Farkhan, Proposal Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra, (Jakarta: Adabia Press,

2011)., p.43. 6 W. Lawrence Neuman, Social Research Methods; Qualitative and Quantitative

Approaches, (USA: Allyn & Bacon, 1997)., p.328. 7 Hadari H. Nawawi dan H. M. Martini Hadari, Instrumen Penelitian Bidang Sosial,

(Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 1995),. p.69.

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d. The last, giving the conclusion of the result.

The data in this research taken from a film series of X-Men by

Marvel. This film has seven series from 2000 to 2014. The data are the

utterances which contain indirect speech act, uttered by all characters in

the film.

4. The Instrument of Research

The instrument in this research is the transcript of X-Men Film Series

taken from the first film until seventh film.

5. Unit of Analysis

The unit analysis in this research is X-Men Film Series. It is an

American Sci-fi film series based on Marvel Comic. The film has seventh

series released from 2000 until 2014.

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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL DESCRIPTION

A. Previous Research

The speech act research has already been studied since years ago. A

phenomenon of speech act makes people interested to analyze mostly using

Searle‟s theory. Therefore, the researcher will describe the previous research

which has been done before.

Nur Azni Wardani (2011). The aim of this research is to analyse the

illocutionary act in utterance spoken by Dastan, the main character of the film and

what types that implied in his utterances and she limit her research only in five

scene of movie. She found seventeen data of utterance that spoken by the main

character which has five types of illocutionary act by using Searle‟s theory such

as declarative, representative, commisive, directive and expressive. Furthermore,

the method which used in this research is content analysis.8

Fitri Kumalasari (2011). The aim of her research is to find out the

illocutionary acts and perlocutionary acts that are used by the main character in

Grown Ups film. She found twenty four data. She analyses the data using five

types of illocutionary acts by Searle and discover occurrence of directives is

mostly dominant. She also find verbal perlocutionary acts dominantly occured.9

8 Nur Azni Wardani (2011), “Thesis: An Analysis of Illocutionary Act in Prince of

Persia: The Sand of The Time Movie”, unpublished under graduated thesis (Jakarta: UIN Syarif

Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2011). 9 Fitri Kumalasari (2011), “Thesis: The Types of Illocutionary and Perlocutionary Acts as

Found in An American Movie Entitled Grown Ups”, unpublished undergratuated thesis (Padang:

Andalas University, 2011).

8

Ipa Mustopa (2013). The aim of her research is to find the types of

illocutionary acts and whether commissive illocutionary acts convey directly or

indirectly. She found five types of illocutionary act and twenty eight data that

occur on her corpus. Two of her data convey directly and the rests are indirectly.

Furthermore, the method which she used in this research is qualitative method and

non-statistical analysis.10

Dian Dzikraria (2014). The aim of her research is she wants to analyse an

student error in learning direct and indirect speech act in imperrative sentences.

However, the method she used in this research is quantitative. She took the cases

in SMK Perwira Jakarta with 37 students involved. She also divided the questions

into two parts; Part A which contain to change quoted command to infinitive

clauses with suitable tenses and Part B which contain changes of pronoun in

transformation. She found that the error occur in student in learning speech act

because of inaccuracy caused by the incomplete application of rules, first

language interference, and lack of attention.11

Riska Rahman (2015). The research has a goal to understand types of

illocutionary act and to aware how the illocutionary act succesfully meets the

perlocutionary act or not. She found fifty-three of data that are classified

according to the theory of illocutionary acts by John R. Searle, such as

representative, directives, expressives, declarations and commissives. Hence, she

10

Ipa Mustopa (2013), “Thesis: An Analysis of Commissive Illocutionary Act on Bruce Almighty Movie Transcription”, unpublished under graduated thesis (Jakarta:UIN Syarif

Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2013). 11

Dian Dzikraria (2014), “Thesis: An Error Analysis in Learning Direct and Indirect

Speech of Imperrative Sentences”, unpublished undergraduated thesis (Jakarta: UIN Syarif

Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2014).

9

gets many kinds of perlocutionary acts from the hearer. The method which she

used in this research is qualitative method.12

In short, those previous researches above are different focus to this research.

The first differences is the corpus used in this research. This research uses

utterances in X-Men Film Series. Then, even though there is the same theory

used but the research also has a different focus. This research is focused on

indirect speech act.

