AN ANALYSIS OF PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES AS FOUND IN DA VINCI CODE NOVEL BY DAN BROWN

Abstract

Abtract
This study discusess about performative utterances in Da Vinci Code novel. Performatives is
one kind of speech act according to Austin. The performative utterances are utterances
containing action. They can be order or request, promise, and commitment of the speaker to
do something. after collecting the utterances, they are classified based on the functions of
speech act (declarations, representatives, expressive, directives, and commissive) and
relationships between structure forms (declarative, interrogative, and imperative) and
communicative functions (statement, question, and command) of the utterances. In doing this,
the writer used Austin’s and Yule’s theories. The writer also used quality research and
observational technique by Ainin. That is by observing the data itself, reading it, collecting,
and classifying the data in Da Vinci Code novel. After analyzing the data, the writer found
that based on the functions of speech act, the data consists of directives, declaration, and
commissives. Meanwhile based on the relationships between structure forms and
communicative functions of the utterances, most of them include in direct relation where
structure of the utterance is relevant with its function.
Key words : Performatives and Da Vinci Code
Introduction
Language, as tool of communication, has
significant position in life of human being.
Wherever, human need language because by
using language, verbal or nonverbal, they can
communicate with others to make their life
running well. For instance, a buyer uses
language when she or he wants to buy a book
in book store.
Language used in communicating has
many functions. According to Chaer et all in
Ainin (2007:145) said that generally there are
five functions of language. They are:
expression, information, exploration,
persuasion, and entertainment.
In speech act theory, the language used in
communicating consists of two kinds; one of
them is performatives. Austin in Levinson
(1984: 228) defined:
Performatives utterance is not
apperantly used with any intention
of making true of false statement,
they are not used just to say thing,
i.e. describe states of affairs, but
rather actively to do thing.
In other words Austin defined:
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erformative utterances (or
performatives) are defined in the
speech acts theory (part of the
philosophy of language) as
sentences which are not only
passively describing a given reality,
but they are changing the (social)
reality they are describing.
Based on the quotation above, the write
concluded that the performatives utterance
was not only the utterance, but it contains
action.
These are the examples of performatives
utterances given by Austin:
1) I declare war on Zenzibar.
2) I bet you six pence it will rain
tomorrow.
In this paper, the writer analyzed the
performativess utterances in Da Vinci Code
novel. There are some reasons why the writer
chose to analyze performatives utterances in
this novel. First, there are many
performatives utterances uttered in the novel.
Second, based on linguistics there are many
wrong responds of the hearer to
performatives utterance in this novel
although in literature it is right.
Da Vinci Code as the source of data in
this thesis was one of the best seller novels.
In some countries, the film of this novel also
had become a controversial film to be
showed at 2006 because it was judged
insulting the role of Cristian. These are the
reasons why the writer chose this novel as
the data of this research.
This research is different with the
research done by Maizon (2011) in his
research titled ”An Research of Expressive
Speech Act as found Danelle Steel’s novel
“Heart Beat” and “Once in a Life Time”. In
the research, Maizon only focused on one
function of speech act. That is expressive.
Meanwhile, in this research the writer
classified the data based on three function of
speech act. Those are: declarations,
directiuves, and commissives function.
This research is also different from the
research done by Sanders (2008) in his
research titled “A Reseach of Explicit and
Implicit Performative Utterences as Found in
American Movie”. In this research he only
focused on classifying implicit and explicit
performatives utterances based on the
functions of speech act. Meanwhile, the
writer added the analysis about the
relationship between structure forms and
communicative functions of the utterances.
Research Metodology
Type of this research is qualitative
research, and paper source is as the source of
data. It was Da Vinci Code novel written by
Dan Brown. Meanwhile, in collecting the
data, the writer used the observational
technique.
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There are three steps done by the writer
in collecting data: (1) The writer read the
novel, (2) The writer observed performative
utterances in the novel, and (3) The observed
data are collected in the special paper and
ready to be analyzed.
In analyzing the data, Constant
Comparative method was used by comparing
one datum with others, and then comparing a
categorization of the data with others
constantly. Dealing with it, there were three
steps applied in this analysis. They were 1)
identifying the data; 2) coding the data; and
3) categorizing the data.
