A Pragmatic Analysis of Directive Speech Acts in KH. M. Abdal's Religious Sermon on the Month of Suro: Based on John Searle's Theory of Speech Acts

Abstract

Religious sermons represent a distinctive communicative genre in which language performs both spiritual  and social functions. This study investigates the pragmatic dimensions of directive speech acts found in the  religious sermon delivered by KH. M. Abdal during the sacred Javanese-Islamic month of Suro  (Muharram). Drawing on John Searle's (1976) taxonomy of illocutionary acts, the research systematically  identifies, categorizes, and analyzes the types and pragmatic functions of directive utterances employed by  the preacher. Using a qualitative descriptive approach informed by pragmatic discourse analysis, the study  examines a transcribed corpus of KH. M. Abdal's sermon to reveal how commands, requests, advice,  invitations, and warnings are deployed to guide the spiritual and moral conduct of his congregation. The  findings demonstrate that KH. M. Abdal employs a sophisticated repertoire of both direct and indirect  directive acts, strategically balancing authoritative instruction with respectful, communal language. Indirect  directives, particularly those using the inclusive first-person plural pronoun kita ('we'), are predominantly  used to soften illocutionary force while maintaining the persuasive purpose of the utterance. The study  concludes that directive speech acts in Islamic preaching are not merely religious instructions but are deeply  pragmatic instruments that shape audience behavior, reinforce collective moral identity, and transmit  spiritual values within a culturally embedded communicative context.