B. The Definition of Pragmatics

Linguistics as a study about languages has a several branches such as

phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics.13

Pragmatics has

related to semantics. The difference of these two studies is pragmatics studied

about the relationships between linguistics forms and the users of those forms.14

The examples of semantics and pragmatics are following below:

(3) Engels was two and a half years younger than Marx.

(4) Her: So—did you?

Him: Hey—who wouldn‟t?

As an examples above, semantics is the study of the relationship between

word and it‟s meaning, they do not need context in semantics. If someone

suddenly says (3) then a meaning has been convey, whether true or false, the

12

Riska Rahman (2015), “Thesis: An Analysis of Illocutionary and Perlocutionary Act in Detective Conan Comic”, unpublished under graduated thesis (Jakarta: UIN Syarif Hidayatullah

Jakarta, 2015). 13

Dewa Putu Wijana, Dasar-Dasar Pragmatik, (Yogyakarta: Andi, 1996), p.1. 14

George Yule, Pragmatics, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996), p.4.

10

speaker was already share you an information.15

Furthermore, in pragmatics (4)

speaker talk about people‟s intended meanings, assumptions and their purpose or

goals and kind of actions.16

Levinson wrote the definition of pragmatics from many sources.

According to himself, pragmatics is one of those words that gives the impression

that something quite specific and technical is being talked about when often

infact it has no clear.17

According to Searle, pragmatics as its topic those aspects

of the meaning of utterances which cannot be accounted for by straightforward

reference to truth conditions of the sentences uttered.18

According to Yule,

pragmatics is the study of the relationships between linguistics forms and the

users of those form.19

Based on the definitions above, different to semantics which only studies

about meaning, pragmatics is a study about the meaning of what the speaker

saying based on linguistics form and context. In pragmatics field, there are many

aspects such as implicature, presupposition, speech act, deixis and preference.20

However, the researcher choose speech act as her focus of study.

C. The Definition of Speech Act

Speech act theory begins from Britain Philosopher, John L. Austin in

Harvard University, 1955. Then, the article based on his speech was published in

15

Ibid. 16

George Yule, (1996), Op.Cit., 17

F.X. Nadar, Pragmatik & Penelitian Pragmatik, (Yogyakarta: Graha Ilmu, 2009), p.5. 18

Ibid. 19

George Yule, (1996), Op.Cit., p.4 20

Stephen C. Levinson, Pragmatics, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983), p.9.

11

1962 with entitled How to do things with words. However, the theory has

become popular in linguistics study after Searle published his book entitled

Speech act and essay in the philosophy of language in 1969.21

Austin explains that, speech acts are verbal actions which happening in the

world.22

Uttering speech act means that the speaker also does something. When

the speaker says promise, apologize, name or pronounce it means that they also

performed it.

For example, “I name this ship Elizabeth” as uttered by smashing the

bottle against the stem, the speaker when utter this sentences does not only

saying it but also perform it by naming the ship Elizabeth.23

Furthermore, speech act is an utterance said by the speaker and it can

influence the hearer to do what the speaker says, and by saying the utterance

means the speaker also perform it.

D. Types of Speech Acts

Austin identifies three distinct levels of action beyond the act of the

utterance. He distinguishes the act of saying something, what one does in saying

it, and one does by saying it, and these the locutionary, the illocutionary, and

perlocutionary act.

21

Abdul Chaer, Sosiolinguistik: Pengenalan Awal, (Jakarta: Rineka Cipta, 2010), p.50. 22

Jacob L. Mey, Pragmatics: An Introduction, (UK: Blackwell, 1993), p.95 23

J.L Austin, How to do Things with Words, (London: Oxford University Press, 1962), p.5.

12

1. Locutionary Act

Locutionary act is called by the act of saying something.24

This is the

basic act of utterance, or producing a meaningful linguistics expression.

Searle called locutionary act as a prepositional act because this speech act

is only related to the meaning.25

This act is refer to the fact that we must

use words and sentences if we are to say anything at all.26

Look at the

example below:

(5) MM: I think I might go and have another bun.

AM: I was going to get another one.

BM: Could you get me a tuna and sweetcorn one please?

AM: Me as well?

Joan explains, the first level of analysis is the words themselves: „I

think I might go and have another bun‟, „I was going to get another one‟

and so on is the form of the words uttered or the act of saying something

known as locutionary act.27

2. Illocutionary Act

Illocutionary act is the act of doing something.28

This is the act of doing

something with a complex meaning and function in real conversation. The

illocutionary act is performed via communicative force of an utterance.

