Chapter IV

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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
A. Introduction to Analysis
As mentioned in the previous chapter, the aims of this study are to figure out
the types of commissives used by the characters in the movie entitled A Bugs Life
and to find out why the characters exploit the types of commissive speech acts. In
addition, this study is also to identify how the characters of the movie exploit those
types.
The researcher uses Searles classification in determining the types of
commissives. Commissives are speech acts in which the speakers commit to do future
action. Commissives express the speakers intention about something in the future.
The types of commissives include promises, guarantees, swears, threats, refusals,
pledges, vows, etc. In uttering commissive speech acts, the speaker commonly uses
verbal and non-verbal strategies. The verbal strategy means the speaker utters direct
or indirect speech act, explicit or implicit statement, in high or low intonation while
the non-verbal strategy can be performed through the body language to give the force
of the degree of strength of their commissive speech acts.
In analyzing commissive speech acts, the researcher uses an animation
movie entitled A Bugs Life because this movie provides the data related to the topic
of the research. The theme of this movie itself is also related to commissives. This
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movie is about a promise and belief of the main character named Flik to find the
warrior bugs who will help his colony from the grasshoppers oppression.
B. Analysis
B.1. The Types of Commissives Used by the Characters in the Movie A Bugs
Life.
Commissive speech acts have many types such as promise, vow,
guarantee, swear, threat, etc. The types of commissives found in the movie A
Bugs Life are promise, guarantee, refusal, threat, volunteer, and offer. The each
type is analyzed below:
B. 1. 1. Promise (Pr)
The term of promise means the speakers have intentions to do a future
action. Promise is defined as to tell somebody that the speaker will do or not
do something or that something will happen. In uttering a promise the
speakers may use the performative verb promise or not. The data belong to
Promise employed by the characters in the movie are explained below:
Datum 09 / ABL / Pr
Princess Atta : Flik, after much deliberation, we have decided to grant you
your request.
Flik
: Really?
Princess Atta : Really
Flik
: Oh, thank you Princess. Thank you so much for the chance. I
wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I promise.
Princess Atta : Thats fine. No, forget it, forget it.
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From the datum above, the promise speech act is uttered by Flik by
saying I wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I promise. In uttering
his promise, Flik uses the performative verb promise so that it can be
categorized as a promise speech act easily.
Datum 12 / ABL / Pr
Grub
Flik
Reed
Flik
Dot
: So go already?
Hey...the citys that way!
: I know (pick the dandelion)
: Youre supposed to look for the bugs not dandelions.
: Thats right. Here I go. For the colony and for oppressed
ants everywhere.
: Bye Flik.
Flik says For the colony and for oppressed ants everywhere.
That utterance is categorized as a promise because the speaker intends to do

finding the warrior bugs for his colony and the oppressed ants. It means the
speaker will do a future action as the characteristic of promise.
Datum 20 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Heimlich
Francis
Dim
Flik
Manny
Flik
Heimlich
Flik
: Circus bugs? How can you be circus bugs?

: What?
: Hey, hey, hey. You said nothing about killin grasshoppers.
You lied to us.
: Ja
: Are you kidding? Do you know what this is? This, my friends
is false advertising.
: How dare you! You, Sir, are charlatan in this scenariotouting your wares as a talent scout, preying upon the hungry
souls of hopeless artistes. Good to you, Sir.
: Wait! No, no! Wait, wait! You cant go. You have got to help
me. Give me some time, Ill come up with a plan.
: Just go tell them the truth!
: They cant know the truth. The truth, you see, is bad. I will be
branded for the rest of my life. My children will walk down
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the street, people will point and say! Look! There goes the
spawn of Flik, the loser!
From the datum above, the promise speech act is uttered by Flik..
Flik requests the bugs to help him, then, he makes a promise by saying Ill
come up with a plan. The modal will shows the speaker intends to do
something for his friends. He involves himself to the future action.
Datum 24 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Francis
Rosie
: Hoppers afraid of birds!

: And I dont blame im
: Whoa, Flik honey, we are not about to fight the grasshoppers,
okey?
: Youll be gone before the grasshoppers ever arrive. Heres
what we do.
: a-a-a no another word. I dont know what youre concocting
in that little ant brain of yours, but well have no part of it.
Flik
Manny
Flik and the bugs (Rosie, Francis, and Manny) are talking about
Hopper. Flik tries to convince them by making a promise Youll be gone
before the grasshoppers ever arrive. The modal will shows the speaker
intends to the future action.
Datum 27 / ABL / Pr
PT Flea
: Hey guys! Keep me away! I promise to start to think about

your payment.
From the datum above, the character PT Flea utters a promise I

promise to start to think about your payment. It can be easily recognized
because the speaker uses the performative verb promise.
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B. 1. 2. Guarantee (Gu)
The term of guarantee means a firm promise that the speaker will do
something or the speaker is sure about something. Therefore, what makes a
guarantee different from a promise is the degree of affirmation of the speech
act. The speaker may use the performative verb guarantee to express his/her
utterances. The data belong to Guarantee employed by the characters in the
movie are explained below:
Datum 01 / ABL / Gu
Princess Atta : Ohwinds died down. Theyll be here soon.
Queen
: Just be confident, dear. Youll be fine.
According the datum above, Princess Atta is in panic condition and the
Queen tries to calm her down by guaranteeing that she will be fine if she is
confident. She utters Youll be fine. This utterance is categorized as a
guarantee because the speaker convinces her opinion.
Datum 02 / ABL / Gu
Queen
Princess Atta
Queen
Princess Atta
Queen
: Ok, Atta, now, what do we do?

: Ahhoh! Dont tell me. I know it, I know it. What is it?
: We relax
: Right
: Oh, itll be fine. Its the same year after year. They come,
they eat, they leave. Thats our lot in life. Its not a lot,
but its our life.
The dialogue above shows that the Queen guarantees about what will
happen to the colony year by year. She says Oh, itll be fine. Its the same
year after year. They come, they eat, they leave. Thats our lot in life. Its
not a lot, but its our life as a response to Princess Attas panic. Even
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though she does not use the performative verb guarantee, her speech act can
be categorized as a guarantee based on the degree of the affirmation of
something.
Datum 03 / ABL / Gu
Princess Atta : Flik, what are you doing?
Flik
: Oh, this! This is my new idea for harvesting grain. No more
picking individual kernels. You cut down the entire stalk!
Princess Atta : Flik, we dont have time for this.
Flik
: Exactly! We never have time for collect the food for
ourselves just we spend all summer harvesting for the
offering. But my invention will speed up production.
From the datum above, Flik tries to convince Princess Atta about his
invention by saying a guarantee. He says my invention will speed up
production which shows his belief. That utterance is categorized as a
guarantee because the speaker is sure about something.
Datum 17 / ABL / Gu
Slim
Francis
All Ants
: Mayday, mayday. Were losin the job.

: (to slim) We gotta sweeten the deal.
(to the ants) Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, boys and
girls of all ages. Our troupe here guarantees a
performance like no other! Why, when your
grasshoppers friends get here, we are gonna knock them
dead!
: (yelling)
The datum above shows Francis utters a guarantee Your Majesty,

ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages. Our troupe here
guarantees a performance like no other! Why, when your grasshoppers
friends get here, we are gonna knock them dead!. His utterance can be
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recognized as a guarantee easily because in uttering it, he uses the

performative verb guarantee.
Datum 21 / ABL / Gu
Flik
Heimlich
Francis
Dim
Flik
Manny
Flik
Heimlich
Flik

: What?
You lied to us.
: Ja
branded for the rest of my life. My children will walk
down the street, people will point and say! Look! There
goes the spawn of Flik, the loser!
Flik says a guarantee about what will happen if he tells the truth to the
ants. He convinces by saying They cant know the truth. The truth, you
see, is bad. I will be branded for the rest of my life. My children will walk
down the street, people will point and say! Look! There goes the spawn of
Flik, the loser!, although he does not use the performative verb guarantee,
it can be categorized as a guarantee because he believes in what will happen if
he tells the truth.
Datum 26 / ABL / Gu
Rosie
Gypsy
Manny
: We have to do something, come on guys, think!

