An Analysis of Basic Emotions in the Speech Act of Expressive in the 2016 US Presidential Debates

Abstract

Speech acts means every speech, both of spoken and written discourse that can give an
act and has a power in an action. It means that speech act is not only viewed as locutionary act
but as an illocutionary act that can make people to do something, and perlocutionary act as the
result of that (Austin, 1962). Then, illocutionary act was developed into five types of speech acts
in which speech act of expressive is one of them (Searle, 1976). Speech act phenomena do not
only occur in daily life or daily conversations, but also in the 2016 US Presidential Debates
between the candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The two candidates expresses their
vision and missions during the debates and also there were several issues raised such as
achieving prosperity is about creating jobs, economy, taxes, immigration, economy, foreign
hotspot, and national debt. This is interesting topic to be studied in terms of the basic emotions
expressed through the words use in the speech act of expressive, determine the strategy used by
both candidates expressed in each type expressive speech act, and basic emotions conveyed
through the words by the candidates.
According to Searle (1976) speech act of expressive is kind of speech act that express’s
psychological or emotional state and also expressive speech act related to the speaker feelings
and showing sympathy. It means that speakers express their feelings toward hearers. In
expressing the speakers’ feeling, it was influenced by situation and contexts. In order to analyze
the speech act of expressive, the writer used basic emotions theory stated by Parrot (2001).
According to Parrot, basic emotion appears as different reaction. The changing way of thinking,
psychology, and behavior not only through behavior but also can conveyed through the words
used as emotional reaction. The emotions can be reflected by the words used by the candidates.
The effects of emotional expressions will influence social interaction and relationships to other
people.
This study employed descriptive qualitative research that means to gather in depth
analysis of the phenomenon of the study with the approach of pragmatic-discourse, especially
speech act theory, and emotions. The data were taken from the website posted by Washington
Post in terms of the 1st-3rd full transcripts of the 2016 US Presidential Debates. There were
some steps to do in doing the research, namely collecting the data, classifying them into some
sub-types of the Expressive speech acts and types of basic emotions. Then, the writer analyzed
the collecting data with theories related to the purpose of the research, interpreted, discussed the
results and drawn a conclusion.
The results of this study were divided into two parts. Firstly, the writer found five types
of expressive speech acts, they are thanking, greeting, complimenting, wishing, and apologizing.
The most expressive speech act used by candidates is types of speech act of complimenting.
Complimenting means showing the speaker feelings or attitude and also showing approval or
commendation to the hearer that has done something. In speech act of complimenting, Clinton
tends to express her compliment reflected to other person such as to Obama and his wife,
Abraham Lincoln, American government, and her husband. Differed from Clinton, Trump tends
to express his praising for himself. It also occurs in types of speech act of wishing, Clinton tends
to express her wishing to society that she wants to be elected, voted, and choose as US President.
Meanwhile, Trump tends to express his wishing not to vote him as president. The writer tends to
say that he was very confident that he will be the US President 2016. In the speech act of
thanking, the writer found Clinton used thanking as expressing her gratitude in positive feelings
for example when she gives appreciation to audience that deliver the question to her. But, Trump
seems expressing his gratitude in terms of negative feelings when he said thank you to Clinton
that she has done a mistake. In the speech act of greeting and apologizing, the candidates
similarly expressed those types of expressive speech act.
Furthermore, both candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump frequently expressed
types of speech act of expressive by using direct strategy. For example, in speech act of thanking,
the form to express gratitude such as thank you, thanks a lot, thank you very much. In the speech
act of apologizing the forms are I’m sorry, I apologize, and excuse me. Speech act of
complimenting, the candidates often used forms of praising such as good job, grea, wonderful,
and etc.
Secondly, the writer found four primary basic emotions in term of Love, Joy, Anger and
Sadness. Clinton tends to express emotion of Love in scope of liking, caring, adoration, and Joy
in terms of pride, hope, and optimism. Clinton tend to express emotion of hope, it means a
feeling of want a something to happen or to be true. Meanwhile, Trump tends to express anger
emotion (disgust, scorn, and annoyance) in responding and giving comments towards Hillary
Clinton’s statements. For example, when he delivered his gratitude to Clinton as implicitly,
Trump expressed the emotion of scorn because the gratitude that he delivered to Clinton tend
express the negative feelings.
In The 2016 US presidential election, there are two parties involved, they are Democratic
and Republican. Democratic belongs to Hillary Clinton and Republican is represented Donald
Trump. Both of candidates were the strongest candidates in delivery their vision and missions.
And, the candidates also criticized the government and the opponent in order to provide a
motivation and encouragement for the people or society to do something. Clinton and Trump had
strong opinions, but different emotional expressions and character. Finally, the writer can
conclude that every word used by the two candidates expressed the basic emotions depend on the
contexts that influence them speaking whether linguistic, epistemic, physical or social and
cultural contexts. For further research, the study can be done in terms of a representative of
ideology and power of the two candidates reflected through the words use during the presidential
debates or speeches.
Keywords: expressive speech acts, direct and indirect strategy, basic emotions