Result and Discussion
After collecting the data, the writer
classified them based on the functions of
speech act (directiion, declarative, and
commissive). Besides, the writer also
classified the data based on the relationship
between structure forms and communicaative
functions of the data (direct and indirect
relation). These are some discussions of the
research:
Peformative utterances function as
declarations
The following analysis’s are about
perfromatives utterances function as
declarations. Yule (1996:53) said that
Declaration is one kind of speech act that
change the world via utterance. In making a
declaration sentence, the speaker has to have
a special institutional role, a specific context,
in order to perform a declaration
appropriately. The utterances also were
classified based on the relationship between
structure form and communicative function
of the utterance. Based on the previous
chapter, declarations are those kinds of
speech act that change the world via
utterance. These are some examples:
Example 1
‘I do this to protect for your identity,
Silas’s identity, and my investment.’
(DVC/10/90/1:Dec)
The speaker of this utterance is The
Teacher, and the hearer is Aringarosa. This
utterance is uttered after the Teacher forbids
Aringarosa to make contact with Silas. To
make Aringarosa believes him, the teacher
declares this utterance.
Based on the context, the function of
speech act of the utterance is declaration.
Because there is a specific context in which
this utterance is uttered. That is a operation in
finding the secret key.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
contains a statement and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance The Teacher states his aim in
forbidding Aringarosa to make contact with
Silas. Thus, the relationship between
structure form and communicative function
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of the utterance is direct relation because the
declarative sentence is used to state
something.
Example 2
‘I agree.’ (DVC/35/212/2:Dec)
The speaker of this utterance is Sophie,
and the hearer is Mr.Langdon. This utterance
is uttered when they discuss about the key
which Sophis’s grandfather has leaved for
her in the taxi. This utterance is uttered when
Sophie agrees with Mr.Langdon’s
explanation about the key.
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is called as declaration because
there is also a specific context in which this
utterance is uttered. In this utterance Sophie
declares to Mr.Langdon that she agrees with
Mr.Langdon’s explanation about the key.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
makes a statement and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance Sophie states his agreement to
Mr.Langdon that she agrees with
Mr.Langdon’s statement. Thus, the
relationship between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
direct relation because the declarative
sentence is used to state something.
Performative utterances function as
directives
The followings analysis’s are about
perfromatives utterances function as
directives and the utterances also would be
classified based on the relationship between
structure form and communicative function
of the utterance. Based on the previous
chapter, Austin (Levinson, 1984: 228) said
that performatives utterance is the utterance
that can not be responded by yes or no, but it
needs action. Meanwhile, directives are kinds
of speech act that state what the speakers use
to get someone else to do something (Yule,
1996: 53). These are some examples:
Example 1
‘Leight,’ Langdon said, sounding deeply
remorseful, ‘I should turn my self in and
sort this out legally. Leave you all out of
it.’
Oh, heavens, Robert!’ Teabing waved it
off. ‘Do you really think they’re going
to let the rest of us go? (DVC/ 80/
435/3:Dir)
The speaker of the utterance is Teabing,
and the hearers are Mr.Langdon and Sophie.
This utterance is uttered when Mr.Langdon
wants to turn him self in and sort the problem
legally. And then he asks Teabing and
Sophie to be out of the problem. But Teabing
forbids him to do that by using this utterance.
Based on the context, this utterance
contains a command. That is a command said
by Teabing to Langdon no to turn him self in
and sort the problem legally. Thus, based on
the functions of speech act, this utterance
includes as directives function.
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The structure form of this utterance is
interrogative sentence because the form of
this utterance is question form pointed by a
auxiliary ‘Do’ in front of the utterance and
question sign ‘?’ at the end. Meanwhile, its
communicative function is command because
based on the context of this utterance,
Teabing does not aims to give the question or
asks some information to Langdon, but he
aims to forbids Langdon.Thus, the
relationship between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
indirect relation because the interrogative
sentence is used to give a command. These
are some examples:
Example 2
‘Mr Langdon, can you at least guess
what our murder victim might have
wanted to discuss with you on the night
he was killed? (DVC/4/41/4:Dir)
In the utterance, Fache is the speaker and
Mr. Langdon is the hearer. This utterance is
uttered when Fache and Langdon try to find
the information about the killer of their
victim. In this utterance, Fache asks Langdon
to guess some thing to know what Langdon’s
opinion about their victim is.