: I know, the bird
: Yes, the bird
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Slim
Flik
Francis
Francis
Dot
Flik
: The bird is brilliant

: The bird wont work
: What are you talking about? Was your idea?
: But you said that everything to me
: That everything that I ever told you, all right Dot! Lets face
the colony. I just make thing worse and the bird is
guaranteed failure, just like me.
: You listen to me, my boy! Ive been living for failure and
looser. And you are not a failure.
: Oh, Flik. Youve done so many good things!
Manny
Rosie
Flik says a guarantee as a response to his friends suggestions, he

convinces by saying The bird wont work. The word wont is a form of
his conviction that the idea of making model bird is a failure and it is asserted
by saying I just make thing worse and the bird is guaranteed failure, just
like me.
B. 1. 3. Refusal (Ref)
The term of refusal is defined as an act of saying or showing a
speakers intention not to do, give, or accept something. Therefore, when a
speaker utters a refusal, he/she expresses his/her intention to deny something
offered and ordered to him/her. The data belong to Refusal employed by the
characters in the movie are explained below:
Datum 04 / ABL / Ref
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
: Princess Atta. Theres something I need to tell you.

: Not now, Flik, shh!
: But you Highness. Its about the offering.
: Sshh.
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From the datum above, Flik wants to explain something to Princess

Atta, but she refuses him by saying Not now, Flik. She expresses the
refusal as the response to Fliks request.

Hopper
: There still a few months till the rains come. So you can all try
again.
: But Hopper, since its almost the rainy season, we need
this time to gather food for ourselves.
: Listen! If you dont keep your end of the bargain then I cant
guarantee your safety. And there are insects out there, they
will take advantage of you. Someone could get hurt
Queen
Hopper
Hopper forces the ants to pick the double food, the Queen as the leader
of the colony states her refusal. She refuses Hoppers order by saying But
Hopper, since its almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather
food for ourselves.

Flik
: I should help repair the damage before I go.
The Royal Councils : No! No, no! Just go! Just leave!
Flik
: (nod of his head)
In the datum above, Flik offers a help to repair the damage.
Considering what Flik has done, the Royal Council states a refusal by saying
No! No, no! That utterance can be categorized as a refusal easily by the
word no explicitly used.

Fly
PT Flea
: You! Come here! I want my money back!

: Oh, no refunds after the first two minutes.
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From the datum above, a Fly asks PT Flea to give back his money
because he is unsatisfied with the circus performance, but PT Flea refuses his
demand by saying Oh, no refunds after the first two minutes. That
utterance can be categorized as a refusal easily by the word no used.

Slim
PT Flea
Slim
PT Flea
: PT, whats the point?

: Not now Slim.
: Whats the point of going out there? Theyll only laugh at me.
: Thats because youre a clown!
Slim is asking PT Flea, but PT refuses to answer by saying Not now

Slim as a form of his refusal to explain. The word not now shows an
explicit refusal.

Rosie
Flik
: Flik!
: Not right now, Rosie, Im making a speech. --No, there is no circus around here.
Flik is making a speech, then, Rosie disturbs him to explain
something. Flik refuses her by saying Not right now, Rosie, Im making a
speech.

Flik
: Your Highness, the warriors have called for a secret meeting

to plan for a circus a circumventing the oncoming hordes
so they can trapeze trap them with ease.
Princess Atta : Shouldnt I come?
Flik
: No! No, classified in the D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P. you
know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye!
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Princess Atta : B.Y.O.B?

In the datum above Flik says a refusal No! No, classified in the
D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P. you know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye! as a response
to Princess Attas offer to accompany him.

Princess Atta : Flik, I owe you an apology.
Flik
: For what?
Princess Atta : Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry, if theres
any way I can make up to hey I know, how would you like
to be the queens official advisor to the warrior bugs?
Flik
: me?
Princess Atta : Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after that rescue.
You are very brave.
Flik
: Really? Naw, naw.
Princess Atta : Not everyone faces of bird, I mean even Hoppers afraid of
em.
Flik
: No no, I cant
From the data above, Princess Atta offers Flik to be queens official
advisor, but Flik refuses it by saying Really? Naw, naw which is asserted
by saying No no, I cant to express his disability to accept the offer.

Flik
Francis
Rosie
Flik
Manny

okey?
what we do.
In the datum above, Manny utters well have no part of it as a form
of his refusal to not join Fliks idea. The word we shows that in uttering the
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utterance, the speaker is as the part of community. In this case, the speaker is
representing his friends.

Hopper
Gypsy
: Wait! Where is she? (angrily)

: Im sorry, a magician never reveals the secret.
Gypsy and Manny perform a performance to disappear the Queen in
order to rescue her. Hopper is angry to know that the Queen is lost, thus he
asks where the Queen is. Gypsy refuses to explain by saying Im sorry, a
magician never reveals the secret.

PT Flea
: Are you sure? You can come on with us
Flik
: Sorry, my place is here
Princess Atta : Pretty answer
PT offers Flik to join his circus, but Flik refuses it by saying Sorry,
my place is here. Even though he does not say no, his speech act can be
categorized as a refusal because he expresses his willingness to keep staying
in his colony.
B. 1. 4. Threat (Thr)
The term of threat in Oxford Dictionary is the act of saying an
intimidation of the speaker to the hearer in which there is an intention to hurt
the hearer. The data belong to Threat employed by the characters in the
movie are explained below:
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Datum 05 / ABL / Thr

Hopper
Molt
Hopper
Molt
Hopper
: Its a bug eat bug world out there, Princess. One of those
circles of life kind of things. Now, let me tell you how things
are supposed to work. The sun grows the food, the ants pick
the food, the grasshoppers eat the food
: And the birds eat the grasshoppers. Hey, like the one that
nearly ate you. You member?
Oh, you shouldve seen it. This blue jay has him halfway
down his throat and Hoppers kickin and screamin. And
Im scared. Im not goin anywhere near, okay? Aw come
on. Its a great story.
: I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her deathbed
that I wouldnt kill you, Ill kill you.
: And believe me. No one appreciates that more than I do
: Shut up! I dont want to hear another word out of you while
we where on this island. Do you understand me?
Hopper utters a threat that is directed to Molt as a form of his anger.
He says I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her deathbed that I

wouldnt kill you, Ill kill you. Even though, he uses the performative verb
swear, but looking at the context of situation where the dialogue happens,
the meaning of that utterance is aimed to threat, not to make solemn promise.

Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
: But Hopper. Since its almost the rainy season, we need this
time to gather food for ourselves.
: Listen! If you dont keep your end of the bargain then I
cant guarantee your safety. And there are insects out
there, they will take advantage of you. Someone could get
hurt!
Hopper orders the ants to provide the food again, but the queen refuses
it. Then, as a response to the Queens refusal, Hopper utters a threat by saying
If you dont keep your end of the bargain then I cant guarantee your
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safety. And there are insects out there, they will take advantage of you.
Someone could get hurt! to intimidate the ants.

Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Slim
: Hey cutie! Wanna pollinate with a real bug? Ooh, come to

papa!
: So, bein a ladybug automatically makes me a girl, is that it,
fly boy? Huh?!
: Shes a guy.
: Judging by your breath, you must have been buzzin around
a dung heap all day. Anytime, pal! Im gonna pick the
hairs out of your head one by one.
: Take your best shot!
: You name the place!
: Oh, yeah?
: Yeah, cause when you get there, you are dead!
: Francis, let me handle this. (to Fly) thats no way to speak to
a lady.
Francis is angry because he is regarded as a girl by the Flies. He
threatens the Flies by saying Anytime, pal! Im gonna pick the hairs out of
your head one by one which is asserted Yeah, cause when you get there,
you are dead!.
B. 1. 5. Volunteer (Vol)
The term of volunteer is defined as an intention of a speaker to do
something without force and intimidation from others. The data belong to
Volunteer employed by the characters in the movie are explained below:
Datum 08 / ABL / Vol
Flik
: Your Highness, dont you see? We could send someone to get

help.
Princess Atta : Leave the island?
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Queen
Thorny
Cornelius
Thorny
Flik
Mr. Soil
Dr. Flora
Flik
Queen
: Why didnt I think of that? Oh! Because its suicide!

: Shes right! We never leave the island.
: Never leave.
: Theres sanakes and birds and bigger bugs out there!
: Exactly! Bigger bugs! We could find bigger bugs to come
here and fight and forever rid us of Hopper and his gang!
: Ludicrous!
: Who would do a crazy thing like that?
: Ill volunteer. Id very happy to volunteer.
: (laugh) You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no ones gonna help a
bunch of ants.
Flik offers himself to be a volunteer. He says Ill volunteer. Id very

happy to volunteer. He makes an intention that he will do a future action by
becoming a volunteer. In uttering his speech act Flik uses the performative
verb volunteer.
B. 1. 6. Offer (Off)
The term of Offer means the speaker is willing to do something for or
give something to the hearer/addressee. The data belong to Offer employed by
the characters in the movie are explained below:
Datum 10 / ABL / Off
Flik
Flik
: (nod of his head)
From the datum above, Flik performs an offer to the Royal Council by
saying I should help repair the damage before I go. Flik offers himself to
take the responsibility for what he has done.
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Princess Atta : Flik, I owe you an apology.

