Punctuations in Maintaining The Coherence of Discourse: The Case of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Fictions

ABSTRACT

Communication consists of two forms: verbal and written. The term discourse encompasses both forms. It is easier for the hearer of verbal communication to convey the message performed by the speaker because those supporting clues are eligible for instance gesture and intonation. Such a situation cannot be fulfilled by the written discourse. At least, there are two kinds of relations in discourse that can help the readers fulfill this need called cohesion and coherence. While cohesion is the unity of text related to syntax and grammar, coherence lies in the people. This abstract description of coherence leads the writer to do an extra work to give the clues for the readers. One of the clues is the use of punctuation. It is a challenge to investigate the functions of punctuation in the direct speech of Harry Potter fictions. How do the presence of punctuations support the coherence of discourse as written by J.K.Rowling in Harry Potter fictions?What punctuations are used by J. K. Rowling in the direct speech of Harry Potter fictions?What are the functions of punctuations in the direct speech as written by J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter fictions?

Theoretically, this study uses the theory of punctuation and discourse markers to answer these problems. The theory of punctuation is used to recognize the functions of punctuations in the direct speech of Harry Potter fictions while the theory of discourse markers leads to the type of functions of punctuations in signaling the kind of discourse relation it act upon. Methodologically, this study practiced qualitative study as the research design; the data are collected by skimming and scanning, and analyzed by applying the ideal type analysis trough the reading process of the data.

The findings shows that J.K.Rowling uses period (.), comma (,), colon (:), semicolon (;), question mark (?), exclamation mark (!), quotation marks (‘ ’ and “
”), ellipses (…), and dash (–). The function of period is to end a word, phrase, and sentence in an utterance therefore it belongs to signaling alteration relation. Comma is used to separate elements or unit of talks and it is included in signaling continuation. Colon is used to introduce a list, to signal an explanation, to signal an example and to notify an emerging idea.The function of colon to introduce a list and to signal an example is classified as signaling instances relation. Whereas the function of colon to signal explanation belongs to signaling explanations, the function of colon to notify an emerging idea fits in the function of signaling elaboration relation. The functions of semicolon are to end a direct question, to show uncertainty and to indicate another unit of utterance appeared. Thus, the first two function of question mark is categorized as signaling alteration, while the last function is determine as signaling continuation. The functions of question marks are as follows: to end a direct question, to show uncertainty and to indicate another unit of utterance appeared. Thus, the first two function of question mark is categorized as signaling alteration, while the last function is determine as signaling continuation. Exclamation mark functions only in term of it mark any word, phrase, sentence that have a strong emotion. Therefore, similar to question mark, this function is also put as signaling alteration. The function of quotation marks is to set off word or phrase, thus this belong to signaling additional relation. Ellipses functions to indicate an interruption and to indicate an incomplete statement. All those functions can be classified as signaling continuation. Dash performs four functions. Those are to indicate a sudden interruption, to notify the reader of a surprising element, to notify the reader of an important idea and to emphasize a definition. The first function is categorized as signaling continuation, while the rest three functions belong to the category of signaling elaboration. In summary, this study concludes that the functions of punctuations in the direct speech of Harry Potter fictions contributes to the coherence of discourse by signaling the relation between the discourse unit it act upon.