Based on the context, the speaker
requests the hearer to know the speaker’s
opinion. Thus, Based on the functions of
speech act, the utterance is as directives
because request is kind of directives.
The structure form of the utterance is
interrogative sentence pointed by modal
auxiliary ‘can’ in front of the utterance and
question sign ‘?’ the end of the utterance ,
meanwhile its communicative function is
directive because the speaker aims to give the
question and to get some information. Thus,
the relationship between structure form and
communicative function of this utterance is
direct relation because interrogative sentence
is intended to get information.
Example 3
Tell me what to do.’ (DVC/5/53/5:Dir)
This utterance is uttered by Silas as the
speaker and Aringarosa as the hearer. They
comunicate when Silas calls Aringarosa that
is being in air plan by hand phone.
Based on the function of speech act, the
utterance includes as directive because the
utterance is a command given by the speaker
to the hearer. In this utterance Silas as the
speaker give a command to Aringarosa to tell
him what to do. This utterance makes the
hearer tell what to do to the speaker because
of the utterance of the speaker.
The structure form of this utterance is
imperative sentence because this utterance
makes a command pointed by the verb ‘Tell’
in front of the utterance. The communicative
function of this utterance is command
because Silas gives a command to
Aringarosa to tell him what to do. Because
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the imperative sentence is used to command,
the relationship between structure form and
communicative function of this utterance
become direct relation.
Example 4
‘Go on’(DVC/6/62/6:Dir)
The utterance is uttered by Fache as
speaker, and Mr. Langdon as the hearer. This
utterance is uttered when Mr. Langdon
explains about symbols to Fache. To get
more explanation about the symbols, Fache
utters the utterance.
Based on the context, the utterance
contains a command. That is a command said
by Fache to ask Langdon going on
Langdon’s explanation about the symbols.
This utterance makes Mr.Langdon goes on
his explanation about the symbols. Thus, the
function of speech act of the utterance is
directives.
The structure form of the utterance is
imperative sentence pointed by verb ‘Go’ in
front of the utterance. In English if a verb
appears in front of a sentence or utterance, so
the utterance is imperatives sentence. The
communicative function of the utterance is
command because the speaker (Fache)
commands the hearer (Mr.Langdon) to go on
his explanation. Thus, the relationship
between structure form and communicative
function of the utterance is direct relation.
Example 5
‘Look at his left hand.’ (DVC/
6/64/7:Dir)
The datum is uttered by Mr.langdon to
Fache. Mr.Langdon utters it when they
discuss about human corpse of Shopie’s
grandfather. Mr.Langdon asks Fache to look
at the corpse’s hand because there is an
unusual on the hand.
Based on the context of the utterance,
the utterance contains a command to look at.
That is a command said by Langdon to Fache
to look at the hand of the corpse of Sophie’s
grandfather. Thus, based on the function of
speech act, this utterance is categorized as
directives.
The structure form of the utterance is
imperative sentence because the utterance
makes a command pointed by verb ‘look’ in
front of the utterance and its communicative
function is command or request because by
using the utterance the speaker aims to make
the hearer look at the left hand of the corpse.
Thus, the relationship between structural
form and communicative function of the
utterance is direct relation
Example 6
‘Just listen calmly’ (DVC/9/82/8:Dir)
The datum is the instruction of Sophie
in the phone when Mr.Langdon calls the
number she gives.
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Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is directive because this utterance
contain a command. In this utterance, Sophie
gives a command to Mr.Langdon to listen
calmly. Thus, Mr.Langdon just listens calmly
because of the utterance.
The structure form of the utterance is
imperative sentence because the utterance
makes a command. The communicative
function of the utterance is command
because Sophie aims to give command to
Mr.Langdon. Because the imperative
sentence is intended to give command, thus
the relationship between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
direct relationship.
Example 7
You are in danger right now. Follow my
directions very closely.
