An Analysis Of Speech Act On Film Script Entitled The Proposal

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AN ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT ON FILM SCRIPT

ENTITLED

THE PROPOSAL

A THESIS

BY:

RINANDES MINTHAULI BANJARNAHOR

070705034

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

FACULTY OF LETTERS

ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT

MEDAN

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all, I would like to give glory and praise to my Savior Jesus Christ

who is always giving me health, strength, patient and blessing so I can accomplish

the writing of this thesis.

I want to express my gratitude to the Dean of Faculty of Letters,

University of Sumatera Utara, Dr. Drs. Syahron Lubis, M. A, and all the staff for

their help during the period of study in this faculty.

In this opportunity I would like to express my special gratitude to my

supervisor, Drs. Umar Mono, Dipl. Tran, M.Hum and my co-supervisor, Drs. M.

Syafi’ie Siregar, M.A for their time, thought, suggestions and support in guiding

me in writing this thesis.

I would like to thank to the Head of English Department, Dr. Drs. Muhizar

Muchtar, M. S and the Secretary of English Department, Dr. Dra. Nurlela, M.

Hum. I also would like to thank to all the lecturers who have shared their precious

thought and valuable knowledge throughout my academic years. I also give

thanks to Bg. Am who always helps me in administrator matter.

The special thank and appreciation are also dedicated to my beloved

parents, Drs. M. Bandjarnahor and S. Siagian, who always pray, support, and pour

me with their honest love. For my big brother (Bg Per), my sisters (K’ Ren, K’

Ida, K’ Waty, Wiwi) and my brother in law (Bg Eko), thanks a lot for your pray

and support, I love you all.

Other special thank is dedicated to my best friends in English Department

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having great times together in almost four years and all the support in finishing

this thesis, love you and nice to know you all. Also for Nevri and Agatha for all

cares and support me. And to all my friends whose cannot be mentioned one by

one.

Finally, I hope this thesis will be used for the readers, especially for who

are interested in studying English. God bless us.

Medan, March 2011

Rinandes Minthauli Banjarnahor

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ABSTRAK

Dalam skripsi yang berjudul An Analysis of Speech Act on Film Script Entitled

The Proposal ini, penulis menganalisis tindak ilokusi dan perlokusi yang

dihasilkan dari dialog dua tokoh utamanya, Margaret Tate dan Andrew Paxton berdasarkan kategorinya masing-masing, yakni representatif, komisif, direktif, ekspresif, rogatif, dan deklarasi. Tujuan penulisan skripsi ini adalah menemukan jenis-jenis tindak ilokusi dan tindak perlokusi yang dihasilkan oleh Margaret Tate dan Andrew Paxton sebagai pelaku utama dalam film tersebut. Dalam penulisan skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan metode deskriptif. Langkah yang dilakukan penulis dalam mengerjakan skripsi ini adalah dengan menonton film The Proposal

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dihasilkan dari dialog dua tokoh utamanya, Margaret Tate dan Andrew Paxton berdasarkan kategorinya masing-masing, yakni representatif, komisif, direktif, ekspresif, rogatif, dan deklarasi. Tujuan penulisan skripsi ini adalah menemukan jenis-jenis tindak ilokusi dan tindak perlokusi yang dihasilkan oleh Margaret Tate dan Andrew Paxton sebagai pelaku utama dalam film tersebut. Dalam penulisan skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan metode deskriptif. Langkah yang dilakukan penulis dalam mengerjakan skripsi ini adalah dengan menonton film The Proposal

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Analysis

Language is one of the most important aspects in human daily life. It is

used as a means to communicate with other people. Language, both spoken and

written is used by human being to express his thought, ideas and emotion by using

sounds, gestures and signals in various purposes and reasons. Language is so

essential for everyone, it cannot be separated from human’s life because it is used

to interact to each other.

Hartley (1982: 11) states:

“language is a means of communication. To communicate by speaking is not a gratuitous act; it is purposeful, and thus language has an instrument aspect. Communication can only take place successfully of the means of communication is agreed by its users, and thus language has a conventional aspect. Society as we know would not exist without language, and indeed for some it is a defining characteristic of human race itself, for exceeding in sophistication of any animal communication.”

Pei (1996) as quoted in Yasin (2008: 6) states that language is a system of

communication by sound operating through the organ of speech and hearing,

among members a given community, and using vocal symbols possessing

arbitrary conventional meaning.

Those definitions above show how language is useful in human’s life, it is

emphasized that there is a conventional meaning which leads to an understanding

in a communication, that the speaker and the listener must mutually catch the

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no misunderstanding towards the delivered messages. A cooperative

communication does not require only the linguistic knowledge of the speaker and

the listener but it also requires the contextual knowledge, in which role is very

important to understand the meaning of the speech that being uttered.

Stefanie Jannedy et. al (1994: 227) state “to fully understand the meaning

of a sentence, we must understand the context in which it is uttered. Pragmatics

concerns itself with how people use language within a context and why they use

language in particular ways. This unit examines how speaker and hearer affect the

ways in which language is used to perform various function.”

Austin (1962) in Fasold (2006: 162) points out that when people use

language, they are performing a kind of action that is called speech acts. The use

of the term speech act covers ‘actions’ such as requesting, commanding,

questioning, and informing. In studying pragmatics, we concern on how to utter a

speech so that the listener can interpret the meaning that is conveyed by the

speaker.

According to Austin utterance can be analyzed as a speech act. There are

two kinds of utterances, performative utterance and constative utterance. A

performative utterance is one that actually describes the act that it performs, i.e it

performs some acts and simultaneously describes that act. For example “I promise

to be there tomorrow” is performative because in saying it the speaker actually

does what the utterance describes, i.e. he promises to the listener to be there the

next day. That is, the utterance both a description and a promise. While a

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declarative sentence) but it is not a performative. For example “I think I was

wrong” is a constative utterance because it is only describes the mental state.

Austin (1962) proposed three levels of speech acts: locutionary act,

illocutionary act, and perlocutionary act. Locutionary act is the content of the

utterance itself, while the illocutionary act is the meaning intended by the speaker,

and perlocutionary act is the interpretation of the message by the listener.

