FUNCTIONS OF SOCIETY'S EXPRESSIVE SPEECH ACTS TOWARDS COVID-19 SURVIVORS

Abstract

This research was inspired by discourse analysis of human expressive speech act as the
part of Illocutionary act. This study aims to analyze speech act to finally describe the function of
the society‟s expressive speech acts towards Covid-19 survivors. Using qualitative method, this
research was conducted in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi through observation, interviews, and
recording as data collection techniques. The instruments consist of the main instrument, which was
researchers themselves, and supporting instruments including data analysis guides, observation,
interview, and recording devices. The data was in the form of expressive words, phrases, clauses
and sentences expressed by the society when communicating and interacting with Covid-19
survivors. The data source was generally from the society without Covid-19 and from the
survivors of Covid-19 who receive expressive speech act from the other. The results reveal that
there were various function of expressive speech acts used among society during Covid-19
pandemic such as the function of complaining, cursing, doubting, yelling, and fearing function.
Those functions implicitly were represented to prevent Covid-19 survivors from repeating their
mistakes. Meanwhile, the functions of apologizing, condolences, motivating, and greeting were
represented so that the people without Covid-19 can be the cause of healing for sufferers and
survivors of Covid-19.