(DVC/9/82/9:Dir)
The utterance is the instruction of Sophie
in the phone when Mr.Langdon calls the
number she gives.
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is as directive because the utterance
is a command said by Sophie to Mr.Langdon.
Sophie asks Langdon to follow her direction
very closely. Thus, Mr.Langdon follows the
direction because of the utterance.
The structure form of the utterance is
imperative sentence because the utterance
makes a command pointed by verb ‘Follow’
in front of the utterance and its
communicative function is giving command.
Thus, the relation between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
direct relation because the imperative
sentence is used to give command.
Example 8
Fache said. ‘Please come and find me
directly, Langdon. There is more we
need to discuss.’ (DVC/11/95/10:Dir)
The utterance is uttered by Sophie to
Mr.Langdon. This utterance is uttered when
Sophie wants to discuss something with
Langdon about the problem Langdon gets.
So, she asks Langdon to come and find her
directly.
Based on the context, functions of
speech act of the utterance is directive.
Because in this utterance Sophie asks
Mr.Langdon to come and find her directly.
That is a command or request. The utterance
makes world (Mr.langdon) fits words
(Sophie’s utterance).
The structure form of the utterance is
imperative sentence because the utterance
makes a request pointed by word ‘Please’ in
front of the utterance and its communicative
function is request; by using the utterance,
Sophie asks Mr.langdon to come and find her
directly. Thus, the relationship between
structural form and communicative function
of the utterance is direct relation called direct
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speech act because the imperative sentence is
aimed to give request.
Example 9
‘Leave it in your pocket.’
(DVC/12/100/11:Dir)
The speaker of the utterance is Sophie,
and Mr.Langdon is the hearer. This utterance
said by Sophie when sophie wants to make
Langdon leave a key in Langdon’s pocket.
Based on the context, the function of
speech act of the utterance is directive
because in this utterance Sophie gives a
command to Mr.langdon to leave the key in
Mr.langdon’s pocket. This utterance makes
Mr.longdon himself fits the words.
The relationship between structure form
and communicative function of the utterance
is direct relation because its structure form is
imperative sentence because of making a
command pointed by verb ‘Leave’ in front of
the utterance, and its communicative function
is command.
Example 10
‘Wait!’ (DVC/18/120/12:Dir)
The utterance is uttered by Collet by
using radio uttered when he calls
Mr.Langdon running with Sophie. Collet
asks Langdon and Sophie to wait him.
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is also directive because the
utterance contains a command. That is
command said Collet to make Mr.Langdon
and Sophie wait him.
The relationship between structural form
and communicative function of the utterance
is direct relation; the structure form of the
utterance is imperative sentence because the
utterance makes a command and its
communicative function is giving command.
Example 11
‘Hold on,’ (DVC/20/132/13:Dir)
The utterance is uttered by a young man
in the front row to Mr.Langdon explaining
about PHI. Based on the functions of speech
act, the utterance is directive because the
utterance contain a command. That is
command to hold on.
The structure form is imperative
sentence because the sentence makes a
command or request. The utterance is also
started by a verb ‘Hold’ in front of the
utterance. the communicative function is
giving command because the young man
aims to give a command to Mr.Langdon to
hold on. Thus, the relationship between
structural form and communicative function
of the uttrance is direct relation because the
imperative sentence is aimed to make
command.
Performative utterance function as
commissives
9
The following analysis’s are about
perfromatives utterances function as
commissives. Yule (1996: 54) said that
Commissives are those kinds of speech act
that speakers use to commit themselves to
some future action. They express what the
speaker intends. They are promise, threats,
refusals, and pledges. The utterances also
were classified based on the relationships
between structure form and communicative
function of the utterance. These are some
examples:
Example 1
‘I promise. When the time comes, the
key will be yours. It has your name on
it.’ (DVC/23/156/62:Com)
The speaker is Sophie’s grandfather, and
the hearer is Sophie. This utterance is uttered
when Sophie was a child and she asked her
grandfather about the function of the
keystone. And then, her grandfather
persuades her not to ask anymore about it
until the time comes. After the time comes,
he said that he will give it to Sophie, and
Sophie will know the function of the
keystone.