The source of the data in this thesis is the script of film, entitled The

Proposal, which has been taken from the internet. The Proposal is a 2009

American romantic comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher and starred by Sandra

Bullock (Margaret Tate) and Ryan Reynolds (Andrew Paxton). The screenplay

was written by Pete Chiarelli. This film was released on June 19, 2009 in North

America by Touchstone Pictures.

The writer wants to discuss about the speech act among the main

characters of The Proposal and to find out whether the theory of pragmatics can

be analyzed in this film script such as in our daily utterances. The writer chooses

the movie as the object of the research because the conversation of the main

characters represents our daily conversation. In each conversation contains the

three categories of speech act, it is why the writer wants to analyze the

conversation and then classify each utterance to the categories of speech acts and

to find the types of illocutionary act and the perlocutionary act in the film script of

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1.2 Problem of Analysis

Based on the background above, this thesis is meant to analyze the speech

act in Touchstone film script entitled The Proposal. This thesis discusses the

following problems, they are:

1. What types of illocutionary act are found in The Proposal?

2. Are there any perlocutionary acts within the illocutionary acts in The

Proposal?

1.3 Objective of Analysis

The objectives of the thesis are not much different from the problems and

they are:

1. To find out the types of illocutionary act in The Proposal.

2. To find out if there are the perlocutionary act within the illocutionary act

in The Proposal.

1.4 Scope of the Analysis

This analysis is based on pragmatics that is to discuss the speech act on the

Touchstone Film’s The Proposal. There are three important categories of speech

acts, namely; locution, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts. In this analysis, the

writer would like to focus on the illocutionary act and perlocutionary act, since the

whole of the script are included the locutionary act. The writer limits the analysis

on the types of illocutionary act which consists of declarative, representative,

expressive, rogative, commissive, and directive, and also the perlocutionary act

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dialogue of the two main characters in The Proposal, Margareth Tate and Andrew

Paxton.

1.5 Method of Analysis

In doing this thesis, the writer applies library research method. This

method is carried out by reading, collecting and observing the data and

information from textbooks, articles, thesis and other sources related to the topic.

The data is collected from the dialogues of the main characters of the film

The Proposal. Firstly, the film is watched. Then, the transcript of the film is taken

from the internet, and at last, the dialogue is analyzed and classified into the types

of illocutionary act and then found out whether there is perlocutionary act among

the dialogues.

1.6 Review of Related Literature

In analyzing the speech acts in this thesis, some related literatures are

reviewed to support the analysis, they are:

Yule (1996: 48) says that the action performed by producing an utterance

will consists of three related acts. They are locutionary acts, illocutionary acts,

and perlocutionary effect. He also says that speech acts can be classified into five

general functions, they are: declarations, representatives, expressives, directives,

and commisives.

Peccei (1999: 44) says that speech acts can be divided into three parts.

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categories; representatives, commisives, directives, expressive, rogatives, and

declaratives.

Siregar, Tesen (2010:96) in his thesis “An Analysis of Illocutionary Act in

A Walk to Remember” which discusses about the types of illocutionary act in the

film, found out that the dominant illocutionary acts occur during the character’s

dialogue is representative (41.56%) followed by rogative (24.75 %), directive

(18.43 %), expressive (12.5 %), commissive (3.12 %) and found no declarative

illocution.

Maria, Eva (2009) in her thesis “An Analysis of Speech Acts in Batak

Toba Wedding Ceremony: A Pragmatic Analysis” also discussed about the types

of illocutionary act in Batak Toba Wedding Ceremony found out that the

dominant illocutionary act is directive 46 times (52.27%), expressive 24 times

(27,27%), representative 9 times (10.22%), commissive 3 times (3.40%),

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CHAPTER II

THEORITICAL REVIEW

2.1 The Understanding of Pragmatics

Pragmatics as a branch of linguistic is the study of meaning which relates

to the context or the external meaning of language unit. Pragmatics is the study of

contextual meaning (Yule, 1996: 3). Within the theory of meaning, pragmatic is

especially concerned with the implicit meaning, with the unsaid. It might be

considered as the investigation of invisible meaning (Yule, 1996: 3). Definitions

below may help for more understanding about what the pragmatics is.

Levinson (1985: 12) states “pragmatics is the study of language use in

context.” Parker (1986: 11) as quoted in Wijana (2009:4) states, “Pragmatics is

distinct from grammar, which is the study of the internal structure of language.

Pragmatics is the study of how language is used to communicate.” Peccei (1999:

2) states “pragmatics concentrates on those aspects of meaning that cannot be

predicted by linguistic knowledge alone and takes into account knowledge about

the physical and social world.” Yule (1996: 3) states “pragmatic is concerned with

the study of meaning as communicated by a speaker (or writer) and interpreted by

a listener (or reader).”

From the definitions above it be concluded that pragmatics is a branch of

linguistics which concerns with language use in context and the study of meaning

related to the context or situation. Pragmatics is focused on a person’s ability to

derive meaning from the specific kind of speech situation, to recognize what the

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convey using particular words is often influenced by factors such as the listeners’

assumption or the context. This is how the context becomes the most important

factor in pragmatics.

2.2 The Goal of Pragmatics Theory

In discussing pragmatics, Akmajian (1797: 279) put some minimal

requirements on an adequate pragmatics theory, they are as follow:

a) A pragmatics theory must contain a classification of speech acts

b) A pragmatics theory must contain analysis and definitions of various

speech acts.

c) A pragmatics theory must contain a specification of various uses of

expression, they must be as :

1) Expression e is standardly (literally and directly) used to do in X

(in context C)

2) Expression e has n different users.

3) Expression e and è have the same use or uses.

d) A pragmatics theory must relate to literal and direct language use for such

phenomena as:

1) Linguistic structure (semantic, syntax, phonology)

2) The structures of the communication situations, the course of

conversations, and social institutions.

3) The speaker’s meaning, implication, presupposition and

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According to Akmajian, some of the philosophers have been mainly

concerned with categorizing the type of speech acts and defining each category.

