The Speech Act of Promising in Political Speeches: A Case Study of Obama’s Speeches

This study tried to present a pragmatic analysis of the act promising made by Barack Obama during presidential campaigns 2008 and 2012. It utilized qualitative approach data were collected through speeches. However, this also employed quantitative method calculate frequency utterances performative verbs their percentages. The researcher used Searle’s taxonomy analyze Obama’s findings showed that assuring, confirming, reconfirming most frequent intentions speaker’s speeches two election campaigns. Further revealed verb ‘‘promise’’ in 7 samples. Moreover, speaker modal ‘‘will’’ form ‘‘be going + infinitive’’ as ways instead ʻʻpromise.’’ Based on results study, it can be concluded further studies should conducted other contexts obtain more comprehensive regarding promising.