Illocutionary Speech Acts in Prabowo Subianto's Speeches Before and After the Election

Abstract

This study aims to compare commissive speech acts with the function of promising employed by Prabowo Subianto during his period as a presidential candidate and his tenure as president. The research adopts a qualitative approach using a pragmatic matching method to relate linguistic forms to their extralinguistic contexts. Data were collected from Prabowo Subianto’s speeches using the free listening, seeing, and speaking (SBLC) technique. The findings indicate clear differences in language use across the two periods. Commissive illocutionary acts functioning as promises occur more frequently when the speaker had not yet assumed the presidency, as the campaign context demands persuasion, commitment, and projection of capability. In this phase, commissives serve as strategic instruments to construct voter trust and generate expectations.