They have pursued goals (a) and (b). Linguists have been concerned mainly in

specifying the expressions in language (goal c) which are the pragmatic analogues

of meaning specification, such as ambiguity, and synonymy. Psychologist has

been concerned mainly with the investigation of how information concerning

language use in processed, store, and acquired. Finally, anthropologist and

sociologist have been concerned with the regularities between language use and

social role, as well as the structuring of speech acts into conversation-in short,

goal d(3). Five disciplines are interested in pursuing these goals. They are

philosophy, linguistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Based on the

above explanation, to get a success, pragmatics will require the cooperation of

these five disciplines.

2.3 Speech Acts

In attempting to express themselves, people do not only produce

utterances containing grammatical structures and words. The people perform

actions via those utterances. Actions which are performed via utterances are

generally called speech acts (Yule, 1996: 47). We use language to express the

activities. We use it to convey information, request information, give orders, make

requests, make threats, give warnings, etc.

In general, speech acts are the acts of communication. To communicate is

to express a certain attitude, and the type of speech act being performed

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expresses a belief, a request expresses a desire, and an apology expresses regret.

As an act of communication, a speech acts will be success if the audience

identifies the communication, in accordance with the speaker’s intention which

the attitude is being expressed.

According to Austin, there are three levels of speech acts, they are:

1. Locutionary Acts

The locution is the actual form of words used by the speaker and their

semantic meaning (Peccei, 1994: 44). This kind of speech act is also called the

utterance act or the act of saying something. It is an act of uttering something,

syllable, word, and phrase or sentence forms of a language. Locutionary acts

produce a meaningful linguistic expression. It is to produce an utterance with a

particular form and more or less determinated meaning.

2. Illocutionary Acts

Illocutionary act is what the speaker is doing. By uttering those words,

such as commanding, offering, promising, threatening, thanking, etc (Peccei,

1999: 44). Illocutionary act is an act performed in saying something. When

analyzing an utterance, it does not only deal with what do the sentence means, but

also what kind of act does a speaker performs in uttering a sentence. For example,

in saying “you can play outside for an hour” may perform an act of giving

permission that is the speaker allows the listener to play outside.

Akmajian et.al (1979) points out that there are some characteristics of

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• Illocutionary act can often be successfully performed simply by uttering

the tight explicit performative sentence, with the right intention and

beliefs, and under the right circumstances.

• Illocutionary acts are central to linguistic communication. The normal

conversation is composed in the right part of statement, request, order,

thank, ask and the like. The performed acts are governed by rules.

When one does perform perlocutionary acts of persuading, one does so

by performing illocutionary act of stating or informing.

• Most illocutionary act which are used to communicate have the feature

that one performs them successfully, simply by getting one’s

illocutionary intention recognized. For example, when someone says,

“I’m thirsty”, which means that the speaker wants the listener to give

him a glass of water. His illocutionary intention will be recognized if

the listener responds it by giving a glass of water to the speaker. Then

the speaker will successfully tell the listener his intention.

Types of Illocutionary Acts a) Representative

Representative is an act of representing the statement of affairs. The

speaker becomes committing to the truth of the propositional content. He or she

represents external reality by making their words fit the world as they believe it to

be. This type is also sometimes called assertive. The typical expression of act is a

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1) Stating: to express something in spoken or written words,

especially carefully, fully and clearly.

2) Asserting: to state something clearly and forcefully as the truth.

3) Informing: to give somebody facts or information about something.

4) Affirming: to state formally or confidently that something is true or

correct.

5) Predicting: to say that something will happen.

6) Retelling: to tell a story, etc again in a different way.

7) Calling: to call somebody’s name.

8) Answering: to answer somebody’s called.

9) Concluding: to come to an end or bring something to an end.

Example:

 I think it will rain today (predicting)

 It was a warm sunny day (describing)

 I demand my independence (asserting)

 Andrew ! (calling)

b) Declaratives

Declarative illocutionary act is a special type of illocutionary act that bring

an extra linguistic statement of affairs into the existence, since it deals with a

special authority or institution such as declaring war, naming, and the like. As we

know that everyone cannot declare a war or give a name. In this act, the words of

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typical expression for this type is a declarative structure and a performative verb

in simple present tense.

Example:

 I name this ship Titanic (naming)

 I declare the war to be started (declaring)

c) Commissives

Commisive illocutionary act is an act that commits the speaker to do

something in the future. The relationship between the words and the world is

identical to directives namely the world will fit the words, but the realization of

the act is the speaker’s responsibility while in directives, it is the responsibility of

the listener. The typical expression is declarative structure in which the speaker is

the subject and the future time is expressed. Paradigm cases for this illocutionary

are such as:

1) Promising: a written or spoken declaration that one will definitely

give or do or not something.

2) Refusing: to say or show that one is unwilling to give, accept or do

something.

3) Offering: to show or express willingness or the intention to do,

give something.

4) Threatening: to make a threat or threats against somebody.

Examples:

 I’ll come to your home tonight. (promising)

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 I’ll make a cup of tea for you (offering)

 I’ll kill you if you tell her that secret (threatening)

The examples show the act of promising are carried out by the speaker and

he or she is responsible for it. Contrast to directives, commissive tend to the

function as rather to be convivial than to be competitive. Thus, they involve more

positive politeness, because commissive does not refer to the speaker’s

importance but to the listener’s expectation. The speakers of commissive often

tend to convince the hearer.

d) Directive

Directive is the kind of speech acts that the speaker uses to get someone

else to do something. The speaker tries to get the listener to act in such a way or to

do a future action according to the intention of the speaker. The relationship

between the word and the world is the world will fit the word and the listener is

responsible for realization of the changes. The typical expression of this type

usually uses imperative structure; however, there are so many ways of expressing

this type, they are not only imperative but also integorative and declarative

structure are often used to perform directive illocutionary act. The typical

examples of them as:

1) Ordering: to give an order or command to somebody to do

something. Ordering is more polite than commanding.

2) Commanding: to tell somebody that they must do something.

3) Warning: a statement, an event that warns somebody about

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4) Suggesting: to put an idea into somebody’s mind.