24

Dewa Putu Wijana, (1996), Op.Cit., p.17. 25

Abdul Chaer (2010), Op.Cit., p.53 26

Ronald Wardaugh, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, (UK: Basil Blackwell, 1986), p.277

27 Joan Cutting, Pragmatics and Discourse, (US: Routledge, 2002)., p.16

28 Abdul Chaer (2010), Op.Cit.

13

Illocutionary act have to do with the intents of speakers, such as stating,

questioning, promising, or commanding.29

As the example in (5), the second level is what the speakers doing with

their words. AM and MM are aseerting and expressing intention about

their own action, and BM and MM are requesting action on part of the

hearer. This is the illocutionary force: what is done in uttering the words,

the function of the words, the specific purpose that the speakers have in

mind.30

3. Perlocutionary Act

Perlocutionary act is the act of affecting something.31

Take the act of

persuading someone to do something, or getting them to believe that

something is the case.32

Perlocutionary act bringing about the effect of the

audience by means of uttering the sentence, such effects being special to

the circumtances of utterance. The effect of the utterance can be

intentionally or unintentionally makes by the speaker.33

In (5), Joan explains the last level of analysis is the result of the words:

MM gets up and brings AM and BM a tuna and a sweetcorn bun each.34

Hence, this is known as perlocutionary act, the effect of the hearer or the

hearer‟s reaction.

29

Ronald Wardaugh, (1986), Op.Cit., 30

Ibid. 31

Kunjana Rahardi, Sosiopragmatik, (Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga, 2009), p. 17. 32

D. Alan Cruse, Meaning in Language; An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 332.

33 Dewa Putu Wijana, Op.cit., p.19

34 Joan Cutting. (2002), Op.Cit.,

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E. The Classification of Illocutionary Act

Austin divided a classification of illocutionary act into five basic

categories of veridictive, expositive, exercitive, behabitive, and commisive.35

But, Searle critizes that Austin‟s classification has a weaknesses for operating

with overlapping criteria.36

Then, Searle give a solution to classifying speech

acts was to group them in the following classifications:

a. Declarations: it is the defining characteristic of this class the succesful

performance of one of its member brings about the correspondence

between the propositional content and reality, succesfully performance

guarantees that the propositional corresponds to the world such as You‟re

fired, I declare, I resign.37

The speaker has to have a special intitinional

role, in a spesific context, in order to perform delarations appropriately.38

The examples of declarations:

(6a) Priest: I now pronounce you husband and wife.

(6b) Referee: You are out!

(6c) Jury Foremen: We find the defendant guilty.

In the example above, by saying this, the speakers does not only

utter the sentences, they are also changing the worlds via their words.39

The priest is declare that the man and the woman now is become husband

and wife. The referee is also changing the player world by saying he is out

35

John R. Searle, Expression and Meaning, (UK: Cambridge University Press)., p.1 36

Jacob L. Mey, Pragmatics: An Introduction, (UK: Blackwell Publishing, 2001)., p.117.

37

John R. Searle, (1979) Op.Cit., P.16. 38

J.D Parera, Teori Semantik Edisi Kedua, (Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga, 2004)., p.271 39

Ibid.

15

from the game, and the jury foremen decided the defendant guilty and put

him into jail.

b. Representatives: those kinds of speech acts that state what the speaker

believes to be the case or not. Statement of the fact, asserting decribing,

claiming, hyphothesising, insisting, predicting.40

The examples of

representative:

(7a) The earth is flat.

(7b) Chomsky didn‟t write about peanuts.

(7c) It was a warm sunny day.

In using representatives, the speaker make words fit the world (of

belief).41

By the examples above, by saying this, the speaker gives a

statement based on the fact.

c. Expressives: this last group includes acts in which the words state what

the speaker feels, such as apologising, praising, congratulating, deploring,

and regretting.42

The examples of expressives:

(8a) I‟m really sorry!

(8b) Congratulations!

(8c) Oh, yes, great, mmmm, ssahh!

In using expressives, the speaker make words fit the world.43

In

expressives, they can be caused by something the speaker does or the

hearer does, but they are speaker‟s experience.

40

Ibid. p.272. 41

Ibid. 42

Joan Cutting, Pragmatics and Discourse, (US: Routledge, 2002)., p.17. 43

J.D Parera, Op.Cit., p.272

16

d. Directives: those kinds of speech act that speaker use to get someone else

to do something. They express what the speaker wants. They are advising,

admonishing, asking, begging, insisting, dismissing, forbidding,

instructing, ordering, permitting, requiring, suggesting, urging, warning.44

The directives can be positive or negative. As illustrated, they can be

positive or negative.

