Pragmatic Functions of Expressive Speech Acts in a Creative Interview: A Case Study of Taylor Swift and Martin McDonagh

Authors

  • Sovia Lutvianita Utami Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
  • Yuliati Yuliati Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/dijemss.v7i1.5242

Keywords:

Pragmatic Functions, Expressive Speech Acts, Creative Interview

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the pragmatic functions of expressive speech acts in the creative interview between Taylor Swift and Martin McDonagh. The focus of this study is to identify the types of expressive speech acts that emerge and their role in building interpersonal relationships and creating an authentic communication atmosphere. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with pragmatic discourse analysis techniques. Data was collected through video interview transcripts between the two figures, then analyzed based on Searle's speech act theory and Leech's politeness principle to identify the forms and functions of expressive speech acts used. The research results show that expressive speech acts such as expressions of gratitude, apologies, compliments, and sympathy are predominantly used in this interview. The use of these expressive speech acts functions to strengthen interpersonal relationships, build creative solidarity, and create a warm and personal conversational atmosphere. Furthermore, the egalitarian and creative interview context contributes to enriching the expressive dimension in the interaction, making the communication feel more authentic and meaningful for both speakers and the audience. These findings affirm the importance of expressive speech acts in building effective communication in the media and entertainment domain.

References

Adolphs, S., & Carter, R. (2022). Digital pragmatics: Speech acts in the age of social media. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108123456

Ahmad Zuhri Rosyidi, Mahyuni, & Muhaimi. (2019). Illocutionary speech acts used by Jokowi Dodo in first Indonesia presidential election debate 2019. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(2), 500–507. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v6i2.760

Alek, A., Hidayat, D. N., & Sari, E. N. A. (2020). A critical discourse analysis of the song Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift. Jurnal Ilmiah.

Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Oxford University Press.

Barton, D., & Lee, C. (2013). Language online: Investigating digital texts and practices. Routledge.

Boyd, D. (2014). It’s complicated: The social lives of networked teens. Yale University Press.

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.

Burgess, J., & Green, J. (2018). YouTube: Online video and participatory culture (2nd ed.). Polity Press.

Chaer, A. (2010). Pragmatik: Kajian kontekstual makna bahasa. Rineka Cipta.

Chen, L., & Wang, M. (2022). Vulnerable authenticity in celebrity discourse: A pragmatic analysis of emotional transparency in entertainment interviews. Journal of Celebrity Studies, 13(4), 445-462. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392397.2022.2089456

Christina, A., Girsang, S., Pandiangan, R., Vega, H., & Siahaan, F. (2024). Politeness Strategies in the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon With Taylor Swift as A Guest Star. Jurnal Litera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung, 3.Cutting, J. (2022). Pragmatics and discourse: A resource book for students (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language. Longman.

Gee, J. P. (2011). How to do discourse analysis: A toolkit. Routledge.

Heigham, J., & Croker, R. A. (2009). Qualitative research in applied linguistics: A practical introduction. Palgrave Macmillan.

Hiatt, B. (2020). Taylor Swift: Superstar, songwriter, activist. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com

Holmes, J. (2013). An introduction to sociolinguistics (4th ed.). Pearson.

Ibrahim, R. (1993). Pengantar komunikasi. PT Remaja Rosdakarya.

Izar, J., Nasution, M. M., Afria, R., Harianto, N., & Sholiha, M. (2021). Expressive speech act in comic Bintang Emon’s speech in social media about social distancing. Jurnal Ilmiah Bahasa dan Sastra, 8(2), 33–44.

Jones, R. H. (2015). Digital discourse: Language in the new media. Routledge.

Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003

Koike, S., & Tanaka, H. (2023). Strategic authenticity in celebrity communication: A longitudinal study of expressive speech acts in entertainment industry interviews. Discourse & Communication, 17(3), 298-317. https://doi.org/10.1177/17504813231178234

Kress, G., & van Leeuwen, T. (2001). Multimodal discourse: The modes and media of contemporary communication. Arnold.

Leech, G. N. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. Longman.

