A Study on the Use of Directive Speech Acts Performed by the Main Characters in the Movie “The Bad Guys 2”

Abstract

This research focuses on analyzing the types and functions of directive speech acts used by the main characters in the animated movie The Bad Guys 2. The study aims to find out how the characters use language to influence others through various kinds of directives such as commands, requests, suggestions, and advice. To analyze the data, this study applies (Searle, 1979) Speech Act Theory as the main framework. The method used is descriptive qualitative, where the researcher watched the movie, transcribed the dialogues, identified the directive utterances, and classified them based on Searle’s categories. The results show that directive speech acts appear frequently in the characters’ conversations, with commands and requests being the most common. These directives reveal how the characters show leadership, cooperation, and social hierarchy within the group. Overall, this study shows that language in The Bad Guys 2 is not only used for communication but also to express power, build relationships, and strengthen teamwork. The findings are expected to give a clearer understanding of how directive speech acts work in animated movies and how they reflect everyday communication.