(9a) Gimme a cup of coffee. Make it black.

(9b) Could you lend me a pen, please?

(9c) Don‟t touch that.

In using directives, the speaker make the world fit world (via the

hearer)45

e. Commisives: this include acts in which the words commit the speaker to

future action, such as promising, offering, threatening, refusing, vowing,

volunteering. As shown in (8), they can be performed by the speaker

alone, or by the speaker as a member of a group.

(10a) I‟ll be back.

(10b) I‟m going to get it right next time.

(10c) We will not do that.

In using commisives, the speaker make the world fit the world (via

hearer).46

44

Michael Devitt and Richard Hanley, The Blackwell Guide to The Philosophy of

Language, (UK: Blackwell Publishing, 2006)., p.151. 45

Ibid. 46

Ibid., p.273

17

F. Indirect Speech Act

Speech act is divided into two categories which are direct speech act and

indirect speech act. Direct speech act is when the speaker states a sentence

directly what they want or what they are mean to. Searle said that speaker

using a direct speech act, they want to communicate the literal meaning that

the words conventionally express.47

The reverse of direct speech act is

indirect speech act, the speaker communicate a different meaning from the

apparent surface meaning, they have forms and functions are not directly

related.48

. The speaker utters in interrogative or imperative sentence.

(11) Can you reach the salt?

When the speaker utters that sentence, it is not merely a question but as a

request to pass the salt.49

(12) Here, take this one.

When the speaker utters this to the hearer, they are using an imperative

structure of sentence. This sentence has different function, the speaker offers

their food and hope the hearer to take it and enjoy the food.50

Searle (in Joan) explained that someone using an indirect speech act wants

to communicate a different meaning from the apparent surface meaning; the

47

Joan Cutting, (2002), op.cit., p.19. 48

Ibid. 49

John R. Searle, (1979), op.cit., p.30. 50

Joan Cutting, (2002), Op.Cit., p.19.

18

form and function are not directly related.51

To produce an indirect speech

act, the speaker must to intends the hearer a knowledge that the request has

been made to him. By intends to produce a knowlegde, the speaker getting

the hearer to recognize their intention to produce it.

In addition, declarative structures are also an indirect speech act. Look at

the example below:

(16) a .Move out of the way!

b. Do you have to stand in front of the TV?

c. You‟re standing in front of the TV.

d. You‟d make a better door than a window.

A different structures can be used to accomplish the same basic function.52

The speaker may utters the sentences in addressee the hearer to not standing

in front of the TV. The utterances perform by the speaker basically are

command or request, but only imperative structure in (a) represents a

directive speech act. In (b), the interrogative structure is not being used only

as a question, hence it is an indirect speech act.53

Meanwhile, both in (c) and

(d) are declarative structures in an indirect speech act.54

In this case, the speaker utters (c) and (d) is an indirect directive

commanding. They are indirectly command the hearer to move away or not

standing in front of the TV.

51

Ibid.. p.18 52

George Yule, Op.Cit., p.55 53

Ibid. 54

Ibid.

19

Indirect speech act viewed by Searle, they are acting as two acts, which are

a primary illocutionary act and a secondary one.55

Look at the example

below:

(17) Student X: Let‟s go to the movies tonight.

(18) Student Y: I have to study for an exam.

The utterance of student above is constitute a proposal, because the

meaning of “Let‟s” it is a literally utterances of constitute a proposals.56

However, (17) answers the proposal in two acts, the primary illocutionary

which is rejecting the proposal by saying he have to study for exams or

secondary illocutionary which is making a statement that he have to study for

the exams.

Furthermore, indirect speech act has the form of an interrogative, but is

not typically used to ask a question but usually to do that something. In

addition, indirect speech act also has imperative and declarative structure

of sentence. To produce indirect speech, the speaker must to intend the

hearer that the hearer knowledge what the speaker means and intend them

to do what they mean. Indirect speech act are generally associated with

greater politeness in English than direct speech act.

55

Jacob L. Mey, (2001), Op.Cit., p.113. 56

John R. Searle, Op.Cit., p.33.

20

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH FINDINGS

A. Data Description

In this data, the writer uses a conversations from X-Men Film series. The

writer finds 22 (twenty two) data samples from the conversation that happens in

the movies. Moreover, the conversation was compiled into data card. The data

card contains the conversation of the film characters, sentence form and it‟s

function. The twenty two data comes from six films of X-Men Film Series. All the

data are indirect speech acts clasified into five types of illocutionary act according

to Searle; declaratives, representatives, directives, expressives and commissives.

