Commissive Speech Acts in Anwar Ibrahim’s Interview

Understanding the style of speech that political leaders use to communicate their ideas, convince audiences, and maintain relationships is critical for assessing the efficacy and relevance of how they communicate. This study aims to analyse the speech acts, specifically commissives, in an interview with the Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. This study used a qualitative research approach. This research analyses an interview video on YouTube, “A Conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim”, published in 2023. The researchers transcribed the whole interview footage before selecting segments that included noteworthy interactions or statements by Anwar Ibrahim. The findings indicated that Anwar Ibrahim frequently used commissive speech acts in his speech, emphasising his commitment and dedication to honest governance, improving the nation’s reputation, financial integrity, and equitable foreign relations. In addition, the findings were analysed through the lens of four felicity conditions. By focusing the analysis on commissive speech acts, this research is significant as it highlights the importance of commissive speech acts, particularly in political discourse. A more thorough knowledge of how these particular speech acts contribute to the efficacy of political communication. It provides a deeper examination of political discussions, highlighting the role of language in shaping political narratives.