ANALYSIS OF COMMISSIVE SPEECH ACTS AND ILLOCUTIONARY FORCE IN THE INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT PRABOWO SUBIANTO: A PRAGMATIC STUDY

Abstract

Abstract

This study aims to describe the forms of commissive speech acts and analyze the illocutionary force in the inaugural speech of Prabowo Subianto delivered at the Plenary Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) on October 20, 2024, from a pragmatic perspective. This research employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive method. The data source consisted of the official transcript of the presidential inaugural speech, which was analyzed using speech act theory proposed by John Searle and pragmatic studies. Data were collected through observation and note-taking techniques, while data analysis was conducted through stages of identification, classification, interpretation, and illocutionary force analysis based on the context of utterances. The findings reveal that the inaugural speech was dominated by commissive speech acts, including promises, commitments, expressions of capability, reform determination, and international solidarity. The illocutionary force of these utterances functions to build political legitimacy, strengthen leadership image, shape public optimism, and direct public expectations toward the governmental agenda for the 2024–2029 period. The use of modal expressions such as “will,” “must,” and “ready” indicates future-oriented commitments that are performative and institutional in nature. Furthermore, this study finds that commissive speech acts in the inaugural speech function as a form of pre-policy mechanism, namely the use of language to bind political agendas before they are realized into concrete policies. Therefore, the inaugural speech functions not merely as a ceremonial discourse but also as a medium for constructing a symbolic political contract between the leader and the people through linguistic actions. This study is expected to contribute to the development of pragmatic studies, particularly in the analysis of speech acts in political discourse and contemporary political communication.

Keywords: pragmatics, commissive speech acts, illocutionary force, political speech, presidential inaugural speech.