A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACTS IN “STAND BY ME” SONG BY OASIS AS A FORM OF MEDIA DISCOURSE

Abstract

This study investigates the illocutionary speech acts found in the song Stand By Me by Oasis using a pragmatic approach as a form of media discourse. Language plays a vital role in expressing messages, not only in our daily conversations but also in artistic forms such as music. The words in song lyrics hold deep meanings, emotional expressions, and communicative intentions that can be analyzed through pragmatics, particularly with the  framework of speech act theory. In this analysis, we apply John Searle's speech act model, which categorizes illocutionary acts into five separate types: representative, directive, commissive, expressive, and declarative. The objective is to identify the types of speech acts present in the lyrics of Stand By Me and to explain their communicative significance. A qualitative descriptive research method is utilized. The main data source is the complete lyrics of Stand By Me, obtained from reputable lyric repositories, and examined through documentation and content analysis techniques. Findings reveal that the song features four categories of illocutionary speech acts: representative, directive, expressive, and commissive, with no declarative acts found. Expressive acts are the most common, as the song primarily conveys themes of vulnerability, solitude, hope, and emotional dependence. The repeated phrase “Stand by me” mainly functions as a directive act, symbolizing a plea for assistance, loyalty, and emotional support. The research concludes that the song serves effectively as a medium for communication, expressing important emotional and social messages through speech acts. This study contributes to the field of pragmatics and demonstrates that music can be a powerful tool in teaching pragmatics and discourse analysis.