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1. A T H E S I S P R O P O S A L
B Y
R I D H O I N D R A S A P U T R A
0 2 0 3 5 1 4 0 0 4
THE POLITICAL ARGUMENTATION
FOUND IN PRESIDENT JOKOWI’S
SPEECHES IN ENGLISH

2. Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
The primary function of language is for the purpose of communication. Man
is distinct from animals since he communicates through language. Language serves as
the most vital tool in the hands of man. Thus, language is essential in the
implementation of successful democratic rule in any country. Taiwo (2009) observes
that language is the conveyor belt of power, It moves people to vote, debate or revolt,
and it is therefore a central explanation of political stability or polarization.
Language is essential to politicians. Most activities performed by the
politicians are done through the avenue created by language. This includes campaign,
manifesto, rally, election, inauguration, governance e.t.c. Political speech is becoming a
popular concept especially in the area of linguistic research. The concept of political
speech could be said to have originated from the rhetorical works of Greek
philosophers like Sophist, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle therefore describes it
as “a faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion in
reference to whatever subject‟ (see Agbogun 2011). Joko Widodo, the latest president
of Indonesia, captured the world’s attention in some English language speeches
recently.

3. Introduction
1.2 Reasons for Choosing the Topic
There are several reasons that encourage me as the
researcher of this research to choose this topic:
1. Joko Widodo is very influential person in this country
and the world. It will be interesting to analyze his
English speeches as the president of Indonesia and is
important to know the meaning and messages of those
speeches.
2. There is only a few studies about Jokowi’s speeches
especially when he was a governor, not as president.
3. It will present a modern style of communication by the
prominent people like Jokowi.

4. Introduction
1.3 Statements of the Problems
This study focuses to answer the following three
research questions:
 What types of illocutionary acts can be found in
President Jokowi’s English Speeches?
 What are perlocutionary acts found in President
Jokowi’s English Speeches?
 How do both of the identified speech act features
project the message in the speeches?

5. Introduction
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are:
1. to identify the speech act features (illocutionary
and perlocutionary) of the President Jokowi’s
selected speeches,
2. to analyze the features in relation to the contexts in
which the speeches were presented,
3. to explain how the identified features project the
messages in the speeches.

6. Introduction
1.5 Significance of the Study
Hopefully, the result of the study can be used for other
linguistic studies in the future especially to learners
who want to know deeply about speech acts theories of
prominent people in the world.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study will focus on the speech act features
especially in illocutionary and perlocutionary of
Jokowi’s English language speeches. It will also
analyze how the identified features project the
messages in the speeches.

7. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Review of Previous Studies
Here are some journals that must be read by myself:
1. The Study of Illocutionary Act: Jokowi’s Campaign
Speech On “Mewujudkan Jakarta Baru” by Farchan
Ismail in 2012
2. “Speech function in Jokowi Speeches” by Teguh K.
I Tarigan et al. in 2013
3. “An Analysis Obama’s Speech Acts On The Third
Presidential Debate In The United States
Presidential Election 2012” by Anang Mardani in
2012

8. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
4. “Illocution and perlocution analysis on the main Characters
conflicts in An ideal husband” by Situt Retnowati in 2013
5. “Speech Acts and Pragmatics in Sentence Generation” by
Cameron Shelley in 1992
6. The Interpersonal Metafunction Analysis of Barack Obama's
Victory Speech by Ruijan Ye in 2006
7. “Illocutionary Acts and Attitude Expression” by Mark Siebel in
2003
8. “Illocutionary force and degrees of strength in language use” by
Marina Sbisa in 2000
9. “Locutionary, Illocutionary, Perlocutionary” by Mikhail Kissine in
2008
10. “The Illocutionary Frames Principle (IFP) and the Austinian
Postulations: A Clause-Structure Investigative Discourse” By Dr.
Acheoah John Emike in 2013

9. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
11. “Doing Things with Words: A Speech Act Analysis of a Christian
Wedding” by Embugushiki, Ahidjo U. in 2010
12. “A Speech Act Analysis of American Presidential Speeches” by Rihab
Abduljaleel Saeed Alattar in 2014
13. “Pragmatic Analyses of President Goodluck Jonathan’s and President
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Addresses” by Ubong E. Josiah et al. in 2012
14. “The Modal Verbs: A Speech Act of Request in the Speech of the
President of the United States Barak Obama” by Khalid Wahaab Jabber
et al. in 2013
15. “Contextual Acts in President Goodluck Jonathan’s Declaration of
Presidential Candidacy under the Peoples Democratic Party” by
Oladimeji Olaniyi et al. in 2012
16. “Declaratory Illocutionary Acts as Language of Democracy in Nigeria: A
Pragmatic Exploration” by Chris Uchenna Agbedq in 2008

