Question functions in Larry King Live Talk Show

ABSTRACT

Question is an important part of human verbal communication. When people communicate, they speak, make their point understood by others, present facts, and wait for their partners to respond. Questions ensure the talk exchange runs well. Theoretically, questions are used to request for information. However, practically people use questions for many functions such as inviting, commanding, and refusing. An example is the use of question in talk show. In a chat show, question has various functions because the portion of question is about fifty percent.

Considering the significance of the question in a talk exchange, the main goal of this study is to investigate how questions function in talk show. The researcher focuses on question forms and functions. The researcher develops speech acts theory proposed by J. Searle, who stated that a speaker performed actions when he/she speaks. This study is crucial because understanding the question functions guarantees the success of the talk exchange. Furthermore, it is important to be followed up by further researches about the relation of language used and the speaker‟s intention.

A descriptive qualitative approach is used to give comprehensive descriptions and discover significant functions of questions in the show. The researcher collects the data from the official website of CNN. The data are taken from the transcripts of Larry King Live talk show aired in June 2009. Five transcripts with different topics are analyzed using Carter‟s question taxonomy and Searle speech acts theory.

Findings suggested there is little relation between question form and question function. There are five identified question forms, which have different functions, used in Larry King Live show. Those are display question, declarative question, echo question, wh question, and yes-no question. Display question is used as assertive speech act, to predict, and ask for clarification of information. Declarative question is used by the questioner to check information or particular detail. It combines with display question and echo question function as assertive and directive speech acts; to predict, conclude, and ask for clarification. Echo question functions as assertive speech act, to forecast, conclude, clarify, and ask for clarification. Wh question is used in as directive speech acts to request, invite, and ask for information. Yes-no question functions as directive speech act, to request the addressee to do something.