AN ANALYSIS OF ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS IN “WONDER” NOVEL BY R. J. PALACIO

Abstract

AbstractThis research aimed to identify the type of illocutionary acts and classify the category of speech acts dominantly used by the characters in performing their illocutionary acts in “Wonder” novel by R. J. Palacio, and to find out the dominant type of speech act used to display all illocutionary acts. Based on Searle’s theory, the researcher used descriptive qualitative research to analyze utterances taken from the novel through observation limited by home and school settings and role relationships. The researcher took five parts with 13 characters. The data analysis started by observing the conversation, analyzing and classifying the utterances into the types of illocutionary acts, then classifying and calculating the speech acts category. The findings showed three types of illocutionary acts used by the characters in the novel. They are directive, commissive, and expressive. Directive is the most dominant illocutionary type used by the characters in the novel, with seven utterances in conversation. These ten utterances also balanced the category of speech acts, five utterances of direct and five utterances of indirect speech acts.Keywords: Analysis Research, Illocutionary Acts, Novel Wonder, R. J. Palacio