An Analysis of Actions Expressed Through Utterances in the AB Talks with Huda Kattan Podcast and the Perlocutionary Acts on YouTube Comments

Abstract

This study aims to identify the illocutionary acts underlying the perlocutionary acts in a podcast entitled ABtalk with Huda Kattan. This podcast, named ABtalk and hosted by Anas Bukhash is an interview series that discloses a great depth of influential figures. Drawing on Searle's (1979) theory of speech acts, this study employs a qualitative method, using the utterances of Huda Kattan, the guest, as the data to analyze. The result shows that there are four types of illocutionary acts comprising representative, directive, commissive, and expressive, in which representative is the most dominant one. The most dominant type, the representative, serves as the basis for the perlocutionary act analysis whose data are taken from the responses delivered by viewers in the comment section. The result indicates that Huda Kattan's representative utterances successfully influence the viewers to agree with her sharing opinions, personal experiences, and motivational messages. Therefore, the analysis confirms that illocutionary forces produced by the speaker bring about perlocutionary acts as the effects on the viewers' feelings, thoughts, and actions.