The writer divides the data description based on their types of illocutionary acts.

Table 3.1.1: Data Collection from X-Men Film Series.

Data

Code

Data Form of Indrect

Speech Act

Function of

Indirect Speech

Act

XMFP001 Secretary: What‟s

wrong, Sir?

Trask: Nothing. Would

you mind typing up my

itinerary? I don‟t wanna

miss a thing.

Interrogative Requesting

XMFP002 Charles: Hank, do me a

favor. Would you help

me to my study, please?

Hank: Come on, I got

you.


XM301 Charles: Perhaps is Interrogative Asking

21

would be best if we were

to speak to her. Alone.

Jean’s Mother: Of

course. Jean, can you

come down, dear?

XM302 Logan: Bobby, think

you can take out your

old friend?

Bobby: (Nodded)

Interrogative Commanding

XMFC01 Raveen: Could you pass

me my robe?

Erik: You don‟t have to

hide.


XM001 Professor X: Welcome

to Celebro.

Logan: This certainly is

a big round room.

Professor X: The brain

waves of mutants are

different from average

human beings. This

device amplifies my

power, allowing me to

locate mutants across

great distances. That‟s

how I intend to find

Rogue.

Logan: Why don‟t you

just use it to find

Magneto?

Professor X: I‟ve been

trying. But, he seems to

have found some way to

shield himself from it.

Logan: How would he

know to do that?

Professor X: Because he

help me build it. Now, if

you’ll excuse me.

Imperative Requesting

22

XM002 Rogue: You don’t have

anything to eat, do you?

Logan: (Gives her a

chocolate)


XMTW01 Yashida: How old are

you?

Logan: It’s been a long

time. Many wars.

Understand?

Declarative Suggesting

X201 Rogue: John, they told

us to stay here.

John: You always do as

you’re told?

Interrogative Refusal

X202 Bobby’s Mother: When

did you first know you

were a—

John: A mutant?

Bobby’s Mother:

Would cut that out?

Interrogative Asking

XM003 Professor X: Good

morning, Logan. I‟d like

your definition of weak

and strong anthropic

principles on my desk on

Wednesday. That‟ll be

all.

Kitty: Bye Professor.

Professor X: Bye Kitty.

Physics. I‟m Charles

Xavier. Would you like

some breakfast?

Logan: Where am I?

Professor X:

Westchester, New York.

My people brought you

here for medical

Interrogative Suggesting

23

attention.

XM004 Bobby: They say that

you‟re stealing other

mutants‟ powers.

Rogue: No, no. I

borrowed his power.

Bobby: You never use

your power against

another mutant.

Rogue: I had no choice.

No, you have to

understand me.

Bobby: If I were you, I‟d

get myself out of here.

Rogue: What do you

mean?

Bobby: Listen, the

students are freaked.

Professor Xavier‟s

furious. I dont know

what he‟ll do with you. I

think it’ll be easier on

your own.

Imperative Commanding

X203 President: Jackie, could

you clear my schedule

this evening? I wanna

have a dinner with my

son.

Jackie: Yes, Mr.

President.

Interogative Commanding

X204 Scott: I think it’s time

to leave, Professor.

Professor X: I think

you‟re right.

Declarative Requesting

X303 Storm: We‟re getting

killed out here.

Logan: Yeah, I know.

They‟re not ready,

Storm.

Declarative Commanding

24

Storm: Logan.

Logan: Oh, dont get

your panties in a

bunch.

X304 Mutant: I know you can

control metal. And I

know there‟s 87 mutants

in here, none above a

class three. Other than

you two.

Magneto: You can sense

other mutants and their

powers? Could you

locate one for me?


XMFC02 Charles: I don‟t know

what‟s gotten into you

lately. You‟re awfully

concerned with your

looks.

Raven: I‟m sleepy. Will

you read to me?


XMFC03 Charles: My stepfather

took the possibility of

nuclear quite seriously.

This way. This is why he

had this bunker built

down here. I thought we

could use it as a practice

range of sorts.

Alex: You dont think

I‟m going to blow

through the walls?

Charles: He had this

place built to withstand

a nuclear bomb.

Declarative Commanding

XMFC04 Erik: That‟s where

we‟re going to find

Shaw.