5) Request: an act of politely asking for something.

6) Forbidding: to order somebody not to do something.

7) Inviting: to ask somebody in a friendly way to go somewhere or do

something.

Example:

 Could you please turn on the light? (requesting)

 You had better take a rest. (suggesting)

 Clean the floor! (commanding)

 Watch your move! (warning)

All of those utterances are in the form of imperative structure and

functioned to give orders to the listener to do some actions.

e) Expressive

The act of expressive is to express a psychological statement of the

speaker. It includes the notion of reaction to other people or the feeling of the

speaker about the surroundings. In this act, the words of the speaker fit the

psychological world and the speaker is also responsible for the action. The typical

structure of expression is usually in declarative structure with the words referring

to the feeling such as:

1) Apologizing: to say one is sorry, especially for having done

something wrong.

2) Thanking: to express gratitude to somebody.

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4) Compliment: an expression of praise, admiration, approval, etc.

Examples:

 I’m really sorry to hear that. (apologizing)

 Good morning (greeting)

 I thank you for coming to my party. (thanking)

 You are a beautiful woman (compliment)

The examples represent the statement of the feeling of the speaker, which

is called the psychological world.

f) Rogative

Rogative illocutionary act is not included in the classification of Searle’s

theory, it is proposed by Leech to specify between a request for an action (in

Searle’s theory) and a request for giving information. Searle grouped all

requesting, action as well as information into directives. In rogatives, the listener

rather than the speaker will make the words fit the world. In this category, the

speaker must not already have the information requested. Rogative focuses the

type of illocutionary act only on asking information from the hearer. Example:

 Where did she go?

 Can you take the book for me?

Both sentences are in form of interrogative, the first example is asking for

information from the hearer while the second is to ask the hearer to do the act of

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The table below will show the similarities and differences between the

speech act category based on the relation between the ‘words’ and the ‘world’

(Peccei, 1999: 53).

Speech Acts Category

Relation between ‘the words’ and ‘the world’

Who is responsible for the relation

Declaratives The words change the world Speaker

Representatives

The words fit the world

(outside world)

Speaker

Expressives

The words fit the world

(psychological world)

Speaker

Rogatives The words fit the world Hearer

Commisives The world will fit the words Speaker

Directives The world will fit the words Hearer

Another table will also describe how the direct interpretation comes from

other linguistic features of the utterance which we recognize as typical for that

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Speech Acts Category Typical Expression Example

Representatives Declarative structure Billi was an accountant.

Expressives

Declarative structure with

words referring to feelings

This beer is disgusting.

Rogatives Interrogative structure Is she leaving?

Commisives

Directives Imperative sentence Fasten your seatbelt!

3. Perlocutionary Acts

Perlocutioanry act is the third part of speech act which is distinctive from

two other kinds of the speech act. It is an actual result or an effect of the

illocution. It may or may not be what the speaker wants to happen but it is

nevertheless caused by the illocution. It is defined by the listener’s reaction to the

speaker utterance. When someone creates the utterances with a purpose or an

intention, it means that he or she wants his or her locution/utterances to have an

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intention so the listener will act exactly as the speaker want. Like the illocutionary

act, the perlocutionary act also have some characteristics, they are:

a. Perlocutionary acts which are not performed by uttering explicit

performative sentences.

b. Perlocutionary acts which seem to involve the effects of utterance

acts and illocutionary acts on the thoughts, feelings, and actions of

the listener, whereas the illocutionary act does not. Thus, the

perlocutionary acts can be represented as an illocutionary act of

speaker (S) plus its effects on the listener (L). It can be illustrated

as below:

1. S tells + L believes…= S persuades L that…

2. S tells + L intends…= S persuades L that…

Furthermore, considering the importance of getting understanding between

locution, illocution, and perlocution, below is the example of these three acts:

“Could you please pass me the milk?”

Locution: The speaker uttered the words which semantically mean

requesting the listener to give her the milk.

Illocution: The speaker performed an act of requesting the listener to give

her the milk.

Perlocution: The speaker persuaded the hearer to give her the milk, and as

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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Method

This thesis is made by applying the descriptive method, because the result

of this thesis will describe the use of illocutionary acts found in The Proposal

movie. As Nawawi said (1993: 63): “Metode Deskriptif dapat diartikan sebagai

prosedur pemecahan masalah yang diselidiki dengan menggambarkan/

melukiskan keadaan subjek/ objek penelitian (seseorang, lembaga, masyarakat,

dll) pada saat sekarang berdasarkan fakta-fakta yang tampak atau sebagaimana

adanya.”

It means that the research aims to describe all the facts as it is without any

subjective improvisation

3.2 Data Collecting Method

The data are collected by applying the library research method. The data

are collected from the dialogue of the two main characters The Proposal movie,

Margaret Tate and Andrew Paxton which is focused on the case of illocutionary

act. Firstly, the movie is watched. Then the transcript of the movie is taken from

the internet. Next, the dialogues of Margaret Tate and Andrew Paxton are marked

as the dialogues to be analyzed and classified into the types of illocutionary act

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3.3 Data Analysis Method

Some steps that are used to analyze the data are as follows:

1. Collecting the data: picking out all the dialogue of the characters of the

film.

2. Classifying the data: classifying the important data based on the scope of

the analysis.

3. Identifying the data: characterizing the utterance based on which belong to

one of the categories of illocutionary act.

4. Describing the data: making a brief description of the final result of the

research in the form of numbers or tables.

In counting the percentage of the data, Bungin’s formula (2005: 171-172)

is used to find the category of illocutionary acts that occur mostly in The Proposal

Movie. The formula is:

n = percentage of illocutionary acts category

Fx = individual frequency of illocutionary acts category

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 The Analysis

4.1.1 Illocutionary Acts

There are many utterances found in the dialogues of the two main

character of The Proposal movie. However, the writer only takes some examples

or representative data to be analyzed. The analysis of illocutionary acts in The

Proposal will be discussed as follows:

1) Representatives.