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is called as commissive because in
this utterance the speaker commits for him
self to give the keystone to Sophie. After
saying the utterance, Sophie’s grandfather is
demanded to do the action of his promise.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
forms a statement, and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance the speaker aims to states that he
will give the keystone to Sophie. Thus, the
relationship between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
direc relation because declarative form is
used to give statement.
Example 2
‘I must leave you now. Make
yourselves at home.’ (DV
C/42/246/63:Com)
The speaker is the banker, and the hearer
is Mr.Langdon and Sophie. This utterance is
uttered when Mr.Langdon and Sophie are in
the bank. And then the banker talking to
them is called someone. After answering the
calling, the banker immediately permits to
Mr.Langdon and Sophie by uttering this
datum.
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is as commissive because in this
utterance the banker as the speaker commits
to leave Mr.Langdon and Sophie.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
contains a statement and its communicative
function is statement. Thus, the relationship
between structure form and communicative
function of the utterance is direct relation
10
because declarative form is used to give
statement.
Example 3
‘I do the work of God,’
(DVC/67/382/64:Com)
The speaker is Silas and the hearer is
Teabing. This utterance is uttered when
Teabing asks Silas whom does he work for?
Based on the functions of speech act, the
utterance is as commisssives sentence
because in this utterance speaker says his
commitments. That is the commitment to do
works of God.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
contains a statement and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance Silas states to Teabing that he
works of God. Thus, the relationship between
structure form and communicative function
of the utterance is direct relation because the
declarative sentence is used to state a
statement.
Example 4
‘I swear, sir, there is no way for me to
know that. Our clients can drive directly
to their hangars, and load as they please.
Who is onboard is he responsibility of
the customs officials at the receiving
airport.’ (DVC/ 73/407/65:Com)
The speaker of this utterance is the
controller in the airport, and the hearer is
Fache. This utterance is uttered when Fache
gives some questions to the controller relates
to the information of Teabing, Mr.Langdon,
and Sophie.
Based on the context, the functions of
speech act of the utterance is as commisssive
because the utterance contains a refusal. That
is a refusal of Fache’s statement stated that
there are Teabing, Langdon, and Sophie in
the airport.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
contains a statement and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance the controller aims to explain to
Fache that he does not know about the
correct information about Teabing,
Mr.Langdon, and Sophie. Thus, the
relationship between structure form and
communicative function of the utterance is
direct relation called direct speech act
because the declarative sentence is aimed to
make statement.
Example 5
‘Robert, I’m sorry, I know I said I’d
send the edits out of to you this week,
but I’m swamped. Next Monday. I
promise. (DVC/68/384/66:Com)
The speaker is an editor from New York
(Jones Faukman), and the hearer is
Mr.Langdon. This utterance is uttered when
Mr.Langdon call him at night. He supposes
Mr.langdon will ask him about the edits. And
then directly he utters this datum.
11
Based on te context , the functions of
speech act of the utterance is as commissive
because there is a promise in the utterance;
Jones Faukman promise to send the edits out
for Mr.Langdon next Monday. Thus, the
action of this utterance will be done by the
speaker (Jones Faukman) him self.
The structure form of this utterance is
declarative sentence because the utterance
contains a statement and its communicative
function is statement because in this
utterance the banker states that he will send
the edit to Langdon. Thus, the relationship
between structure form and communicative
function of the utterance is direc relation
because declarative form is used to give
statement.
Conclusion
After analyzing the data, the writer made
a conclusion that there 66 indentifed data.
Based on the functions of speech act,
directives function is the most because most
of the data were used to make a command or
order. They consist of 58 data. Meanwhile,
based on the relationship between structure
forms and communicative functions, direct
relation is the most because most of the
structure of the data were relevant with their
function. They consist of 63 data
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Maizon, Batuyama. An Research of
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Danelle Steel’s novel “Heart Beat”
and “Once in a Life Time. Padang:
Bung Hatta University. 2011.
Sanders. A Reseach of Explicit and Implicit
Performative Utterences as Found in
American Movie. Padang: Bung Hatta
University. 2008.
Yule, George. Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford
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