An Analysis of Speech Function in Freedom Writers Movie

This study aims to analyze the types of speech function in the Freedom Writers movie, including both the initial speech function and responding speech function. The part of the movie script which is taken as the object data is limited to teacher-student interaction only. The method utilized was a qualitative one with content analysis approach, which aims to provide descriptive responses to research questions. Speech function in this study was analyzed using Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) theory. Results show that all of four types appear in the initial speech function whereas two types disappear in the responding speech function. Specifically, in the initial speech function, all of types appear including statement, question, command, and offer. Initial speech function is dominated by the occurrence of statement. Meanwhile, in responding speech function, six types appear including acknowledgement, answer, distraction, contradiction, refusal, and rejection whereas two of the eight types disappear including acceptance and compliance. Responding speech function is dominated by answer as the most frequent type.