Searle (1979) defines “representatives are those kinds of speech acts that

state what the speaker believes to be the case or not”. Some utterances

that represent representative illocutionary acts in the dialogue of two main

characters of The Proposal are:

• Asserting

1. Margaret : I read a few pages. I wasn't that impressed.

Margaret asserts that she read a few pages but she wasn’t

impressed. She states it clearly and forcefully as the truth that

she wasn’t impressed to the manuscript that Andrew gave her.

2. Andrew : I've read thousands of manuscripts; this is the

only one I've given you. There's an incredible novel

in there.

Andrew asserts that he had read thousands of manuscripts and

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forcefully as the truth that he had read thousand manuscripts and

there’s an incredible novel in that manuscript.

3. Margaret : Wrong. And I do think you order the same coffee

as I do just in case you spill, which is, in fact,

pathetic.

Margaret asserts that she thinks Andrew orders the same coffee

as she does just in case his spill, which is in fact, pathetic. She

states it forcefully as the truth that Andrew is wrong about the

manuscript.

• Informing

1. Andrew : You have a conference call in 30 minutes.

Andrew informs Margaret that she has a conference call in 30

minutes. He gives information to Margaret.

2. Andrew : Staff meeting at 9.00.

Andrew informs Margaret about the staff meeting. In this

utterance, he is also gives information to Margaret about the

staff meeting.

3. Andrew : Janet.

Andrew informs Margaret the name of the one with the ugly

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• Affirming

1. Andrew : Yes. I did. I told her that if she doesn't get her

manuscript in on time you won't give her a release

date.

Andrew affirms that he had called Janet and told her that if she

doesn’t get her manuscript in on time Margaret will not give her

a release date. It is an affirmation because it is true that he had

called Janet and told her that Margaret will not give her a release

date if she doesn’t get her manuscript.

2. Andrew : I do. It's like Christmas in a cup.

Andrew affirms that he drinks the unsweetened light soy lattes

and it’s like Christmas in a cup. Andrew’s utterance is

affirmation because it is true that he drinks the unsweetened

light soy lattes.

3. Andrew : I don't understand what's happening.

Andrew affirms that he doesn’t understand what’s happening.

This utterance is affirmation because it is true that he doesn’t

understand what’s happening, in this case he is confused why

Margaret told to their boss that they are getting married.

• Stating

1. Margaret : Yes. About the marketing of the spring books. I

(32)

Margaret literally states that she knows the conference call is

about the marketing of the spring books. She states the fact that

she knows the conference call is about the marketing of the

spring books.

2. Margaret : Frank is doing Oprah.

Margaret literally states that Frank is doing Oprah. She states the

fact that Frank is doing Oprah.

3. Andrew : Incredibly, it is. I wouldn't drink the same coffee

that you drink just in case yours spilled. That

would be pathetic.

Andrew states that he wouldn’t drink the same coffee that

Margaret drinks just in case hers spilled, that would be pathetic.

• Predicting

1. Margaret : I guess I will pop for you to fly first class.

Margaret predicts that she will pop Andrew to fly first class. It is

a prediction because Margaret uses guess in her utterance, which

is mean that she is not sure yet that she pop Andre to fly first

class.

2. Andrew : Oh, my God. When my mom finds out that this

whole thing is a shame she's gonna... she's gonna

(33)

Andrew predicts that his mother is going to be crushed and his

grandmother is going to die when they find out that this whole

thing is a shame.

3. Margaret : We'll be happily divorced before you know it. It

will be fine. It will be fine.

Margaret predicts that they will be happily divorced before he

knows it and everything will be fine.

• Retelling

1. Margaret : Yes, Janet.

Margaret retells the name that told by Andrew.

2. Andrew : We are.

Andrew retells Margaret’s statement.

3. Andrew : We're done with that question.

Andrew retells Margaret’s statement which is implicitly mean to

stop talk about Margaret tattoo.

• Calling

Andrew : Margaret.

Andrew calls Margaret.

• Answering

Margaret : Yes?

(34)

• Concluding

Andrew : So. So naked.

Andrew concludes that they were so naked.

2) Declaratives

Some utterances that represent declarative illocutionary acts in the

dialogue of two main characters of The Proposal are:

1. Margaret : We're getting married. We are getting married.

2. Margaret : You and I. You and I are getting married! Yes.

3. Margaret : Getting married. We are getting married. Yes.

Margaret declares that she and Andrew are getting married.

3) Commisives

Some utterances that represent commissives illocutionary acts in the

• Promising

1. Andrew : Will do.

Andrew promises Margaret that he will do Margaret’s order to

have security to take Bob’s breakfront and put it in her

conference room. Andrew’s utterance is promising to do an

action in the future.

2. Margaret : I'll make you editor.

Margaret promises Andrew that she will make him as an editor.

(35)

3. Margaret : If you do the Alaska weekend and the immigration

interview, I will make you editor. Happy?

Margaret promises Andrew that she will make Andrew as an

editor. Margaret utterance is promising to do an action in the

future.

• Offering

1. Margaret : Ten thousand copy first...

Margaret offers to publish Andrew’s manuscript ten thousand

copies first by giving a statement.

2. Margaret : Get us some coffee.

Margaret offers to get them some coffee by giving a statement.

• Threatening

Margaret : Yeah. If you touch my ass one more time, I will

cut your balls off in your sleep. OK?

Andrew is threatening by Margaret. She promises to cut his balls in

his sleep if he touches her ass one more time.

• Refusing

1. Margaret : If I want your praise, I will ask for it.

Margaret refuses Andrew’s compliment.

(36)

Margaret refuses to going out with Andrew’s mother and

grandmother.

4) Directives

Some utterances that represent directives illocutionary acts in the dialogue

of two main characters of The Proposal are:

• Ordering

1. Margaret : I need you this weekend to help review his files

and his manuscript.

Margaret orders Andrew to help her to review Bob’s files and

manuscript this weekend.

2. Margaret : OK. Come get me in ten minutes.

Margaret orders Andrew to come with her in ten minutes.

3. Margaret : Use the miles for the tickets.

Margaret orders Andrew to use the miles for the tickets.

