Illocutionary Acts Analysis Reflecting Moral Values in the Animated Series Sofia The First

Abstract

Background: This study examines the use of illocutionary acts in the animated series Sofia the First, focusing on the most dominant types of speech acts and the moral values reflected through the utterances. Language in animated series functions not only as a means of communication, but also as a medium to convey certain messages to the audience through the characters’ speech. Objective: Therefore, this study aims to identify the dominant types of illocutionary acts used by the main character, Sofia, and to analyse the moral values reflected through these speech acts. Method: This study employs a qualitative approach with a discourse analysis research design. The data consist of 274 utterances produced by Sofia in three episodes: The Big Sleepover, Let the Good Times Troll, and Blue Ribbon Bunny. The analysis of illocutionary speech acts is based on Searle’s (1979) theory, while the analysis of moral values refers to the framework proposed by Linda and Eyre (1993). Results: The findings show that directive speech acts are the most dominant type (38.3%), followed by representative (35%), expressive (21.2%), and commissive (5.5%), while declarative speech acts were not found. Directive speech acts reflect moral values categorized under the Value of Giving, including unselfishness, sensitivity, justice, and kindness. Conclusion: These findings indicate that speech acts in animated series are not merely pragmatic, but also contribute to educational purposes in conveying moral messages and supporting character development in children.