Speech Acts Analysis of the Utterances in the Game of Thrones

Abstract

Understanding how speech acts works in conversation is significant. A positiveexpression may be deemed an insult depending on the shared background knowledgeof the interlocutors. Thus, this study aimed to identify the speech acts embedded in theutterances of the characters of the Game of Thrones. A descriptive qualitative research wasused employing speech acts theory as a guide for analysis. The locutionary acts found in theutterances dominantly indicated a fall intonation contour despite the change of intentionof the speaker which indicates that the characters are conscious of the utterance, arearistocrats and are educated who know how to hold their temper in worst circumstances.The illocutionary acts in the utterances are dominantly assertive, followed by commissive,directive, expressive, and declarative. This implies that the characters of the Game of Thronesoften express a statement of either fact or opinion and less of a declaration. The actualperceived perlocutionary acts are dependent on the interpretation of the interlocutors inthe utterances of the characters. These findings revealed that the discourse elements of theGame of Thrones resemble daily communicative acts of actual interactions.