1Abiola Mary Oladipo, Assistant Lecturer, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
2Oluwasegun Amoniyan, PhD Student, Department of Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
3Precious Etigwam, Undergraduate Student, Department of English & Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
*Email id: oma55@pitt.edu
Online published on 13 March, 2023.
Previous researches on the illocutionary act have focused on different language use, but the current research uses the illocutionary act captured in Searle’s speech act theory to analyze the 2019 presidential speech debate. The researcher aimed at identifying the features of the illocutionary act used in 2019 Nigeria’s presidential debate, its significance and in what manner it was used. That is, the study focuses on speech act theory (illocutionary act basically) using the 2019 presidential debate speech as a case study for analyzing the different utterances that were utilized. The data were analyzed using the descriptive qualitative approach, the researchers used note-taking for data collection, and the data used was from the 2019 presidential debate speech. In analyzing the utterance of the speech, the research made use of Searle’s theory on illocutionary classification. Based on the findings, all illocutionary features were found in the speech, with commisives being the most prominent. Other illocutionary acts like assertive, expressive directives and declaratives were also found. The study shows that illocutionary acts are used to get people’s attention, to assure them and to make a commitment not only necessary in our to-day activities but also used to analyze the public debate.
Illocutionary act, Presidential debate, Speech act, Language use, Utterance
