A FELICITY CONDITION ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER IN LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35842/jolali.v4i1.60Keywords:
Austin, Felicity Conditions, Illocutionary, Little Women, Searle, Speech ActAbstract
This study examines the types of speech acts and the realization of felicity conditions performed by the main characters in the Little Women (2019) movie, using Austin’s (1962) speech act theory and Searle’s (1969) felicity condition framework. Employing a descriptive qualitative method, the research identifies 97 utterances comprising assertive, directive, commissive, expressive, and declarative acts. It analyzes whether each fulfills or deviates from the propositional content, preparatory, sincerity, and essential conditions. The findings show that 81 utterances are felicitous and 16 are infelicitous, demonstrating that successful communication occurs when intention, context, and authority support the speech act, while infelicity arises from insincerity, lack of ability, or mismatched context, thereby deviating from the felicity conditions. These pragmatic outcomes play a significant role in understanding how felicitous and infelicitous utterances shape the movie's emotional dynamics, character, and plot tension. The study also concludes that felicity conditions are essential for understanding how speech acts function effectively or deviate in the movie utterances, offering deeper insight into how communication constructs relationships and meaning in a movie.
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