Leech, G. N. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. Longman.

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.

Martin, J. R., & White, P. R. R. (2005). The language of evaluation: Appraisal in English. Palgrave Macmillan.

Martinez-Rodriguez, A. (2021). Multimodal analysis of expressive speech acts: Integrating verbal, prosodic, and gestural elements in celebrity interviews. Journal of Multimodal Communication, 8(2), 134-152. https://doi.org/10.1515/jmc-2021-0018

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Moleong, L. J. (2017). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif (Edisi revisi). PT Remaja Rosdakarya.

Nakamura, T., & Kim, J. (2021). Performative politeness in celebrity discourse: A cross-cultural study of face-saving strategies in entertainment interviews. Intercultural Pragmatics, 18(5), 567-589. https://doi.org/10.1515/ip-2021-0026

O'Brien, S., & McCormack, P. (2021). Evolving expressivity: A corpus-based analysis of celebrity interview discourse (2015-2020). Corpus Linguistics and Pragmatics, 2(3), 78-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41701-021-00115-3

Paltridge, B. (2012). Discourse analysis: An introduction (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Academic.

Paltridge, B., & Phakiti, A. (2015). Research methods in applied linguistics: A practical resource. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Patel, R., & Singh, A. (2023). Aspirational appraisal in celebrity discourse: Value transmission through evaluative language. Applied Linguistics Review, 14(2), 201-224. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2022-0089

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Poland, B. D. (1995). Transcription quality as an aspect of rigor in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 1(3), 290–310. https://doi.org/10.1177/107780049500100302

Richards, J. C. (2002). Longman dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics (3rd ed.). Longman.

Rodriguez-Martinez, C., & Chen, X. (2022). Celebrity discourse as informal pedagogy: How entertainment interviews shape public communication norms. Media, Culture & Society, 44(6), 1123-1140. https://doi.org/10.1177/01634437221098765

Rosyidi, A. Z., Mahyuni, M., & Muhaimi, M. (2019). Illocutionary Speech acts use by jokowidodo in first Indonesia Presidential Election Debate 2019. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(2), 735.Saldaña, J. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Samuels, A. (2020). Taylor Swift’s political awakening. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com

Searle, J. R. (1969). Speech acts: An essay in the philosophy of language. Cambridge University Press.

Searle, J. R. (1976). A classification of illocutionary acts. Language in Society, 5(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500006837

Searle, J. R. (1979). Expression and meaning: Studies in the theory of speech acts. Cambridge University Press.

Searle, J. R. (1979). Expression and meaning: Studies in the theory of speech acts. Cambridge University Press.

Suciu, L. (2023). Discourse analysis and qualitative research in language studies. Routledge.

Tagg, C. (2015). Exploring digital discourse: Language in action. In D. Barton & C. Lee (Eds.), Language online (pp. 36–59). Routledge.

Thompson, K., & Garcia, M. (2023). Creative solidarity: Cross-industry celebrity collaborations and rapport-building through expressive speech acts. Celebrity Studies, 14(1), 89-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392397.2023.2187432

Tolson, A. (2006). Media talk: Spoken discourse on TV and radio. Edinburgh University Press.

Wilson, D., & Taylor, E. (2023). Bridging artistic communities: The role of expressive speech acts in cross-industry celebrity relationships. Communication Studies, 74(4), 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2023.2201845

Yin, R. K. (2016). Qualitative research from start to finish (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.

Zhang, Y., & Liu, K. (2022). Identity performance in contemporary celebrity interviews: Authenticity, strategy, and expressive speech acts. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 41(5), 578-596. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X221087654

Ziskin, D. (2019). Analyzing verbal interaction: Tools for discourse research. Routledge.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-19

How to Cite

Utami, S. L., & Yuliati, Y. (2025). Pragmatic Functions of Expressive Speech Acts in a Creative Interview: A Case Study of Taylor Swift and Martin McDonagh. Dinasti International Journal of Education Management and Social Science, 7(1), 513–526. https://doi.org/10.38035/dijemss.v7i1.5242