Flik
: For what?
Princess Atta : Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry, if theres
any way I can make up to hey I know, how would you like
to be the queens official advisor to the warrior bugs?
Flik
: me?
Princess Atta : Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after that rescue.
You are very brave.
Flik
: Really? Naw, naw.
Princess Atta : Not everyone faces of bird, I mean even Hoppers afraid of
em.
Flik
: No no, I cant
From the dialogue above, Princess Atta offers a special position to
Flik. She says how would you like to be the queens official advisor to the
warrior bugs?

PT Flea
Flik
Princess Atta : Pretty answer
From the dialogue above, the speaker is PT Flea while the hearer is
Flik. PT Flea offers Flik to join his circus by saying You can come on with
us. He offers that there is still a place for Flik in his circus.
B.2. The Functions of Commissive Speech Acts in the Movie A Bugs Life.
Each type of commissves may have certain functions. Those fuctions
can be to repair relationship, expresse the belief of the speaker the dislike,
anger, etc. The functions of commissive speech acts in the Movie A Bugs Life
are analyzed below:
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Promise is a speech act showing the speakers intention of a future

action to do or not do something. In this movie, promise speech acts uttered by
the characters have certain functions. They are to repair and maintain the
relationship to the hearers, to show loyalty, love, sympathy, thank, care,
solidarity, and also to show intimacy to the hearer. The functions of promises
and the examples are presented below:
1. Repairing and maintaining relationship
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker feels guilty
for the fault he/she has made.
Datum 09 / ABL / Pr
your request.
Flik
: Really?
Flik
: Oh, thank you Princess. Thank you so much for the chance.
I wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I promise.
The dialogue happens in the ant colony, specifically in the court so
that the situation tends to be formal. The participants involve Flik, Princess
Atta, Queen, and the Royal Council, but the dialogue taken as the datum is
focused on Flik and Princess Atta. Princess Atta is the Queen-to-be, while
Flik is the worker ant, but the way of they speak to each other shows that
they have close relationship like a friendship but bordered by the status of
theirs.
Flik is in the court as the accused because he has caused the ants have
to offer the double food for the grasshoppers. Flik performs his idea to find
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the bigger bugs to get rid off the grasshopper gang from their colony. Flik
requests the Royal Council and Princess Atta to allow him to find the
warrior bugs. Princess Atta and the Royal Council discuss his request, then,
Princess Atta representing the Royal Council says that they grant his
request. Flik is very happy about it. He promises to Princess Atta by saying
I wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I promise. By studying the
context situation where the dialogue occurs, it can be analyzed that Flik
performs the promise to maintain and repair his relationship with Princess
Atta and the Royal council because of the fault he has made.
Datum 27 / ABL / Pr
PT Flea
: Hey guys! Keep me away! I promise to start to think about

your payment.
The dialogue occurs in the evening, in the ant island when Flik and his
friends are preparing themselves to trick the grasshoppers. PT Flea is the
owner of circus show. He is the leader of the circus troupe. He is very
stingy. He always thinks about money so that his circus troupe has no
respect to him.
PT Flea is locked up by his circus troupe because they know that PT
will disturb their plan to trick the grasshoppers. Therefore, PT is locked up
in his circus box. PT Flea utters a promise I promise to start to think
about your payment. He promises that in order to be freed. It can be said
47
that the intention behind his utterance is only to repair the relationship with
his circus trope in order to get their sympathy.
2. Showing loyalty
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker concerns
about the hearer. Therefore, the speaker via his/her utterance performs a
promise to show the loyalty.
Datum 12 / ABL / Pr
Grub
Flik
Reed
Flik
Dot
: So go already?
ants everywhere.
: Bye Flik.
The dialogue happens in the morning, in the ant island when Flik is
ready to leave the ant island to find the warrior bugs. There are four
participants in the dialogue. They are Flik, Dot, Grub, and Reed. Dot is
Princess Attas little sister while Grub and Reed are Dots friends. They
have close relationship with Flik as friends.
Flik is going to go to find the warrior bugs. He picks a dandelion, then,
flies with it. Flying in the air, he shouts For the colony and for oppressed
ants everywhere. He promises that his trip is for the colony and the
oppressed ants everywhere. From Fliks speech act, it can be analyzed that
the reason he utters the promise is motivated by his loyalty to the colony.
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3. Showing care
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker concerns
about the hearers safety. Therefore, the speaker via his/her utterance
performs a promise to show his/her care.
Datum 20 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Heimlich
Francis
Dim
Flik
Manny
Flik
Heimlich
Flik

: What?
You lied to us.
: Ja
The dialogue above happens in the Ant Island. The participants are
Heimlich, Francis, Dim, Manny and Flik. Flik and the bugs become friends
when they meet in the bar after a fight against the Flies. Flik thinks that
those bugs are the warriors who can help his colony to get rid off the
grasshoppers.
Knowing that those bugs are not the warriors, Flik becomes angry. He
thinks that the bugs have lied to him. Flik and the circus bugs are involved
49
in a debate. The circus bugs also do not want to be blamed by Flik, then,
they leave him, but Flik still tries to restrain them.
Flik asks them to help and not go. Flik tries to convince them by
making a promise. He says Ill come up with a plan. The function of this
utterance is to show the speakers care to the hearer.
Datum 24 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Francis
Rosie
Flik
Manny

okey?
what we do.
The dialogue above occurs in the bugs chamber after rescuing Dot,
Princess Attas sister, from a bird. The participants in the dialogue are Flik
and the Bugs. As well explained previously, Flik and the bugs have close
relationship. In the dialogue above, they are talking about the way to trick
the grasshoppers.
Flik makes a promise directed to his bug friends. He says Youll be
gone before the grasshoppers ever arrive. Flik tries to convince them
that their identity will not be known by the grasshoppers. His promise shows
that he cares about the bugs safety.
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Guarantee is a speech act showing the speakers belief about

something. In this movie, the guarantee speech acts uttered by the characters
have certain functions. They are to get sympathy from the hearer and to
express the belief and conviction of the speaker about something. The
functions of guarantees and the examples are presented below:
1. Getting sympathy from the hearers
This function is performed by the speaker because he/she wants to get the
sympathy from the hearer.
Datum 17 / ABL / Gu
Slim
Francis
All Ants

(to the ants) Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, boys
and girls of all ages. Our troupe here guarantees a
grasshoppers friends get here, we are gonna knock
them dead!
: (yelling)
The dialogue above happens in the ant island after the circus troupe
comes. The participants involve the circus bugs and the ants. The speaker
of the guarantee speech act is Francis, one of the circus bugs. This
utterance is a response toward the ants reaction to their coming.
The datum above shows that Francis utters a guarantee Your
Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages. Our troupe
here guarantees a performance like no other! Why, when your
grasshoppers friends get here, we are gonna knock them dead! his
utterance is used to take the ants sympathy so that their coming can be
51
accepted. He guarantees the best performance which makes the ants very
glad.
2. Expressing the belief and conviction of the speaker about something

This function is performed because the speaker via his/her utterance wants
to show his/her belief and conviction about something.
Datum 01 / ABL / Gu
Queen
The dialogue above happens in the morning, in the picking day, in the
ant hill. There are two participants in that dialogue. They are Princess Atta
and the Queen. Princess Atta is the Queens daughter, so that it is
described that they have close relationship.
Princess Atta and the Queen are overseeing the worker ants who pick
up the food for the grasshopper. Princess Atta is in panic condition and the
Queen tries to calm her down by sating a guarantee that she will be fine if
she is confident. She utters Youll be fine. Her sentences are a form of
her belief of something.
Datum 02 / ABL / Gu
Queen
Princess Atta
Queen
Princess Atta

: Ahhoh! Dont tell me. I know it, I know it. What is
it?
: We relax
: Right
52
Queen
: Oh, itll be fine. Its the same year after year. They
come, they eat, they leave. Thats our lot in life. Its
not a lot, but its our life.
The dialogue above still happens in the ant hill when the worker ants
are picking the grains for the grasshoppers. There are two participants in
that dialogue. They are Princess Atta and the Queen.
Princess Atta is very panic in preparing the foods for the grasshopper.
The queen wants to know what they should do, but Princess Atta does not
know what she should do. The queen tries to calm her down by saying a
guarantee Oh, itll be fine. Its the same year after year. They come,
they eat, they leave. Thats our lot in life. Its not a lot, but its our
life. The Queen tries to affirm that their life is to provide the foods year
by year. She performs her belief that what will happen to their colony is
not a bad thing.
Datum 03 / ABL / Gu
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
: Flik, what are you doing?

