Representative Illocutionary Acts in Digital Communication: An Analysis of Marina Tasha’s Utterances on TikTok
Abstract
This study investigates the representative illocutionary acts used by Marina Tasha in her
TikTok videos that promote Indonesian cuisine. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the
data were collected through document mining—three of her most-viewed videos—and
analyzed using Searle’s (1979) speech act theory. The results reveal that she used six types of
representative acts: describing, stating, boasting, classifying and identifying, asserting, and
complaining. Among these, describing emerges as the most dominant, reflecting her
communicative aim to vividly present Indonesian dishes to both local and international
audiences. Stating and asserting acts highlight her informative and persuasive roles as an
influencer, while boasting and complaining add authenticity and engagement. Furthermore,
classifying and identifying acts serve an educational function by introducing traditional
dishes clearly. These results indicate that Marina Tasha’s speech acts demonstrate how
language can promote cultural identity, authenticity, and pride through digital media. This
study contributes to pragmatic research on digital communication and underscores the role of
social media influencers in preserving and popularizing national culture.
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