10. 17. “A Speech Act Analysis of the Acceptance of
Nomination Speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
and Chief M.K.O. Abiola” by Samuel Alaba
Akinwotu in 2013
18. “Recognizing Speech Acts in Presidential E-
records” by William Underwood in 2008
19. “Illocutionary Act Seen in Barrack Obama's speech”
by Achmad Budiman Rosadi et al. in 2013
20. “Onstage Illocution” by Peter Alward in 2009

11. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.2 Review of the Theoretical Studies
2.2.1 Speech Acts
Pragmatics will serve as the linguistic approach for the
research work, since Pragmatics is one of the major fields in linguistic
that could unravel meaning in language use. The linguistic framework
of any linguistic research serves as the tool for the analysis of data.
Hence, the theory of Speech Acts would serve as the spread sheet for
the analysis and evaluation of the selected speeches. The choice of
Speech Acts theory as the linguistic framework for the President Joko
Widodo’s English Speeches is premised on the fact that people
perform various actions through the use of words and when utterances
are made, a particular act is performed; this is called Speech act. The
Speech Acts theory is also described as “How to Do Things with Words
Theory” since it has its roots in the work of Austin (1962) and Searle
(1969). According to Austin (1962) states that, the action performed
when an utterance is produced can be analyzed on three different
levels.

12. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.2.2 Locutionary acts
Locutionary act is semantic or literal meaning of sentence. The
understanding of the function of sentence is very important to
understand semantic or literal meaning of sentence.
2.2.3 Illocutionary Acts
Leech (1983: 199) states that illocutionary act is performing the
act in saying something. An illocutionary act can also be called
as an implied level. It is an act of doing something. Yule (1996:
48) writes that “the illocutionary act is performed via the
communicative face of an utterance” and it is an intended
meaning of a speaker. Furthermore, Yule (1996: 49) states
sometimes it is not easy to determine what kind of illocutionary
act the speaker performs. Classification of speech act is also
classified by Searle. Searle (1976 cited in Cutting 2002:16)
divides illocutionary (speech) acts into five major categories.

13. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
1. Assertives: These are statements that describe a state of affairs
in the world which could be true or false. They commit a speaker
to the truth of the expressed proposition.
2. Directives: These are statements that compel or make another
person‟s action fit the propositional element. It is usually used to
give order thereby causing the hearer to take a particular action,
request, command or advice.
3. Commisives: These statements commit the speaker to certain
future action. It could be in the form of a promise.
4. Expressives: The purpose of expressive statements is to express
sincerity of the speech act like excuses and sympathy.
5. Declaratives: These statements are used to say something and
make it so, such as pronouncing someone guilty and declaring a
war.

14. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.2.4 Perlocutionary Acts
According to Austin (1962, cited in Sadock 2005: 20) Perlocutionary act is the
effect of the word for the hearer. Which is a consequence or byproduct of
speaking, whether intended or not. Moreover, Austin (1962 cited in Brown
and Yule, 1983: 232) perlocutionary act can be described in terms of effect of
illocutionary act, on the particular occasion of use, has on the hearer. In
addition, perlocutionary act is the effect on hearer’s response of what speaker
says. Perlocutionary act would include such effects as; persuading,
embrassing, intimidating, boring, irritating, and inspiring the hearer. For
instance, a teacher says to the students “please study hard or you’ll fail on
final examination”. The illocutionary act might be advising or suggesting but
the perlocutionary act may be intimidating for students. In short, the
locutionary acts concerns with meaning, the illocutionary acts concerns with
force and the perlocutionary acts concerns with effect. If the listener to do
something, automatically the speaker will say something (locutionary), then
the speaker will act something to get what she or he wants (illocutionary).
Consequently, the listener will do something as response to the speaker
utterance (perlocutionary).

15. METHODOLOGY
3.1 Assumption
Though Jokowi as the President of Indonesia, it is
assumed that not all of Jokowi speeches are projecting
the messages clearly.
3.2 Setting
The source of the data will use natural setting (speech
environment). This study also uses a human
instrument.

16. METHODOLOGY
3.3 Object of Study
The data will be in the form of:
The recording of President Jokowi’s English speeches
in the form of videos and transcripts. The speeches will
be selected with some criteria. They are :
1. English Language Speeches only
2. After Jokowi is selected as the President (2014-
now)

17. METHODOLOGY
3.4 Source of Data
The selected speeches will be downloaded from the
Internet (Youtube) by searching with specific
keywords. Then, transcribe it manually.
3.5 Roles of the Researcher
In this research, the researcher will play the role as the
data collector and data analyzer.

18. METHODOLOGY
3.6 Method of Collecting Data
 Reading the transcript of the selected speeches repeatedly.
 Identifying the utterances
The utterances in the speeches are identified by analyzing
based on the aspects of linguistic. The utterances are
identified by analyzing the form and meaning types of the
utterances.
 Selecting the utterances
The utterances are selected by classifying them into
illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts based on the form, the
meaning types of utterances and the performance that are
probably performed by Jokowi.