: Oh, this! This is my new idea for harvesting grain. No
more picking individual kernels. You cut down the
entire stalk!
: Flik, we dont have time for this.
The dialogue above happens in the ant island, in the morning, at the
picking grains time. There are two participants in that dialogue. They are
Princess Atta and Flik. Princess Atta is the queen to be, while Flik is a
worker ant. They have different status. In the beginning, their relationship
53
is far, after Flik rescues Dot, Princess Attas sister, their relationship
becomes close.
In the dialogue above, Flik is trying to promote his new invention to
Princess Atta. Unfortunately, Princes Atta has no interest in his invention.
Flik tries to convince her that his invention will be successful by making a
guarantee. He says my invention will speed up production to express
his belief and conviction of his invention. Therefore, it can be said that
Fliks guarantee is motivated by his desire to perform his belief.
Datum 13 / ABL / Gu
Grub
Dot
: (to Reed) Your dads right. Hes gonna die.

: You just watch! Hes gonna get the bestest roughest bugs
youve ever seen.
The dialogue happens in the mountain side of Ant Island when Flik is
going to go to find the warrior bugs. The participants in the dialogue are
Grub, Reed, and Dot. They have close relationship because Grub, Reed
and Dot are friends although they have different opinion about Flik.
Grub and Reed hesitate about Fliks ability to find the warrior bugs,
but Dot with her belief tries to convince them by saying Hes gonna get
the bestest roughest bugs youve ever seen She guarantees that Flik
will be successful because it is motivated by her conviction toward Flik.
Datum 21 / ABL / Gu
Flik
Heimlich : What?
54
Francis

You lied to us.
Dim
: Ja
Flik
Manny
Flik
Heimlich : Just go tell them the truth!
Flik
The dialogue above happens in the Ant Island. The participants are
Heimlich, Francis, Dim, Manny and Flik. Flik and the bugs become
friends when they meet in the bar after a fight against the Flies. Flik thinks
that those bugs are the warriors who can help his colony to get rid off the
grasshoppers.
Knowing that those bugs are only the circus bugs, Flik becomes angry
and disappointed. Flik blames them because they do not tell the truth that
they are not the warriors. Heimlich suggests Flik to tell the truth to the
ants but he refuses by saying a guarantee I will be branded for the rest
of my life. My children will walk down the street, people will point
and say! Look! There goes the spawn of Flik, the loser!
Flik through his guarantee speech act wants to convince the bugs that
it will be bad if he tells the truth to the ants. The ants expect the warrior
bugs coming who will help them from Hoppers oppression. Fliks belief
55
that the truth will be bad for him, thus he tries to get the bugs sympathy
through his speech act.
Datum 26 / ABL / Gu
Rosie
Gypsy
Manny
Slim
Flik
Francis
Francis
Dot
Flik
Manny
Rosie

: I know, the bird
: Yes, the bird
The dialogue takes place in PT Fleas box in the trip of the circus
performance. The participants in this dialogue are the bugs (Heimlich,
Dim, Rosie, Manny, Gypsy, Slim, Francis, Tuck and Roll), Flik, and Dot.
They become friend after the rescue from the bird. Their relationship
becomes so close.
Dot comes to them and tells what has happened in the ant island. She
asks them to help her mother from Hopper. The bugs suggest Flik to come
back to the ant island to rescue the Queen with what he has made the
bird. Flik says a guarantee as his response to his friends suggestions, he
convinces by saying The bird wont work. Flik is distrust and
disappointed to himself. The word wont is a form of his conviction that
the idea of making model bird is a failure and it is asserted by saying I
56
just make thing worse and the bird is guaranteed failure, just like
me.
Refusal is a speech act showing the speakers dislike. In this movie,
the refusal speech acts uttered by the characters have certain functions. They
are to show the dislike and distrust of the speakers to the hearers and also to
save the speakers from the bad effects made by the hearers or to avoid
conflicts with the hearers. The functions of refusal speech act and the
examples are presented below:
1. Showing the dislike and distrust to the hearers
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker dislikes and
distrust toward what the hearers say or offer.
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta

: Sshh.
The dialogue occurs inside ant hill, in the midday when the ants are
waiting for the grasshoppers coming to take the food provided on the
offering stone. The participants in the dialogue are only Flik and Princess
Atta. Princess Atta and Flik have no close relationship because they have
different status. Flik comes to Princess Atta to tell the Princess about what
57
he has done to the offering. He requests the Princess to give a time for him
to explain what has happened.
Princess Atta applies a direct refusal in the form of imperative
sentence to Flik. Princess Atta is very anxious about the grasshoppers
coming, thus, when Flik comes to tell something to her, she refuses him
by uttering Not now, Flik, shh!
The reason why she utters a refusal utterance to Fliks request can be
analyzed from the situation influencing her. She is in panic condition
when Flik asks to tell something to her. She is also afraid to make a fault
because providing foods to the grasshoppers is her first job as the queen to
be. Thus, she tries to do as good as possible to satisfy the grasshoppers
and she ignores Flik by refusing his request. She dislikes being disturbed
and distrusts with Fliks report.

Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
: But Hopper. Since its almost the rainy season, we need
The dialogue above happens inside ant hill. The participants are the
ants and the grasshopper, but the dialogue is focused on Hopper and the
Queen. Hopper is the leader of the grasshopper gang oppressing the ant
colony.
58
of the colony states her refusal to Hoppers order by saying But Hopper.
Since its almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather food for
ourselves. This utterance is motivated by her dislike to Hoppers
treatment.

Flik
Flik
: (nod of his head)
The dialogue happens in the meeting room when Flik is faced in front
of the Royal Councils because of his fault causing the ants have to provide
double food for the grasshoppers. This dialogue involves Flik and the
Royal Councils (Princess Atta, Mr. Soil, Thorny, Cornelius, and Dr. Flora)
as the participants.
In the datum above, Flik offers a help to repair the damage caused by
him. Considering what Flik has done, the Royal Councils refuse it by
saying No! No, no! This refusal is stated because they know about Flik.
They are afraid that Flik will make the mess worse. It can be said that the
refusal speech act uttered by the Royal Councils is motivated by their
distrust to Flik.

Fly
PT Flea

59
The dialogue above happens in the evening, at the circus show. The
participants are a Fly and PT Flea. Fly is an audience of the circus, while
PT Flea is the owner of the circus. Therefore, there is no close relation
between them.
From the datum above, Fly asks PT to give back his money because he
is unsatisfied with the circus performance, but PT refuses his demand by
saying Oh, no refunds after the first two minutes. PT refuses Flys
demand because he dislikes giving back Flys money.

Slim
PT Flea
Slim
PT Flea

: Not now Slim.
The dialogue occurs at the circus show, specifically behind the stage.
There two participants in this dialogue. They are PT Flea and Slim. Slim
is one of the performers who works on PT Fleas circus show. They have
no close relationship because PT Flea is a stingy flea so that Slim dislikes
him.
Slim is asking PT about something, but PT refuses to answer by
saying Not now Slim as a form of his dislike to explain something.
Therefore, it can be explained that his refusal is motivated by the will of
PT not to be disturbed by Slim because he dislikes it.
60
Rosie
Flik
: Flik!
The dialogue happens in the ant hill, specifically in welcoming

ceremony. The participants in this dialogue are Rosie and Flik. Rosie is
one of the bugs who are regarded as the warriors by Flik. Flik and the
bugs become friends when they meet in the bar after a fight against the
Flies. Flik thinks that those bugs are the warriors who can help his colony
to get rid off the grasshoppers.
Flik is making a speech to the ants for his success in finding the
warrior bugs, while Rosie is trying to explain Flik about the truth that she
and her friends are not the warriors but they are only the circus troupe.
Flik refuses her by saying Not right now, Rosie, Im making a speech.
---No, there is no circus around here. The reason why he utters a
refusal to Rosie can be analyzed from the situation influencing him. He is
making a speech so that he tries to focus on it. He wants to impress the
ants through his speech. Therefore, he dislikes being disturbed.