Alex: How do you

Imperative Commanding

25

know?

Charles: Two

superpowers facing off

and he wants to start

world war III. He won‟t

leave anything to chance.

Erik: So much

diplomacy. I suggest

you all get a good

night’s sleep.

XMFP03 Young Raven: You‟re

not scared of me?

Young Charles: I

always believed I

couldn’t be the only one

in the world. Charles

Xavier.

Young Raven: Raven.

Declarative Refusal

XMW001 Bradley: Victor

Victor: Aren’t you

gonna invite me in?

Bradley: Yeah, come on

in.


XMW002 Kayla: You‟re not an

animal, Logan. What you

have is a gift.

Logan: A gift? You can

return a gift.

Imperative Refusal

Next step is focusing the research taking from data sampling. This research is

using qualitative method which used a population to gathered the data that

represent of all the data. In this research, they are 10 out of 22 data chosen from

six films. The data chosen are the first data of sampling and it is the best examples

of Indirect Speech Act according to Searle‟s theory.

26

Table 3.2.1: The Data Collection from X-Men Film Series.

Data

Code

Data Form of Indrect

Speech Act

Function of Indirect

Speech Act

XMFP001 Secretary: What‟s wrong, Sir?

Trask: Nothing. Would you

mind typing up my itinerary?

I don‟t wanna miss a thing.


XMFP002 Charles: Hank, do me a favor.

Would you help me to my

study, please?

Hank: Come on, I got you.


XM301 Charles: Perhaps is would be

best if we were to speak to her.

Alone.

Jean’s Mother: Of course.

Jean, can you come down,

dear?


XM302 Logan: Bobby, think you can

take out your old friend?

Bobby: (Nodded)


XMFC01 Raveen: Could you pass me

my robe?

Erik: You don‟t have to hide.


XM001 Professor X: Welcome to

Celebro.

Logan: This certainly is a big

round room.

Professor X: The brain waves

of mutants are different from

average human beings. This

device amplifies my power,

allowing me to locate mutants

across great distances. That‟s

how I intend to find Rogue.

Logan: Why don‟t you just

use it to find Magneto?

Imperative Requesting

27

Professor X: I‟ve been trying.

But, he seems to have found

some way to shield himself

from it.

Logan: How would he know

to do that?

Professor X: Because he help

me build it. Now, if you’ll

excuse me.

XM002 Rogue: You don’t have

anything to eat, do you?

Logan: (Gives her a chocolate)


XMTW01 Yashida: How old are you?

Logan: It’s been a long time.

Many wars. Understand?

Declarative Suggesting

X201 Rogue: John, they told us to

stay here.

John: You always do as

you’re told?

Interrogative Refusal

X202 Bobby’s Mother: When did

you first know you were a—

John: A mutant?

Bobby’s Mother: Would cut

that out?


Film code informations:

XM: X-Men

X2: X-Men United

X3: X-Men The Last Stand

XMW: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

XMFC: X-men First Class

XMTW: X-Men The Wolverine

XMFP: X-men Days of Future Past

28

B. Data Analysis

1. Directives

Datum 1 (XMFP01)

Secretary: What‟s wrong, Sir?

Trask: Nothing. Would you mind typing up my itinerary? I don‟t wanna missh a

thing.

Trask utters “would you mind typing up my itinerary?” to his secretary is not a

question to answer. This sentence form is interrogative. Though, the utterance

form is a question but the function is actually an indirect request for his secretary

to typing up his itinerary. This is the polite way for soemone to asking something

instead of using direct order “typing up my itinerary”. His secretary was confused

because his act is not like his usual act. From their social status, her boss usually

stating something directly for asking something. Moreover, this utterance is not

state by Trask, it is Mystique who transformed into his that stating the utterance.

She wanted to steal the information from Trask‟s room. According to Searle, the

type of this illocutionary act is directives. They express what the speaker wants or

to get someone else to do something.

Datum 2 (XMFP02)

Charles: Hank, do me a favor. Would you help me to my study, please?

Hank: Come on, I got you.

29

“Would you help me to my study, please?” this is interrogatve form. Yet, the

intterogative form is not a question to answer, it has another function of it. By

saying this, Charles obviously makes an indirectly request to Hank to carry him to

his study room, because he feel numb and unable to walk by himself. He feel

upset after Logan tried to conviced him to make a X-Men squad to release Erik

from jail and stop Mystique who have a plan to kill Trask for a sake of their

future. In this conversation between Charles and Hank, Charles came from an

educated and honor family, he has young professor as his title. They way he

speaks is in formal way. So does he requests to Hank to bring him to his study

room using indirect speech act which is a polite way to request after he had an

argument with Logan. According to Searle, the type of illocutionary act is

directives. Directives is the speech act speaker use to get someone else to do

something. They express what they wants.

