Abibat Abike ORIMOYEGUN

This study applies Speech Act Theory to analyze the illocutionary force of the main character, Bundu’s, utterances in Wumi Raji’s Another Life. The research aims to categorize these speech acts to reveal Bundu’s character and illuminate the play’s core themes of political corruption and injustice.

The analysis, using Searle's taxonomy, shows that Bundu’s utterances are predominantly Assertives (reporting facts about corruption) and Expressives (lamenting his victimization). The initial commitment to truth is linguistically mapped by Assertives, while his subsequent fall from grace is reflected in the shift toward Expressives, showcasing his pain and frustration. Crucially, the power dynamic is revealed through the Declarations and Directives: corrupt figures wield the Declarations (false verdicts) to oppress him, while Bundu is often limited to performing Directives (pleas for justice).

The findings conclude that Bundu’s speech acts provide a linguistic framework for understanding the play’s critique: his attempt to assert truth is systematically crushed by the powerful, forcing him into a state where he can only express his suffering.

The illocutionary acts of the main character's utterances in Wumi Raji’s Another Life reveal various communication strategies and attitudes. The study analyzes 137 illocutionary acts, categorizing them into four types: 54 representative acts (40%), 59 directive acts (43%), 10 commissive acts (7%), and 14 expressive acts (10%). The directive acts are the most frequent, indicating the main character's active role in communication, while the expressive acts reflect personal feelings and attitudes. This analysis contributes to understanding the speech act theory, which emphasizes the interaction between language and behavior, highlighting how language can express intention and action. For a deeper understanding, you can refer to the detailed analysis in the provided sources.