ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACTS BY PRIESTS IN PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN WEDDING BLESSINGS
Keywords:
speech act, wedding blessing, Protestant, performative utterance, declaration, religious discourseAbstract
This study examines the use of speech acts in Protestant Christian wedding blessings delivered by priests, exploring how language functions as a performative tool in sacred ceremonies. Using Austin's and Searle's speech act theories as theoretical frameworks, the research investigates how performative utterances particularly declarations, directives, representatives, and expressives function to create social transformation and spiritual affirmation within the institutional context of Christian marriage. Data were collected from YouTube videos of three different Protestant church ceremonies, representing diverse denominational perspectives: HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan), GPIB (Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bagian Barat), and GPdI (Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia). The utterances were manually transcribed and systematically analyzed using speech act classification frameworks. The findings reveal that priests function as institutional agents whose performative language not only changes the social and legal status of couples but also reinforces theological truths and community values. The study demonstrates how sacred speech acts are inherently performative, deriving their power from institutional authority, divine legitimacy, and communal acceptance. This research contributes to the understanding of religious discourse and the intersection between language, power, and social transformation in sacred contexts.
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