Datum 3 (X301)

Charles: Perhaps it would be best if we were to speak to her. Alone.

Jean‟s mother: Of course. Jean, can you come down, dear?

“Jean, can you come down, dear?” is an interrogative form but it has another

function. The function of this utterance is an indirect asking of the mother to her

daughter. Professor X and Magneto came to Jean‟s house to offer her their school

for mutant like her. For a moment, Jean‟s father was offended Magneto by saying

that his daughter is having an ilness. Professor X is trying to calm the situation, he

gives a suggestion to speak alone with Jean. Her mother agreed and she calls Jean

30

to come down and meet the guests. Instead of utter a direct order to Jean to come

down, her mom utter using an indirect asking so she can be more polite in front of

her guests. According to Searle, the type of illocutionary act above is directives.

The speaker express what they want.

Datum 4 (X302)

Logan: Bobby, think you can take out your old friend?

Bobby: (Nodded)

By utter “Bobby, think you can take out your old friend?” is not a question for

bobby if he can do or not, but it is an indirect command for him to handle his old

friend while Logan, Beast and Pete have a plan to attack Magneto using the cure

serum. This is an indirect command because Logan is the one who charge for X-

Men this time. He replace Professor X after they think that he is dead. He is the

strongest mutant in X-Men. By stating this, Logan is not expect Bobby to asnwer

but he wants him to do what he told him to do. According to Searle, the type of

illocutionary act is directives.

Datum 5 (XMFC01)

Raven: Could you pass me my robe?

Erik: You don‟t have to hide.

“Could you pass me my robe?” it is not a question but a request for Erik to

pass her robe. This is an interrogative form but it has another function. By stating

31

this, Raven request him to pass her robe. She was trying to flirt on Erik by

transform into her normal human body but Erik refused and said that she is

underaged for him, then Raven change her form again into an adult sexy woman

but Erik refused her once again and he said that he wants to see the real Raven.

She change her form again into his blue form, that makes Erik said that her blue

form is beautiful and unique, and it is unnecessary for her to hide behind her

human form and just be who she is. Raven is Charles‟s sister in law and Erik is at

the same age with Charles, so Raven using an indirect request to Erik to be more

polite as a younger. According to Searle, the type of illocutionary act of this

utterance is directives.

Datum 6 (XM001)

Professor X: Welcome to Celebro.

Logan: This certainly is a big round room.

Professor X: The brain waves of mutants are different from average human

beings. This device amplifies my power, allowing me to locate mutants across

great distances. That‟s how to find Rogue.

Logan: why don‟t you just use it to find Magneto?

Professor X: I‟ve been trying. But he seems to have found some way to shield

himself from it.

Logan: How would he know to do that?

32

Professor X: Because he help me build it. Now, if you’ll excuse me.

After he explained all the history and function of the Celebro, he utters “Now,

if you‟ll excuse me”. This is an imperative structure but has different function.

The function of this structure is to requests Logan to leave him so he could find

Rogue using the Celebro. Logan told all the teachers that he could not find Rogue

anywhere and Professor X took him to the Celebro. Instead of using direct speech

act that would offend Logan because he kicks him out from the Celebro, thus he

uses an indirect speech act for request as a polite way for Logan to leave him.

Furthermore, he is the professor in his school, he should using formal language in

order of his status. According to Searle, the type of this illocutionary act is

directive.

Datum 7 (XM002)

Rogue: You don’t have anything to eat, do you?

Logan: (Give her a chocolate)

“You don‟t have anything to eat, do you?” is an interrogative form but the

function is for begging. She ranaway from home after she caused her boyfriend

coma. She did realised that there is something wrong with her. She does not wants

anybody to touch her. She met Logan at the pub and sneak out to his truck. She

neither have money to buy food nor to ride taxi, luckly, Logan finds out and let

Rogue ride with him. She beg for some food by saying “You don‟t have anything

to eat, do you?” and Logan gives her a chocolate. She could just ask him for food

using a direct speech but, in this situation, Logan has saving Rogue and give her a

33

ride, he would probably feel offended and knock her off out of his truck.

According to Searle, the type of illocutionary is directive, begging.

