Analysis on Pragmatic Force of Declarative Utterances in Film Entitled “Avatar”

Oleh :
Eko Widianto - K2209104 - Fak. KIP

This research uses descriptive qualitative method. The sources of data are the manuscript and video of “Avatar” film. It is an epic science fiction film made by Lightstorm Entertainment and released by 20th Century Fox on December 18, 2009. The film is written and directed by James Cameron. The goals of this research are 1) to identify the contexts of declarative utterances uttered by the main characters (Jake Sully) in the film entitled “Avatar”, 2) to identify the hearer’s responses of declarative utterances uttered by the main character (Jake Sully) in the film entitled “Avatar”, 3) to explain the pragmatic forces of declarative utterances uttered by the main character (Jake Sully) in the film entitled “Avatar” viewed from the illocutionary force. The researcher classifies the declarative utterances by their illocutionary forces based on Searle’s theories. Before defining the pragmatic force, the researcher explains the context for a better understanding about the speaker’s intention. From the film, the researcher found 120 declarative utterances uttered by the main character (Jake Sully). The researcher takes 40 utterances as the data of the research. The results of this research are, 1) every utterance has its own context which is different from another utterance. The declarative utterances produced by Jake Sully in film entitled Avatar have their own context; situation, participants, ends, act sequence, key, instrumentalities, norms, and genre, 2) the hearer’s responses of Jake Sully’s declarative utterance are many and varied; they are not only organized as word, phrase, or sentence, but some of the responses are formed in acts, and some hearers do not give any response. Some responses are formed in words responses as statement and question, while some other responses are formed in act responses; eying, nodding, attacking, etc. Those responses are influenced by Jake’s meaning by those declarative utterances, 3) the pragmatic force of the declarative utterance in film entitled “Avatar” is reflected by the function of the utterance, the 40 declarative utterances bring various force as suggesting, appointing, reporting, requesting, claiming, thanking, asking, complaining, apologizing, confirming, blaming, ordering, advising, and sentencing. The contributions of this research to teaching and learning activity are, 1) the pragmatic force of declarative utterances can be used as teacher’s instruction, and 2) the pragmatic force of declarative utterances can also be used as a teaching materials. Keywords: pragmatic, speech act, illocution, declarative