AN ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT IN THE CONCESSION SPEECHES

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explain the various forms of speech acts used in concession speeches. Concession speech is a term used in politics to describe speeches given by losing candidates after an election and after the overall vote, the result is known. The data of this study were taken from four types of concession speeches delivered by losing American candidates in the form of concession speeches: John McCain (2008), Mitt Romney (2012), Hillary Clinton (2016), and Donald Trump (2021). The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method because it uses words rather than numbers as a reference for the data to be studied, and it implies obtaining results for collecting the data included in the data sources and analyzing them to detect differences in concessions, speaking actions and Pragmatic discourse analysis approach to speech. The theory used is derived from the theory of Searle (1976), Cutting (2003), Holmes (2013), Leech (1947). The results show (1) five types of speech acts, namely representative (fact, statements, describing, and conclusion), expressive (thanking, congratulating, praising, and wishing) directive (inviting, requesting, suggesting, and ordering), and commissive (promising, offering), (2) the language function of each type of speech acts according to the context used by the concession speech, such as expressing gratitude, working together in building America, etc. (3) the most widely used in concession speech are expressive speech acts (thanking and praising) and representative speech acts (statements). The results of this study indicate that the losing candidate's sportsmanship supports the winning candidate and the various words used to say the same thing contributes to the development of English vocabulary.