SPEECH ACTS COMMANDING IN THE MOVIE LORD OF THE RING: THE RETURN OF KING.

Abstract

Austin (1962) [1], said speech acts are explained as words uttered is not only to say something but also perform action. The action performed can be analysed in three different types, namely “the words themselves” (locutionary act), what the “speakers are doing with their words” (illocutionary act), and “the results of the words” (perlucotionary act). Then, Searle (1976) [2], developed the concept of illocutionary act into five kinds of speech acts, such as declarations, representatives, directives, commisive, and expressive. According to Searle (1976) [3], directive speech act is one of the categories of the speech act which words are pointed at making the listener do something, such as commanding, requesting, inviting, forbidding, and suggesting. This thesis focuses on the speech act of directive in terms of speech act of commanding. Commanding is one of the few speech acts utilized to communicate speaker’s feelings, thoughts, intention and desires. Commands used by the people when the speaker needs the listener to do something straight forwardly or by implication for the purpose of the speaker. Within the case of indirect command, the speaker cannot basically command the listener, in any case she or he should check on positive result from the listeners within the frame of compliance. That is why the speaker has to get it as a few components: such as when the circumstance is, where the discussion happens, and to whom he or she talks. By considering those elements, the speaker will be able to preserve his or her social relationship with the hearer (Mey, 1993:164)) [4]. The strategies used is different while she or he commands person who is in higher status. He or she may use politeness to decrease the offense. This relates to FTA (Face Threatening Acts) stated by Brown and Levinson (1987) [5] ”those are: bald-on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, off-record”.