• Commanding

1. Margaret : Cancel the call, push the meeting to tomorrow,

keep the lawyer on the sheets. Get a hold of PR,

have them start drafting a press release.

Margaret commands Andrew to cancel the call, push the

meeting, keep the lawyer on the sheets, and have the PR to start

drafting a press release.

(37)

Margaret commands to Andrew to looks what is Bob doing.

Margaret’s utterance is a command to Andrew. It is more than a

question about what is Bob doing when they left his office.

3. Margaret : Have security take his breakfront and put it in my

conference room.

Margaret commands Andrew to have security to take Bob’s

breakfront and put it in her conference room.

• Warning

1. Margaret : Sure you are. Because if you don't, your dreams

of touching the lives of millions with the written

word are dead. Bob is gonna fire you the second

I'm gone. Guaranteed. That means you're out on

the street looking for a job. That means the time

that we spent together, the lattes, the cancelled

dates, the midnight Tampax runs, were all for

nothing and all your dreams of being an editor are

gone.

Margaret warns Andrew that if he not marries her, his dreams of

being an editor are gone. Because Bob is going to fire him the

second she is gone.

2. Margaret : But until then, like it or not, your wagon is

(38)

Margaret warns Andrew that his wagon is hitched to her

whether he likes it or not.

3. Andrew : The boat is moving!

Andrew warns Margaret that the boat is suddenly moving.

• Suggesting

1. Andrew : The kind of novel you used to publish.

Andrew suggests Margaret to publish the novel.

2. Margaret : Relax. This is for you, too.

Margaret suggests Andrew to relax because she done it not for

herself, but also for Andrew.

3. Andrew : You're gonna have to tell me where it is.

Andrew suggests Margaret to tell him where the tattoo is.

• Requesting

1. Andrew : Can I say something?

Andrew requests to say something.

2. Margaret : Will you marry me?

Margaret requests Andrew to marry her.

3. Margaret : Shut up. Would you, please?

Margaret requests Andrew to shut up.

• Forbidding

1. Margaret : No.

(39)

2. Andrew : Don't take this the wrong way.

Andrew forbids Margaret to take this the wrong way.

• Inviting

Andrew : Wanna come?

Andrew invites Margaret to come with him into town. Andrew’s

utterance is more than a question. It is to invite Margaret to come

with him into town to take her phone.

5) Expressive

Some utterances that represent expressive illocutionary acts in the

• Apologizing

1. Andrew : Sorry to interrupt.

His utterance is an apologize that he expresses his feeling

because interrupt the meeting between Margaret and their big

boss.

2. Andrew : I'm sorry. That question is not in the binder.

Andrew apologizes because he does not want to talk about that.

3. Margaret : I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Margaret apologizes to Andrew for letting go of the steering

wheel. Her utterance is an apologize that she expresses her

feeling after made fault. She apologize and feeling sorry after

(40)

• Thanking

1. Andrew : Thank you.

Andrew’s utterance is a thanking, because Margaret said that she

is exciting to experience him like that, that’s why Andrew says

thanks to Margaret.

2. Margaret : Thank you.

Margaret says thanks to Andrew because he closes the curtain.

This utterance is an expression of Margaret’s feeling.

• Greeting

1. Andrew : Morning.

Andrew greets Margaret.

2. Andrew : Hey.

• Compliment

1. Andrew : Wow. Nicely done.

Andrew praises Margaret.

2. Margaret : Genius! Genius. He completely fell for it.

Margaret praises Andrew that he was so genius because Mr.

Gilbertson believes him.

3. Andrew : Fine. Nice tattoo, by the way.

(41)

6) Rogatives

Some utterances that represent rogative illocutionary acts in the dialogue

of two main characters of The Proposal are:

1. Margaret : Did you call... What's her name? The one with the ugly

hands.

Margaret asks Andrew whether he has called someone with the ugly

hands.

2. Margaret : Who is... Who is Jillian? And why does she want me to

call her?

Margaret asks Andrew about Jillian.

3. Margaret : And I'm drinking your coffee why?

Margaret asks the Andrew why she drinks his coffee.

4.1.2 Perlocutionary Acts

1. Margaret : What's his twenty?

Andrew : He's moving. He has crazy eyes.

(Andrew looks to Bob’s Office)

2. Margaret : OK. Come get me in ten minutes. We've got a lot to do.

Andrew : Okey-doke.

(Andrew follows Margaret)

3. Margaret : Come here!

(42)

4. Margaret : This way

Andrew : Margaret.

Margaret : Come.

Andrew : That’s the line

(Andrew follows Margaret)

5. Andrew : You heard me. On your knee.

Margaret : Fine. Does this work for you?

(Margaret kneeling and ask Andrew to marry her)

6. Margaret : Well. Looks like I won't be getting much sleep with the sun

streaming in.

(Andrew closes the window shade)

7. Andrew : Come on. Hug time. Hug time.

Margaret : I don't wanna... Andrew.

Andrew : There we go. Yeah, that's nice. Yeah. That's nice. There

we go. Isn't that nice?

(Margaret hugs Andrew)

8. Margaret : Oh, God! You're showing everything. Cover it up, for the

love of God! Oh, God, not the Baby Maker. Explain yourself

please.

(43)

9. Margaret : Go take a shower. You stink.

Andrew : Fine.

(Andrew goes to the bathroom)

10. Margaret : Andrew! Andrew! Andrew! Andrew! Andrew, your

mother's at the door. Get up! Get up here!

Andrew : Oh, God.

(Andrew wakes up)

11. Andrew : OK, what do we do? All right. Just spoon me, spoon me...

(Margaret spoons to Andrew)

12. Andrew : Your phone arrived. I'm gonna go into town. Wanna

come?

Margaret : Oh, yes, I want to go. I want to go.

(Margaret goes with Andrew)

13. Andrew : To the buoy!

Margaret : OK.

(Margaret swims to the buoy)

14. Andrew : Margaret! Stop talking! Gotta say something.

Margaret : OK.

