SPEECH ACT OF CRITICISM TOWARD A SERIES OF SINAR HARIAN’S FORUM

This study analyses speech act of criticism toward a series of Sinar Harian’s Forum (Siri Forum Wacana Sinar Harian) organised by Karangkraf Sdn Bhd. Three recording forum were selected as the material of the study. Theoretical framework used started with the concept of illocution introduced by J.L Austin 1962. This study is expanding the concept of the illocution by adding a new category of speech act, namely speech act of criticism. This category is divided into five subcategory of speech act. The five subcategory are direct criticism, general criticism, direct counter argument, denial, and rhetorical question. The study found that the number of the use of speech act are 656 times. Direct criticism speech act recorded the highest number, namely 223 times, and the second place is the general criticism with the total number of 222 times. Rhetorical questions speech act is in the third place with a total frequency of 126. Denial speech act only recoded frequency by 50 times, then followed by counter argument speech act with total frequency of 35 times. Overall, the study concluded forum members in Forum Wacana Sinar Harian perform two dominant kinds of criticism of speech act, namely direct criticism and general criticism. In term of politeness, this research concluded that direct criticism and general criticism is still in framework Islamic point of view as there were no abusive and insulting words to anyone.