Flik
Francis
Rosie
Flik
Manny

okey?
what we do.
61
The dialogue above occurs in the bugs chamber. The participants in

the dialogue are Flik and the bugs. They become friends again after
rescuing Dot, Princess Attas sister, from a bird although Flik knows that
they are not the warriors. Because of their intimacy to each other, the
situation where the conversation happens is informal.
Flik and those bugs are talking about the way to trick the
grasshoppers. Flik tries to convince them by promising that the bugs will
leave the island before the grasshoppers come. As a response to Flik,
Manny states his argument representing his friends. He says a refusal that
he and his friend will not join Fliks idea. He says well have no part of
it. His utterance is motivated by his distrust to Fliks idea. He does not
want to take a risk to fight against the grasshoppers.

PT Flea
Flik

The dialogue above happens in the morning, in the ant island before
PT Flea continues his trip with the circus. There are two participants in the
dialogue. They are PT Flea and Flik. In the beginning Flik and PT Flea
have no close relationship. They become friends after the ants victory on
the grasshoppers.
my place is here. His refusal can be identified that he has no intention to
62
join the circus. He implicitly performs his dislike to leave the ant island
because Flik begins to develop feelings for Princess Atta.
2. Saving the speakers from the bad effects made by the hearers or avoiding
conflicts with the hearers.
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker thinks if
he/she accepts what speaker offer, he/she will be involved in a conflict
with the hearer. By performing the refusal, the speaker wants to save
her/himself from the bad effect made by the hearer.
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
: Your Highness, the warriors have called for a secret

meeting to plan for a circus a circumventing the
oncoming hordes so they can trapeze trap them with
ease.
: Shouldnt I come?
: No! No, classified in the D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P.
you know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye!
: B.Y.O.B?
The dialogue happens in Ant Island when Flik tries to run the bugs and
Princess Atta is following him. The participants in this dialogue are Flik
and Princess Atta. Princess Atta and Flik have no close relationship.
D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P. you know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye! as a
response to Princess Attas willingness to accompany him. The reason
why Flik utters the refusal to Princess Atta is motivated by Fliks secret.
He wants to hide the truth from Princess Atta. He wants to save himself
from Princess Attas anger and to avoid a conflict with her.
63

Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
: Flik, I owe you an apology.

: For what?
: Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry, if
theres any way I can make up to hey I know, how
would you like to be the queens official advisor to the
warrior bugs?
: me?
: Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after that
rescue. You are very brave.
: Really? Naw, naw.
: Not everyone faces of bird, I mean even Hoppers
afraid of em.
: No no, I cant
The dialogue above happens inside ant hill. The participants in that
dialogue are Princess Atta and Flik. Flik and Princess Atta start having
close relationship after rescuing Dot, Princess Attas sister, from a bird.
Princess Atta starts having a belief that Flik has done a great thing by
finding the warrior bugs and rescuing her sister.
Princess Atta thanks to Flik because he and his bug friends have
rescue her sister, Dot, from the bird. Then, as her thank to Flik, she offers
a position to Flik in the Queens Official Advisor to the warrior bugs. Flik
refuses it by saying Really? Naw, naw which is asserted by saying No
no, I cant. His refusal can be analyzed based on what has happened.
Flik feels that he is not proper to take that job because he has lied to the
Princess. He is afraid if someday Princess Atta knows the truth, she will
be disappointed. He wants to save himself from Princess Attas anger and
to avoid a conflict with her.
64

Hopper
Gypsy

The dialogue takes place in the night, in the ant island, specifically
when the circus bugs tries to trick Hopper by performing their show. The
participants in the dialogue are Hopper and Gypsy. They have no close
relationship. Hopper does not know that Gypsy is one of the ants friends.
Many and Gypsy perform a show to disappear the Queen. This trick is
done to rescue the Queen from Hoppers trap. Hopper is angry to know
that the Queen is lost, thus he asks where the queen is angrily. Gypsy
refuses to explain by saying Im sorry, a magician never reveals the
secret. The words Im sorry in that utterance is not used to apologize,
but it is used to make a polite refusal.
Gypsy states a refusal to not reveal the secret because she is afraid if
Hopper knows that he is tricked by her. She knows that Queens life is in
danger and she does not want to tell Hopper where the Queen is.
Therefore, it can be said that Gypsys refusal is to save herself from
Hoppers anger and to avoid a conflict with him.
Threat is a speech act showing the negative feeling and anger of the
speakers to the hearers. In this movie, the threat speech acts uttered by the
characters to express the negative feeling and anger of the speakers to the
65
hearers and to intimidate the hearers as a form of the speakers intention to

show the higher power and status. The functions of threats and the examples
are presented below:
1. Expressing the negative feeling and anger of the speakers to the hearers.
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker feels that
the addressee has made him ashamed. Therefore, the speaker via his
utterance threats the addressee to express his negative feeling and anger.
Hopper
Molt
Hopper
Molt
Hopper
: Its a bug eat bug world out there, Princess. One of those
circle of life kind of things. Now, let me tell you how things
are supposed to work. The sun grows the food, the ants pick
the food, the grasshoppers eat the food
: And the birds eat the grasshoppers. Hey, like the one that
nearly ate you. You member?
: I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her deathbed
that I wouldnt kill you, Ill kill you.
: Shut up! I dont want to hear another word out of you while
we where on this island. Do you understand me?
The dialogue above takes place inside ant hill when Hopper
intimidates the ants. Then, Molt interrupts his speech. The participants in
this dialogue are Hopper and Molt. Hopper is the leader of the
grasshopper gang, while Molt is his brother. They have close relationship
as brothers although Hopper does not really like him.
Hopper utters a threat that is directed to Molt as a form of his anger.
He says I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her deathbed that
66
I wouldnt kill you, Ill kill you. Hopper is angry because Molt
interrupts his speech. Hopper does not want to be ashamed in front of the
ants because of Molts words. Thus, he expresses his anger to his brother
by performing a threat.

Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis

papa!
fly boy? Huh?!
: Shes a guy.
: Oh, yeah?
The dialogue happens in the circus show. The participants in this

dialogue are Francis and Fly. Francis is a performer in the circus show,
while Fly is the audience. They have no close relationship.
Francis is very angry because Fly teases him by regarding that he is a
girl. He threatens the Fly by saying Anytime, pal! Im gonna pick the
hairs out of your head one by one which is asserted Yeah, cause
when you get there, you are dead! to express his anger.
2. Intimidating the hearers as a form of the speakers intention to show the

higher power and status.
67
This function is performed by the speaker because the speaker wants to

make the addressees obeys him. The speaker wants to show the addressee
that he has higher power and status to intimidate them.
Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
hurt!
The dialogue takes place inside ant hill. Hopper comes down into the
ant hill. He is very angry because he finds no food on the offering stone.
The participants in this dialogue are Hopper and the Queen, but Hoppers
threat is directed to all ants there.
Hopper orders the ants to provide the food again, but the queen refuses
it. Then, as a response to the Queens refusal, Hopper utters a threat by
saying If you dont keep your end of the bargain then I cant
guarantee your safety. And there are insects out there, they will take
advantage of you. Someone could get hurt! Hoppers threat is
motivated by his anger because the ants do not provide the food. He
intimidates the ants that one of them will get hurt if they do not do his
order. His utterance shows that he wants to show that he is the superior
bug and the ants are lower. He wants to make the ants obey him.
68
Volunteer is a speech act showing the speakers intention to do something
without force and oppression from other. In this movie, the volunteer speech
act uttered by the characters has a function. It is to repair and maintain the
relationship with the hearer. This function is performed by the speaker
because the speaker feels guilty for the fault he/she has made. That function
is presented below:
Flik

help.
Queen
Thorny
Cornelius
: Never leave.
Thorny
Flik
Mr. Soil
: Ludicrous!
Dr. Flora
Flik
Queen
: (laugh) You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no ones gonna help a
bunch of ants.
The dialogue above happens inside ant hill, specifically in the court in
which Flik is faced on the Royal Councils and the Queen because of his fault
causing the ants have to provide double food for the grasshoppers. The
participants in this dialogue are Flik, Princess Atta, Queen, and the Royal
Councils (Mr. Soil, Dr. Flora, Thorny, and Cornelius). They are talking about
finding the bigger bugs to help their colony from Hopper and his gang.
69
Flik volunteers himself to find the warrior bugs. He says Ill

volunteer. Id very happy to volunteer. He makes intention that he will do
a future action by becoming a volunteer. His utterance shows that he tries to
repair his relationship with his colony for what he has done causing them
cannot pick the food for themselves because they have to provide doudle food
for the grasshoppers.
Offer is a speech act showing the speakers willing to do something for or
give something to the hearer/addressee. In this movie, the offer speech acts
uttered by the characters have a function. It is also to repair and maintain the
relationship with the hearer. This function is performed by the speaker
because the speaker feels guilty for the fault he/she has made. That function
is presented below:
Flik
Flik
: (nod of his head)
The dialogue above happens inside ant hill, specifically in the court in
which Flik is faced on the Royal Councils and the Queen because of his
fault causing the ants have to provide double food for the grasshoppers. The
participants in this dialogue are Flik, Princess Atta, Queen, and the Royal
Councils (Mr. Soil, Dr. Flora, Thorny, and Cornelius).
70
After volunteering himself to find the warrior bugs for his colony, Flik
offer himself to take the responsibility on the mess by saying I should help
repair the damage before I go. Flik offers his help in order to repair the
relationship with the colony. He has caused the ants have to work harder for
the grasshoppers. Thus, he wants to redeem his fault by repairing the
damage in that colony.

Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik

: For what?
: Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry, if
theres any way I can make up to hey I know, how
would you like to be the queens official advisor to
the warrior bugs?
: me?
: Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after that
rescue. You are very brave.
: Really? Naw, naw.
afraid of em.
: No no, I cant
The dialogue above happens inside ant hill. The participants in that
dialogue are Princess Atta and Flik. Flik and Princess Atta start having close
relationship after rescuing Dot, Princess Attas sister, from a bird. Princess
Atta starts having a belief that Flik has done a great thing by finding the
warrior bugs and rescuing her sister.
From the dialogue above, it shows that Princess Atta is offeing a new
position for Flik in their colony. She says how would you like to be the
queens official advisor to the warrior bugs? as her thankful feeling
71
because Flik has rescued her sister from a bird. She wants to start better
relationship with Flik to redeem her disbelief to Flik. It can be said that the
reason why Princess Atta performs an offer to Flik is to repair her
relationship with Flik.

PT Flea
Flik

The dialogue above happens in the morning, in the ant island before
PT Flea continues his trip with the circus. There are two participants in the
dialogue. They are PT Flea and Flik. In the beginning Flik and PT Flea have
no close relationship. They become friends after the ants victory on the
grasshoppers.
PT Flea offers Flik to join his circus because he has regarded Flik as
his friend. He says Are you sure? You can come on with us. His offer is
stated to maintain their relationship.
B.3. How the Types of Commissive Speech Acts are Exploited by the Characters.
Each speaker has his/her own way in uttering commissive speech acts.
They can use verbal and non-verbal expression. The verbal strategy means the
speaker utters direct or indirect speech act, explicit or implicit statement, in high
or low intonation. A non-verbal expression is commonly done through body
language to emphasize his/her speech. In this part, the researcher will analyze
the way the characters in A Bugs Life perform the commissive speech acts.
72
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by using
performative verb promise or not, indirect speech act or direct speech act, in
high, low or normal intonation, and affirmed by non-verbal expression or not.
1. Using performative verb, direct speech act, high intonation, non verbal
expression.
Datum 09 / ABL / Pr
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
: Flik, after much deliberation, we have decided to

grant you your request.
: Really?
: Really
: Oh, thank you Princess. Thank you so much for the
chance. I wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I
promise.
: Thats fine. No, forget it, forget it.
From the datum above, the promise speech act is uttered by Flik
explicitly in form of direct speech act. In uttering his promise, Flik uses
performative verb promise. Flik says I promise for three times with
shaking Princess Attas hands to convince his intention not to make the
Princess disappointed. He says his promise in high intonation to show his
enthusiastic. His eye gaze and facial expression also show that his promise
is stated seriously and sincerely.
Datum 27 / ABL / Pr
PT Flea
: Hey guys! Keep me away! I promise to start to

think about your payment.
73
From the datum above, PT Flea utters a promise explicitly by using a

performative verb promise. His utterance is in form of declarative
sentence indicating direct speech act. This utterance is uttered by PT Flea in
high intonation to attract his friends sympathy.
2. No performative verb, direct speech act, high intonation, no non verbal

expression.
Datum 12 / ABL / Pr
Grub
: So go already?
ants everywhere.
: Bye Flik.
Flik
Reed
Flik
Dot
Flik says his promise in high intonation. He shouts his promise as a

form of his happiness to find the warrior bugs. He states his promise in the
form of direct speech act. His utterance can be categorized as a promise
because he has intention of a future action.
3. No performative verb, modality will, direct speech act, high intonation,

non verbal expression.
Datum 20 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Heimlich
Francis
Dim
Flik

: What?
You lied to us.
: Ja
74
Manny
Flik
Heimlich
Flik
Flik says his promise in the form of direct speech act by using
declarative sentence. He convinces his friends that he will make a plan. The
simple future tense with modality will used in his sentence indicates a
future action. He says his promise in high intonation to convince and show the
strength of his intention. His eyes gaze shows his serious in his promise.
Datum 24 / ABL / Pr
Flik
Francis
Rosie
Flik
Manny

okey?
what we do.
Flik tries to convince the bugs by making a promise that they will
leave the ant island before the grasshoppers come. Flik says his promise in the
form of direct speech act by using declarative sentence. His speech act is
uttered explicitly in normal intonation. The simple future tense with modality
will used in his sentence indicates a future action. This speech act is
affirmed with Fliks eyes gaze.
75
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by using
performative verb guarantee or not, indirect speech act or direct speech act,
in high, low or normal intonation, and affirmed by non-verbal expression or
not.
1. No performative verb, modality will, direct speech act, normal
intonation, no non verbal expression.
Datum 01 / ABL / Gu
Queen
Princess Atta is in panic condition and the Queen tries to calm her
down by guaranteeing that she will be fine if she is confident. She utters
Youll be fine explicitly, in normal intonation. The simple future tense
with modality will used in his sentence indicates a future action. Her
utterance is in form direct speech act because of the declarative form used.
Datum 02 / ABL / Gu
Queen
Princess Atta
Queen
Princess Atta
Queen

: Ahhoh! Dont tell me. I know it, I know it. What is it?
: We relax
: Right
: Oh, itll be fine. Its the same year after year. They
come, they eat, they leave. Thats our lot in life. Its not
a lot, but its our life.
The Queen also tries to affirm that their life is to provide the foods
year by year. She says her sentence in normal intonation in order to make
Princess Atta calm down. The simple future tense with modality will
76
used in his sentence indicates a future action. Her utterance is in the form
of direct speech act because of the declarative form used.
2. No performative verb, modality will, direct speech act, high intonation,

non verbal expression.
Datum 03 / ABL / Gu
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
: Flik, what are you doing?

: Oh, this! This is my new idea for harvesting grain. No
more picking individual kernels. You cut down the
entire stalk!
: Flik, we dont have time for this.
Flik tries to convince Princess Atta about his invention by saying a

guarantee that his invention will be successful. He directly says my
invention will speed up production in high intonation to show his
belief about his invention. The simple future tense with modality will
used in his sentence indicates a future action. His utterance is affirmed
with his eyes gaze. He performs direct speech act because his sentence is
in declarative form.
Datum 21 / ABL / Gu
Flik
Heimlich : What?
Francis
You lied to us.
Dim
: Ja
Flik
77
Manny
Flik
Heimlich : Just go tell them the truth!
Flik
Flik through his guarantee speech act wants to convince the bugs
that it will be bad risk if he tells the truth to the ants. He speaks in high
intonation to affirm his sentences. The simple future tense with modality
will used in his sentence indicates a future action He says his guarantee
explicitly by using direct speech act in the form of declarative sentence.
His utterance is affirmed with non verbal expression in which he kneels in
front of his bug friends.
3. No performative verb, simple future tense, direct speech act, high

intonation, no non verbal expression
Datum 13 / ABL / Gu
Grub
Dot
: (to Reed) Your dads right. Hes gonna die.