(44)

4.2 Findings

After analyzing each of the utterances of the two main characters in The

Proposal movie, it is found out that there are 365 utterances which can be

included as illocutionary acts and determined into its own category. Below is the

percentage of each illocutionary act category:

a) Representatives : 190 times

• Stating : 33 times

• Asserting : 59 times

• Informing : 24 times

• Affirming : 46 times

• Predicting : 7 times

• Retelling : 3 times

• Calling : 14 times

• Answering : 3 times

• Concluding : 4 times

b) Directives : 72 times

• Ordering : 25 times

• Command : 28 times

• Warning : 3 times

• Suggesting : 5 times

• Requesting : 8 times

• Forbidding : 2 times

(45)

c) Rogatives : 66 times

• Asking : 66 times

d) Commissives : 20 times

• Promising : 15 times

• Offering : 2 times

• Threatening : 1 time

• Refusing : 2 times

e) Expressives : 13 times

• Apologizing : 4 times

• Thanking : 2 times

• Greeting : 2 times

• Compliment : 5 times

f) Declaratives : 4 times

• Declaring : 4 times

From the percentage above, it can be concluded that representatives is the

dominant category in the dialogue of the two main characters in The Proposal

movie. Table 1 shows the frequency of category of illocutionary acts.

From the analysis, there are 14 perlocutionary acts which are done by the

(46)

Table 1: Frequency of Types of Illocutionary Act (TIA)

NO Types of Illocutionary Act Total %

1. Representatives 191 52.21 %

2. Directives 72 19.72 %

3. Rogatives 66 18.08 %

4. Commissives 20 5.4 %

5. Expressives 13 3.5 %

6. Declaratives 4 1.09 %

(47)

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTION

5.1 Conclusions

Having analyzed the speech acts in the Touchstone Film The Proposal, the

writer comes to the following conclusions.

There are six categories of illocutionary acts found in the dialogue of the

two main characters in The Proposal movie. They are representatives,

commissives, expressive, directives, rogatives, and declaratives.

The percentages of each category are: representatives 190 times (52.21%),

directives 72 times (19.72%), rogatives 66 times (18.08%), commissives 20 times

(5.4%), expressive 13 times (3.5%), and declaratives 4 times (1.09%).

The subcategories that are found in each category are:

a) Representatives

• Stating : 33 times

• Asserting : 59 times

• Informing : 24 times

• Affirming : 46 times

• Predicting : 7 times

• Retelling : 3 times

• Calling : 14 times

• Answering : 3 times

(48)

b) Directives

• Ordering : 25 times

• Command : 28 times

• Warning : 3 times

• Suggesting : 5 times

• Requesting : 8 times

• Forbidding : 2 times

• Inviting : 1 time

c) Rogatives : 66 times

• Asking : 66 times

d) Commissives

• Promising : 15 times

• Offering : 2 times

• Threatening : 1 time

• Refusing : 2 times

e) Expressives

• Apologizing : 4 times

• Thanking : 2 times

• Greeting : 2 times

• Compliment : 5 times

f) Declaratives : 4 times

• Declaring : 4 times

There are also 14 perlocutionary acts found out in the dialogues of the two

(49)

5.2 Suggestion

After reading this thesis, the readers hopefully are more understandable

about pragmatics especially illocutionary acts. There are more objects of study

that the readers can inquire such as advertisement, speech, platforms and any

other objects. The writer suggests the reader to do more researchers on linguistics

field especially in pragmatics to enrich the sources of pragmatics research and for

(50)

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Jannedy, Stefanie.1994.Language. Ohio: Ohio State University Press

Hurford, James R. 1989. A Semantics: A Coursebook. London: Cambridge University Press.

Hartley, A.F. 1982. Linguistics for Language Learners. London: The Macmillan Press

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(51)

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Pragmatical Analysis (Unpublished). Medan: Faculty of Letters.

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(52)

Appendix

1. Andrew : Morning.

TIA : Expressives (greeting)

2. Andrew : You have a conference call in 30 minutes.

TIA : Representatives (Informing)

Andrew informs Margaret that she has a conference call in 30 minutes.

3. Margaret : Yes. About the marketing of the spring books. I know.

TIA : Representatives (stating)

Margaret states that she knows the conference call is about the marketing of

the spring books.

4. Andrew : Staff meeting at 9.00.

TIA : Representatives (informing)

Andrew informs Margaret about the staff meeting.

5. Margaret : Did you call... What's her name? The one with the ugly

hands.

TIA : Rogatives (asking)

Margaret asks Andrew whether he has called someone with the ugly hands.

6. Andrew : Janet.

Andrew informs Margaret the name of the one with the ugly hands.

7. Margaret : Yes, Janet.

(53)

Margaret retells the name that told by Andrew.

8. Andrew : Yes. I did. I told her that if she doesn't get her manuscript

in on time you won't give her a release date.

TIA : Representatives (affirming)

Andrew affirms that he had called Janet and told her that if she doesn’t get

her manuscript in on time Margaret will not give her a release date.

9. Andrew : Your immigration lawyer called. He said it's imperative...

Andrew informs Margaret that her lawyer called.

10. Margaret : Cancel the call, push the meeting to tomorrow, keep the

lawyer on the sheets. Get a hold of PR, have them start

drafting a press release.

TIA : Directives (command)

Margaret commands Andrew to cancel the call, push the meeting, keep the

lawyer on the sheets, and have the PR to start drafting a press release.

11. Margaret : Frank is doing Oprah.

Margaret states that Frank is doing Oprah.

12. Andrew : Wow. Nicely done.

TIA : Expressives (compliment)

Andrew praises Margaret.

13. Margaret : If I want your praise, I will ask for it.

TIA : Commissives (refusing)

(54)

14. Margaret : Who is... Who is Jillian? And why does she want me to

call her?

Margaret asks Andrew about Jillian.

15. Andrew : Well, that was originally my cup.

Andrew informs Margaret that was originally his cup.

16. Margaret : And I'm drinking your coffee why?

Margaret asks the Andrew why she drinks his coffee.

17. Andrew : Because your coffee spilled.

Andrew informs Margaret that her coffee spilled.

