An Analysis of Illocutionary Acts Used by Jessica Wongso in the “Chilling Interview” on 7News Spotlight’s YouTube Video

Abstract

This study analyzes the speech acts used by Jessica Wongso in 7 News Spotlight interview, with the framework of pragmatics that focuses how language used in context to deliver meaning and actions. With using Searle's classification of assertive, expressive, declarative, directive, and commissive acts, this research aims to classify the type of speech acts used by Jessica and to discover which kind of acts occur most frequently. This paper uses a descriptive qualitative method with quantitative support to find the frequency of speech acts used by Jessica Wongso in the 7 News Spotlight. The data show that Jessica used four types of speech act. Assertive acts dominantly,
mainly to explain, clarify, and deny that shape her reputation in front of the public. Expressive reveal her emotional reaction, while directives and commissive appear rarely, showing that she rarely making demand or commitment. Overall, the analysis uncovers that Jessica's speech acts function as a tool to defend herself and influence public perception.