An Analysis of Speech Acts Performed by The Main Characters in The Social Network Movie

Abstract

This study analyzes the types of speech acts used by the main characters, Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, in the movie The Social Network. The study aims to classify these speech acts into three categories: locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, based on J.L. Austin and John Searle’s speech act theory. Using a qualitative descriptive method, the research examines the dialogues from the film to identify these speech acts. The results show that declarative locutionary acts are the most common, making up 48.86% of the utterances, followed by interrogative acts at 34.09% and imperative acts at 17.04%. For illocutionary acts, directive acts are the most frequent, constituting 48.86%, while assertive acts make up 32.95%, commissive acts 3.4%, expressive acts 13.63%, and declarative acts 1.13%. The study also finds various listener reactions to these speech acts, with explanations and compliance being the most common. This research helps us understand how language is used in the movie to show complex interactions between characters.