Speech Act Analysis on the English Conversation by Indonesian University Students in an EFL Classroom.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this research are (1) to explore the types of speech acts uttered by the students on their EFL classroom communication, (2) to explore the functions and the forms of speech acts uttered by the students on their EFL classroom communication, (3) to examine the students’ perceptions toward the use of speech acts in EFL classroom communication. This research employed descriptive qualitative method. The subjects of this research were the students of English Department at the first and the third semester of SembilanBelas November University of Kolaka. There were twenty two respondents who participated in the internet survey. All the subjects and the respondents were selected through conveniently selected sampling. The data of this research was collected by employing video recording, transcribing, and online/internet survey. The gained data was analyzed in three major phases namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion. The results of the research revealed that (1) there were five types of speech acts uttered by the students during lecturing process in EFL classroom namely directive speech act, representative speech act, commisive speech act, declarative speech act, and expressive speech act. (2) Each type of the speech acts was uttered in different functions. First, directive speech act consisted of six different functions, such as for asking question, requesting, ordering, asking permission, commanding, and giving recommendation. The functions were uttered in three forms, namely interrogative, declarative, and non verbal form. Second, representative speech act consisted of five functions, namely for giving information, predicting, explaining, concluding, and asking for assertion. All the functions were uttered in question and declarative forms. Third, commisive speech act consisted of three different functions such as for stating objection, refusing the truth, and stating disagreement. The speech act was uttered in the form of declarative and interrogative forms. Fourth, declarative speech act consisted of two different functions namely for changing status and for giving up. All the functions were uttered in the form of declarative. The last, expressive speech act consisted of nine functions such as for greeting, apologizing, stating sympathy, stating pain, thanking, stating admiration, stating like or preferences, giving praise, and stating a dream. All the functions were uttered in the form of declarative. (3). The internet survey result revealed that the students supported if speech acts were used in EFL classroom and expected to be taught by lecturers during the lecturing process in EFL classroom. They also recommended that speech acts could be taught in early levels of education