: You just watch! Hes gonna get the bestest roughest bugs
youve ever seen.
Dot makes a guarantee directly, in high intonation to affirm her
belief toward Fliks ability to find the warrior bugs because she does not
like the way her friends appraise Flik. She performs her utterance in
declarative sentence indicating direct speech act.
78
4. Using performative verb, direct speech act, high intonation, no non verbal
expression.
Datum 17 / ABL / Gu
Slim
Francis
All Ants

(to the ants) Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, boys and
girls of all ages. Our troupe here guarantees a
grasshoppers friends get here, we are gonna knock them
dead!
: (yelling)
The datum above shows Francis utters a guarantee in high intonation

to attract the intention of the ants. He uses the word our, it means that he
is a member of a community. His speech is to represent his friends. In
uttering his speech, he says his guarantee explicitly in high intonation by
using the performative verb guarantee. His utterance is in declarative
sentence form showing the direct speech act.
5. Using performative verb, direct speech act, low intonation, non verbal
expression.
Datum 26 / ABL / Gu
Rosie
Gypsy
Manny
Slim
Flik
Francis
Francis
Dot

: I know, the bird
: Yes, the bird
79
Flik
Manny
Rosie
Flik utters his speech acts in low intonation while bowing his head. It
seems that he is desperate. He is lost his confident about what he has
made. In uttering his speech, he says his guarantee explicitly by using the
performative verb guarantee. His utterance is in declarative sentence
form showing the direct speech act.
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by saying no or
not, using indirect speech act or direct speech act, in high, low or normal
intonation, and affirmed by non-verbal expression or not.
1. Expressing no or not, direct speech act, high intonation, non verbal
expression.
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta

: Sshh.
Princess Atta utters her refusal explicitly by saying not now which
is said in high intonation to show Flik that she does not want to be
disturbed. It can also be seen from her non-verbal action. She talks to Flik
80
without looking at his face and keeps paying her attention to wait for the
grasshoppers arrive.

Flik
Flik
: (nod of his head)
The Royal council utters the refusal as the response to Fliks offer.
They refuse him in high intonation and explicitly say no with non verbal
expression to convince Flik that he does not need to repair the damage by
moving their hands symbolizing no to affirm their refusal.

Fly
PT Flea

From the datum above, a Fly asks PT to give back his money because
he is unsatisfied with the circus performance, but PT refuses his demand
by saying Oh, no refunds after the first two minutes in high
intonation, then, leaving the Fly. He says his refusal explicitly by using
the word no.

Slim
PT Flea
Slim
PT Flea

: Not now Slim.
81
Slim is asking PT, but PT states a refusal to him explicitly by saying

not now in high intonation as a form of his anger not to be disturbed by
Slims questions. He points his finger to Slim to affirm his intention not to
be disturbed.

Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
: Your Highness, the warriors have called for a secret

meeting to plan for a circus a circumventing the
oncoming hordes so they can trapeze trap them with
ease.
: Shouldnt I come?
: No! No, classified in the D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P.
you know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye!
: B.Y.O.B?
D.M.Z. Gotta go A.S.A.P. you know, strictly B.Y.O.B. bye! in high
intonation and explicitly by saying no to prevent Princess Atta follows
him. He refuses Princess Atta with non verbal expression to convince that
he does not want to be accompanied by moving his hands symbolizing
no to affirm his refusal.

Flik
Francis
Rosie
Flik
Manny

okey?
what we do.
82
Manny states his argument representing his friends as a response to

Fliks utterance. He says a refusal that he and his friend will not join
Fliks idea in high intonation to assert his speech. He uses the first plural
person to represent his friend bugs. He explicitly says the refusal by
saying Well have no part of it. He performs his utterance in the form
of direct speech act. He uses non verbal expression to affirm his speech
act by moving his hands symbolizing no.
2. Expressing no or not, direct speech act, low intonation, non verbal

expression.
Rosie
Flik
: Flik!
Flik is making a speech, then, Rosie disturbs him to explain

something. Flik refuses her by saying Not right now, Rosie, Im
making a speech. ---No, there is no circus around here in low voice
and intonation in order to avoid the ants hear that. He uses the word no
to express his refusal explicitly. In uttering his speech act, Flik does not
look at Rosie.

Hopper
Gypsy

83
Gypsy refuses to explain by saying Im sorry, a magician never

reveals the secret to Hopper in low intonation by bending her back to
avoid Hoppers anger. The word sorry used by the speaker is aimed to
say her refusal implicitly, not to ask apology. She uses direct speech act in
expressing her utterance.
3. Without expressing no or not, direct speech act, high intonation, non

verbal expression.
Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
of the colony states the refusal to Hoppers order in high intonation to
affirm that her colony has to pick the food for themselves. She says her
refusal implicitly by using the word but to indicate the refusal, but she
performs her speech act in declarative sentence showing direct speech act.
In uttering her refusal, the Queen stands up in front of Hopper.
4. Expressing no or not, direct speech act, normal intonation, non verbal

expression.
84
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta

: For what?
: Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry,
if theres any way I can make up to hey I know,
how would you like to be the queens official advisor
to the warrior bugs?
: me?
: Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after
that rescue. You are very brave.
: Really? Naw, naw.
afraid of em.
: No no, I cant
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
From the data above, Princess Atta commands Flik and offers him to
be queens official advisor, but Flik refuses it by saying Really? Naw,
naw which is asserted by saying No no, I cant. He says that
utterance explicitly in normal intonation by saying no. He performs his
utterance in declarative sentence indicating the direct speech act. He
moves his hands to show that he really refuses Princess Attas offer.
5. Without expressing no or not, direct speech act, normal intonation, non

verbal expression.
PT Flea
Flik
Princess Atta

: Pretty answer
my place is here. He says his refusal implicitly by saying sorry in order
to be polite. He says his refusal in normal intonation by shaking his head.
He uses direct speech act by using declarative sentence.
85
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by using direct
speech act, in high intonation, and affirmed by non-verbal expression.
Hopper
Molt
Hopper
Molt
Hopper
: Its a bug eat bug world out there, Princess. One of

those circle of life kind of things. Now, let me tell you
how things are supposed to work. The sun grows the
food, the ants pick the food, the grasshoppers eat the food
: And the birds eat the grasshoppers. Hey, like the one
that nearly ate you. You member?
: I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her
deathbed that I wouldnt kill you, Ill kill you.
: Shut up! I dont want to hear another word out of you
while we where on this island. Do you understand me?
Hopper utters a threat directed to Molt as a form of his anger. He says

his swear in high intonation and uses a performative verb swear, but it is
implicitly to threat Molt. In uttering his threat, Hopper also uses nonverbal action in which he pushes Molt to the corner while holding his neck
firmly to give emphasizing.

Hopper
Queen
Hopper
: There still a few months till the rains come. So you can all
try again.
86
there, they will take advantage of you. Someone could

get hurt!
Hopper explicitly intimidates the ants by threatening that one of the
ants will get hurt if they do not do his order. He says his threat in high
intonation to make the ants afraid of him. His utterance is performed in
direct speech act.

Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Fly
Francis
Slim

papa!
fly boy? Huh?!
: Shes a guy.
: Oh, yeah?
: Francis, let me handle this. (to Fly) thats no way to speak to
a lady.
Francis threatens the Flies explicitly by saying Anytime, pal! Im

gonna pick the hairs out of your head one by one which is asserted
Yeah, cause when you get there, you are dead!. His direct spech act
is peformed in high intonation while pointing his finger toward the Fly.
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by using direct
speech act, modality will indicating a future action, in high intonation, and
affirmed by non-verbal expression or not.
87

Flik

help.
Queen
Thorny
Cornelius
: Never leave.
Thorny
Flik
Mr. Soil
: Ludicrous!
Dr. Flora
Flik
Queen
: (laugh) you got a lot of spunk, kid, but no ones gonna help a
bunch of ants.
Flik offers himself to be a volunteer. He says explicitly by using a
performative verb volunteer. His utterance is stated in direct speech act. He
expresses his utterance Ill volunteer. Id very happy to volunteer in high
intonation to show his seriousness and enthusiastic.
This type of commissves is expressed by the speaker by using indirect
speech act or direct speech act, in high, low or normal intonation, and
affirmed by non-verbal expression or not.
1. Using indirect speech act, normal intonation, non-verbal expression.
Flik
Flik
: (nod of his head)
88
From the datum above, the offer utterance is expressed implicitly in

form of declarative sentence. This utterance is uttered in the form of
indirect speech act because the offer speech act is not uttered in
interrogative sentence. He lifts the palms of his hands to show his
seriousness. The speaker uses declarative sentence to express the offer.
Flik says his utterance in normal intonation.

PT Flea
Flik
Princess Atta

: Pretty answer
The datum above shows that the offer speech act expressed implisitly
by PT Flea is an indirect speech act. His utterance is stated in form of
declarative sentence. His offer is expressed in normal intonation by
moving his hand indicating an invitation.
2. Using direct speech act, high intonation, non-verbal expression.

Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik
Princess Atta
Flik

: For what?
: Well, I havent been that nice to you and Im sorry,
if theres any way I can make up to hey I know,
how would you like to be the queens official
advisor to the warrior bugs?
: me?
: Oh, sure. Youve got great report especially after
that rescue. You are very brave.
: Really? Naw, naw.
afraid of em.
: No no, I cant
89
From the datum above, it shows that the offer speech act uttered by
Princess Atta is explicitly in the form of direct speech act. She uses the
interrogative sentence to express her offer. Her offer is uttered in high
intonation with an eyes gaze showing her seriousness.
B.4. Why the Commissive Speech Acts are Exploited in the Movie A Bugs
Life.
In the previous analysis, the analysis were focused on the analysis of the
commissive speech acts in the form of the types, the functions of each type in
communication between the characters (the speaker and hearer), and the ways
of those speech acts are performed. In this part, the research is focused in why
commissive speech acts are exploited in the movie.
Based on the previous analysis, it shows that each speech acts are
performed in different ways and functions. It depends on the speakers purposes
and the context of situation. In this movie, the dialogue / the utterances
performed by the characters have been formated based on the story which is
lifted. It can be concluded that the speech acts used in this movie are influenced
by the theme of the movie. It must have been impossible if the characters create
their own speech acts. Their speech acts are determined by the theme
established through the context of situation.
Looking at the theme of this movie, there are some points which can be
lifted as the major theme and subthemes. They are promise, responsibility,
90
oppression, and struggle. Promise becomes the major theme because the point
of this movie is about promise, a promise to provide the food the grasshopper to
get safety, a promise to find the warrior bugs to save the ant colony, etc. The
subthemes responsibility, opression, strugle are built based on the major theme
that shape some point caught in the movie. Those subthemes indirectly draw the
answer why the commissive speech acts are exploited in the film A Bugs
Life. The six types of commissive found in the movie indicate their
relationship with the theme. It can be seen through the scheme below:
Promise
Sub theme:
responsibility
Pro
mis
e
Vol
unt
eer
Sub theme:
oppression
Gu
ara
nte
e
Off
er
Sub theme:
struggle
Thr
eat
Ref
usa
l
The scheme above explains that the major theme builds some subthemes
that create the context of situation to shape the six types of commissive speech
acts. Below some analysis to prove that the theme of the movie influences the
speech acts taken from the data:
91
Flik

help.
Queen
Thorny
Cornelius
: Never leave.
Thorny
: Theres snakes and birds and bigger bugs out there!
Flik
Mr. Soil
: Ludicrous!
Dr. Flora
Flik
Queen
: (laugh) you got a lot of spunk, kid, but no ones gonna help a
bunch of ants.
The datum above shows that the type of commissive is volunteer, the
function of that speech act is to repair the relationship with the hearer and to
show the loyalty, while the way to perform that speech act is by direct speech
act with explicit performative and non-verbally expressed in high intonation.
The reason why that speech act appears in the movie can be seen throug the plot
of the story. At the beginning of the story, the ants are picking the food for the
grasshopper. Flik, the main character, accidentally knocks the pile of food into a
stream just before the grasshoppers arrive. The leader of the grasshoppers,
Hopper, gives the ants the rest of the season to make good on what they owe,
but orders a double ration of food after Flik stands up to him in defense of the
Queens youngest daughter Dot. Flik is admonished by the colonys royal
council. Flik think that one way to be free from the grasshoppers is by finding
the warrior bugs who can fight against the grasshoppers. Flik realizes that his
fault causing the ants have to provide double food for the grasshoppers should
be redeemed. Therefore, he volunteers himself to find the warrior bugs. The sub
92
theme responsibility has shaped a context of situation in which the speaker

should perform a volunteer speech act.
Datum 09 / ABL / Pr
your request.
Flik
: Really?
Flik
: Oh, thank you Princess. Thank you so much for the chance. I
wont let you down. I promise, I promise, I promise.
Datum 9 is still related to the datum 8 because it is the continuity of the
previous plot. In datum 8 and datum 9, the participants and the context of
situation are the same. Therefore, the promise speech act here is also influenced
by the sub theme responsibility shaping the context of situation to make the
speaker to perform that speech act.

Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
hurt!
Datum 7 shows that the type of the commissive is threat. Based on the
previous analysis, the functions of that speech act are to intimidate the hearers
and to show the higher status and power of the speaker. The answer why threat
speech act is appeared in the movie can also be seen through the story. The sub
93
theme of this movie is oppression. This movie stories that an ant colony will be
protected by the grasshoppers if the provide the food every season.
Unfortunately, in a season, the ants cannot provide the food because of an ant
named Flik. Then, Hopper, the leader of the grasshoppers, is very angry and he
commands the ants to provide the double food for the next season. In this case,
the situation built by the theme is about oppression. Related to the context of
situation, the threat speech act is performed as the result of that situation.

Hopper
Queen
Hopper
again.
will take advantage of you. Someone could get hurt.
Datum 6 shows that the type of commissive is refusal. Based on the

previous analysis, the function of this speech act is to express the dislike while
the way to perform that speech act is in high intonation in implicit statement.
Looking at the context of situation, it shows that that refusal is a form of the
response to a command. The ants are forced to the double food for the
grasshoppers, the queen as the leader of the ant colony performs her refusal. Her
speech act is a form of her struggle to the opression. It can be said that the
situation built by the subtheme stuggle has shaped a refusal speech act.
However, not all the types of commissives found in this movie are
because of the theme and subthemes of the movie. Some of the speech acts of
94
commissives in this movie are also built as form of the development of the
story. It can be seen from some data below:
Datum 29 -30 / ABL / Off - Ref
PT Flea
Flik

The datum 29 above shows that the offer speech act performed by the
speaker, PT Flea, as the development of the story. That speech act is a form of
the development of the dialogue to make the story. The datum 30 is also a form
of development of the story. The refusal speech act performed by Flik as the
response to PT Flea.
Why a speech act is exploited by the speaker, it is because of the context
of situation covering the speaker and the hearer. In the movie A Bugs Life, the
context of situation is shaped based on the theme and sub themes, thus what is
expressed by the speaker is established based on the story.

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29

That utterance is categorized as a promise because the speaker intends to do

: Circus bugs? How can you be circus bugs?

: Hoppers afraid of birds!

: Hey guys! Keep me away! I promise to start to think about

From the datum above, the character PT Flea utters a promise I

: Ok, Atta, now, what do we do?

: Mayday, mayday. Were losin the job.

The datum above shows Francis utters a guarantee Your Majesty,

recognized as a guarantee easily because in uttering it, he uses the

: Circus bugs? How can you be circus bugs?

: We have to do something, come on guys, think!

: The bird is brilliant

Flik says a guarantee as a response to his friends suggestions, he

: Princess Atta. Theres something I need to tell you.

From the datum above, Flik wants to explain something to Princess

Datum 06 / ABL / Ref

Datum 11 / ABL / Ref

Datum 14 / ABL / Ref

: You! Come here! I want my money back!

Datum 15 / ABL / Ref

: PT, whats the point?

Slim is asking PT Flea, but PT refuses to answer by saying Not now

Datum 18 / ABL / Ref

Datum 19 / ABL / Ref

: Your Highness, the warriors have called for a secret meeting

Princess Atta : B.Y.O.B?

Datum 23 / ABL / Ref

Datum 25 / ABL / Ref

: Hoppers afraid of birds!

Datum 28 / ABL / Ref

: Wait! Where is she? (angrily)

Datum 30 / ABL / Ref

Datum 05 / ABL / Thr

He says I swear if I hadnt promised to mother on her deathbed that I

Datum 07 / ABL / Thr

Datum 16 / ABL / Thr

: Hey cutie! Wanna pollinate with a real bug? Ooh, come to

: Your Highness, dont you see? We could send someone to get

: Why didnt I think of that? Oh! Because its suicide!

Flik offers himself to be a volunteer. He says Ill volunteer. Id very

Datum 22 / ABL / Off

Princess Atta : Flik, I owe you an apology.

Datum 29 / ABL / Off

Promise is a speech act showing the speakers intention of a future

: Hey guys! Keep me away! I promise to start to think about

: Circus bugs? How can you be circus bugs?

: Hoppers afraid of birds!

Guarantee is a speech act showing the speakers belief about

: Mayday, mayday. Were losin the job.

2. Expressing the belief and conviction of the speaker about something

: Ok, Atta, now, what do we do?

: Flik, what are you doing?

: (to Reed) Your dads right. Hes gonna die.

: Hey, hey, hey. You said nothing about killin grasshoppers.

: We have to do something, come on guys, think!

: Princess Atta. Theres something I need to tell you.

Datum 06 / ABL / Ref

Datum 11 / ABL / Ref

Datum 14 / ABL / Ref

: You! Come here! I want my money back!

Datum 15 / ABL / Ref

: PT, whats the point?

Datum 18 / ABL / Ref