18. Margaret : So, you drink unsweetened cinnamon light soy lattes?

Margaret asks Andrew whether he drinks unsweetened light soy lattes

19. Andrew : I do. It's like Christmas in a cup.

Andrew affirms that he drinks the unsweetened light soy lattes and it’s like

Christmas in a cup

20. Margaret : Is that a coincidence?

(55)

21. Andrew : Incredibly, it is. I wouldn't drink the same coffee that you

drink just in case yours spilled. That would be pathetic.

Andrew states that he wouldn’t drink the same coffee that Margaret drinks just

in case hers spilled, that would be pathetic.

22. Andrew : Have you finished the manuscript I gave you?

Andrew asks Margaret whether she had finished the manuscript he gave her.

23. Margaret : I read a few pages. I wasn't that impressed.

TIA : Representatives (asserting)

Margaret asserts that she read a few pages but she wasn’t impressed.

24. Andrew : Can I say something?

TIA : Directives (requesting)

Andrew requests to say something.

25. Margaret : No.

TIA : Directives (forbidding)

Margaret forbids Andrew to say something.

26. Andrew : I've read thousands of manuscripts; this is the only one

I've given you. There's an incredible novel in there.

Andrew asserts that he had read thousands of manuscripts and this is the only

he had given to Margaret.

27. Andrew : The kind of novel you used to publish.

(56)

Andrew suggest Margaret to publish the novel

28. Margaret : Wrong. And I do think you order the same coffee as I do

just in case you spill, which is, in fact, pathetic.

Margaret asserts that she thinks Andrew orders the same coffee as she does

just in case his spill, which is in fact, pathetic.

29. Andrew : Or impressive.

Andrew asserts that Margaret impressive

30. Margaret : I'd be impressed if you didn't spill in the first place.

Margaret asserts she would be impressed if Andrew didn’t spill in the first

place.

31. Margaret : Remember, you're a prop.

TIA : Declaratives (declaring)

Margaret declares that Andrew is a prop.

32. Andrew : Won't say a word.

TIA : Commissives (promising)

Andrew promises not to say a word.

33. Margaret : What's his twenty?

Margaret commands to Andrew to looks what is Bob doing.

34. Andrew : He's moving. He has crazy eyes.

(57)

Andrew informs Margaret that Bob is moving and has crazy eyes

35. Margaret : What was it?

Margaret asks Andrew something.

36. Andrew : Youtube

Andrew informs Margaret.

37. Margaret : Have security take his breakfront and put it in my

conference room.

Margaret commands Andrew to have security to take Bob’s breakfront and put

it in her conference room.

38. Andrew : Will do.

Andrew promises Margaret that he will do Margaret’s order.

39. Margaret : I need you this weekend to help review his files and his

manuscript.

TIA : Directives (ordering)

Margaret orders Andrew to help her to review Bob’s files and manuscript.

40. Andrew : This weekend?

Andrew asks Margaret about her order.

41. Margaret : You have a problem with that?

(58)

Margaret asks Andrew whether he has a problem with her order.

42. Andrew : No. I... just my grandmother's 90th birthday, so I was

gonna go home and... It's fine.

Andrew states that this weekend is just his grandmother’s 90th birthday and he

was going home.

43. Andrew : I'll cancel it.

Andrew promises Margaret that he will cancel it.

44. Andrew : You're saving me from a weekend of misery, so it's... Good

talk, yeah.

Andrew asserts that Margaret saving him from a weekend misery.

45. Margaret : Was that your family?

Margaret asks Andrew whether it was his family who was talking with him on

the phone.

46. Andrew : Yes

Andrew informs Margaret that was his family who was talking with him

47. Margaret : They tell you to quit?

Margaret asks Andrew whether his family tell him to quit

(59)

Andrew asserts to Margaret that his family asked him every single day to quit.

49. Andrew : Bergen and Malloy want to see you upstairs.

Andrew informs Margaret that Bergen and Malloy want to see her upstairs.

50. Margaret : OK. Come get me in ten minutes.

TIA : Directives (ordering)

Margaret orders Andrew to come with her in ten minutes.

51. Margaret : We've got a lot to do.

Margaret states that they have got a lot to do.

52. Andrew : Okey-doke.

Andrew promises that he will come to her.

53. Andrew : Sorry to interrupt.

TIA : Expressives (apologizing)

Andrew apologizes to interrupt.

54. Margaret : What?

Margaret asks Andrew what is happen.

55. Andrew : Mary from Ms Winfrey's office called. She's on the line.

Andrew informs Margaret that Mary from Ms Winfrey office called and she’s

(60)

56. Margaret : I know.

Margaret states that she knows that Marry called.

57. Andrew : She's on hold. She needs to speak with you. I told her you

were otherwise engaged. She insisted so...

Andrew states that she’s on hold and needs to speak with Margaret.

58. Margaret : Come here!

Margaret commands Andrew to come to the office.

59. Margaret : We're getting married. We are getting married.

Margaret declares that she and Andrew are getting married.

60. Andrew : Who is getting married?

Andrew asks Margaret who is getting married.

61. Margaret : You and I. You and I are getting married! Yes.

Margaret declares that they are getting married.

62. Andrew : We are.

TIA : Representatives (retelling)

Andrew retells Margaret’s statement.

63. Margaret : Getting married. We are getting married. Yes.

(61)

Margaret declares that they are getting married.

64. Margaret : What?

Margaret asks Andrew.

65. Andrew : I don't understand what's happening.

Andrew affirms that he doesn’t understand what’s happening

66. Margaret : Relax. This is for you, too.

TIA : Directives (suggesting)

Margaret suggests Andrew to relax.

67. Andrew : Do explain.

Andrew commands Margaret to explain what’s happening.

68. Margaret : They were going to make Bob chief.

Margaret informs Andrew that they were going to make Bob chief.

69. Andrew : Naturally I would have to marry you?

Andrew asks Margaret why he should marry her.

70. Margaret : And what's the problem? Like you were saving yourself

for someone special?

Margaret asks Andrew what’s the problem if she asked him to marry her.

An Analysis Of Speech Act On Film Script Entitled The Proposal