The Use of Illocutionary Acts in Prabowo Subianto’s 2024 Inaugural Speech

Abstract

This research examines the use of Prabowo's illocutionary acts in Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration speech as the President of Indonesia for the 2024–2029 term. This research aims to uncover the implicit meanings in Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration speech through illocutionary act analysis. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method to analyze the data. Data collection is done by reading the transcript of Prabowo's inauguration speech and then the researcher examines the use of illocutionary acts that appeared in the speech. The results of the study found 73 illocutionary acts and showed that the most frequently used is assertive, which Prabowo uses to express statements, emphasize the nation’s condition, present his vision, and convince the public about his policies and commitments. This finding aligns with previous research on President Reagan’s speeches, which also showed that assertive acts were the most dominant. Both leaders often use assertive acts because they help build trust, show confidence, and strengthen their credibility as national figures. Through assertive language, they can express beliefs and visions, persuade the audience, and project an image of a strong and trustworthy leader.