Datum 8 (XMTW01)

Yashida: How old are you?

Logan: It’s been a long time. Many wars. Understand?

From his utterance of “It‟s been a long time. Many wars. Understand?” the

form of his utterance is declarative, and it has a purpose of giving an information,

but this utterance has a different function. Logan is not declare that he is old

because he does not mention specifially a number of his age. He wishes Yashida

to understand that his age is very old now. He has been through many wars in his

life and he has been lived in this world for a long time. Logan has a capabilty to

heal. This conversation was took place in Hiroshima when US dropped a nuclear

bomb to Japan in World War II. Logan was saving Yashida‟s live by dragged him

into a well. He cover Yashida‟s body with an iron plate and his body. Yashida has

witness Logan‟s body turn to normal again after he got nuclear attack. According

to Searle, the type of this illocutionary act is directive, suggesting.

2. Comissives

Datum 1 (X201)

Rogue: John, they told us to stay here.

John: You always do as you’re told?

34

“You always do as you‟re told?” has interrogative form but has different

function. It is an indirect refusal because John is sick of waiting without do

anything while the others have a fight and he leaving his friends after he uttered

that sentence. There are two illocutionary in this conversation. The primer one is a

prohibition from Rogue to John to leave the plane because their teacher said so,

and the secondary illocutionary is came from John‟s answer. He could be just

saying that he does not want to waiting any longer without do anything but he

stated “You always do as you‟re told?” in order to refuse for what Rogue said

indirectly. He stated his answer by literal because Rogue have always did what

somene told her to. Furthermore, John left them right away after he stated that.

This is obvious that he refuse to stay and choose to fight with the others.

According to Searle, the type of the illocutionary act is comissives. He commit

himself to some future action.

3. Expressives

Datum 1 (X202)

Bobby‟s mother: When did you first know you were a—

John: A mutant?

Bobby‟s mother: Would you cut that out?

Bobby‟s mother utters “would you cut that out?” it is not only a question but an

interrogative structure that has a function as indirect asking for John to mind his

attitude. They are in the middle of family conversation but John‟s act and attitude

35

is inappropriate based on what Bobby‟s mother feels. She states that she dislike

for what John did but she tell him not to do that again using indirect speech to be

more polite in front of her family member and guests. Also in her social status as

a mother, she cannot just tell John to shut up. She needs to use a polite word or a

polite way such as indirect asking for him to not cut the conversation. According

to Searle, the type of this illocutionary act is expressives. Expressives is a speech

act that state what the speaker feels.57

57

George Yule, Op.Cit., p.53.

36

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

After analyzing the data and seeing the result of the previous chapter,

finally the writer comes to the last chapter. In this chapter, as closing of this

research, the writer makes a conclusion from the analysis of indirect speech

act which uttered by all the characters in X-Men Film Series. The aim of this

study is to find the forms (declaratives, imperatives, interrogatives) and the

functions of indirect speech act, and the types of illocutionary act according

to John R. Searle such as directives, representatives, commissives,

expressives and declarations.

From the result of analysis, the writer has found twenty two data which

contain all three forms of indirect speech act which are declaratives,

imperatives and interrogatives. In each form, they have each different

function such as requesting, suggesting, begging, asking, refusal and

commanding. The writer also found three types of illocutionary act, they were

directives, comissives and expressives.

The writer observes that the context of situation on the event, the

participants and their social status are really helpful to determining the form

and the function of the utterances. Mostly, the characters uttered an indirect

speech based on their social status, for instance, a boss to his employee, a

mother to her daughter and the teacher to their students. The situations are

37

also occur. The context of situation is very significant thing in pragmatics

study. Without the context, it will be difficult to find out what the speaker

means and what the speaker wants by give the utterance.

B. Suggestion

After analyzing the data and composing the conclusion, the writer suggests to

the readers related to the result of this research. This research discusses an

indirect speech act. The writer suggestions for the linguistics students who wants

to do a research in the same field. The speech act theory has a wide discussion,

not only indirect speech act but also a direct one. Hence, some of indirect speech

have the same form as direct speech but, do concern on their form and their

function from the situation and the social aspect of the participants. Moreover,

the writer hopes this research can enrich pragmatics study in our university

especially in indirect speech act and based on this research, the writer hopes that

this research will add the readers knowledge about indirect speech act and will

be useful for the future researcher who will discuss in the same field. In addition,

the future researcher can analyze using other media, such as novel, comic, etc.

38

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