Variety of directive illocutionary actions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 33 views

Introduction

The Indonesian Protestant Christian Church (GKPI) Padang Bulan Medan is a place of worship where the congregation gathers to listen to sermons and reflect on their faith. The Sunday sermon is a crucial part of the worship service, where the priest uses language to convey messages, teachings, and guidance to the congregation. This study aims to investigate the use of directive illocutionary acts in the Sunday sermon at GKPI Padang Bulan Medan, with a focus on identifying the types of directive illocutionary actions used and their functions based on Bach and Harnish theory (1979).

Background

The use of language in sermons is a complex phenomenon that involves various linguistic and communicative strategies. Directive illocutionary acts, in particular, play a crucial role in shaping the congregation's understanding of faith and its application in daily life. Directive illocutionary acts are speech acts that aim to direct the addressee's action, attitude, or belief (Austin, 1962). In the context of sermons, directive illocutionary acts can take various forms, such as requests, questions, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice.

Methodology

This study employed a descriptive qualitative research method to collect and analyze data from 40 Sunday sermons at GKPI Padang Bulan Medan. The data were collected through audio recordings of the sermons, which were then transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results

The analysis of the data revealed six types of directive illocutionary actions used in the Sunday sermons: requests, questions, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice. The results are presented in the following table:

Type of Directive Illocutionary Action	Frequency
Requests	2
Questions	19
Requirements	5
Prohibitions	5
Permits	1
Advice	8

The results showed that the most dominant type of directive illocutionary action in the Sunday sermon at GKPI Padang Bulan Medan was the question, with a function to ask questions. This finding suggests that the priest uses questions to motivate the congregation to contemplate their faith in God, especially in the month of Advent.

Discussion

The use of questions in sermons is not only to convey information, but also to create interactions and reflections between the congregation. The question asked encourages the congregation to think critically and question themselves about the meaning of faith in the context of their lives. This approach to sermon delivery is in line with the principles of adult education, which emphasizes the importance of active participation and reflection in the learning process (Knowles, 1973).

In addition, the use of other directive illocutionary actions, such as demands, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice, shows that the sermon not only focuses on teachings, but also on practical applications of faith in daily life. Through the use of directive illocutionary acts, the priest provides guidance and direction to the congregation to live in harmony with Christian teachings.

Conclusion

This study provides a deeper understanding of the way the priest uses language in the sermon to achieve their communicative goals. The analysis of directive illocutionary actions shows how Sunday sermons are not only one-way lectures, but also forms of active communication involving the congregation in the reflection process and application of faith. The findings of this study have implications for the development of effective sermon delivery strategies that engage the congregation and promote critical thinking and reflection.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Use of questions: The priest should continue to use questions in sermons to motivate the congregation to contemplate their faith in God.
Variety of directive illocutionary actions: The priest should use a variety of directive illocutionary actions, such as requests, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice, to convey different types of messages and teachings.
Active participation: The congregation should be encouraged to participate actively in the reflection process and application of faith through the use of directive illocutionary acts.

Limitations

This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the study was conducted in a single church setting, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study relied on audio recordings of sermons, which may not capture the full range of linguistic and communicative strategies used by the priest.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to investigate the use of directive illocutionary acts in other church settings and contexts. Additionally, research should explore the impact of directive illocutionary acts on the congregation's understanding of faith and its application in daily life.

References

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

Bach, K., & Harnish, R. M. (1979). Linguistic communication of world dismissal. MIT Press.

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of directive illocutionary acts in the Sunday sermon at GKPI Padang Bulan Medan, with a focus on identifying the types of directive illocutionary actions used and their functions based on Bach and Harnish theory (1979).

Q: What is a directive illocutionary act?

A: A directive illocutionary act is a speech act that aims to direct the addressee's action, attitude, or belief. In the context of sermons, directive illocutionary acts can take various forms, such as requests, questions, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice.

Q: What types of directive illocutionary actions were found in the study?

A: The study found six types of directive illocutionary actions used in the Sunday sermons: requests, questions, requirements, prohibitions, permits, and advice.

Q: Which type of directive illocutionary action was most dominant in the study?

A: The most dominant type of directive illocutionary action in the Sunday sermon at GKPI Padang Bulan Medan was the question, with a function to ask questions.

Q: Why is the use of questions in sermons important?

A: The use of questions in sermons is important because it creates interactions and reflections between the congregation. The question asked encourages the congregation to think critically and question themselves about the meaning of faith in the context of their lives.

Q: What are the implications of this study for sermon delivery?

A: The findings of this study have implications for the development of effective sermon delivery strategies that engage the congregation and promote critical thinking and reflection. The priest should continue to use questions in sermons to motivate the congregation to contemplate their faith in God, and use a variety of directive illocutionary actions to convey different types of messages and teachings.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the study was conducted in a single church setting, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study relied on audio recordings of sermons, which may not capture the full range of linguistic and communicative strategies used by the priest.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: Future research should aim to investigate the use of directive illocutionary acts in other church settings and contexts. Additionally, research should explore the impact of directive illocutionary acts on the congregation's understanding of faith and its application in daily life.

Q: What are the practical applications of this study?

A: The practical applications of this study are numerous. The findings of this study can be used to develop effective sermon delivery strategies that engage the congregation and promote critical thinking and reflection. Additionally, the study can inform the development of educational programs and materials that promote faith and its application in daily life.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the congregation?

A: The implications of this study for the congregation are significant. The study shows that the priest uses language in a way that is designed to engage the congregation and promote critical thinking and reflection. The congregation should be aware of the linguistic and communicative strategies used by the priest and be prepared to engage with the sermon in a meaningful way.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the priest?

A: The implications of this study for the priest are significant. The study shows that the priest has a range of linguistic and communicative strategies available to them to engage the congregation and promote critical thinking and reflection. The priest should be aware of these strategies and use them effectively in their sermon delivery.