Pragmatic Functions of Illocutionary Acts in Karo Wedding Rituals: Shaping Social Behavior and Community Identity

Abstract

This paper discusses the pragmatic functions of illocutionary acts within Karo wedding rituals of passage, focusing on their role in the shaping of social behavior and sustaining community identity. By adopting a qualitative methodology-including participant observation, audio-video recordings, and interviews-the study classifies ritual utterances ("cakap") into four categories of illocutionary acts: expressive, commissive, directive, and declarative. The analysis reveals that expressive acts dominate, comprising 50% of the identified utterances, reflecting their central role in conveying goodwill, blessings, and cultural values. Commissive acts account for 25%, emphasizing mutual commitments and support, while directive and declarative acts each represent 18.75%, guiding behavior and formalizing social roles, respectively. These findings reveal how "cakap" reinforces social harmony, preserves cultural norms, and fosters Karo identity amidst