Nonverbal communication analysis of The Artist film

ABSTRACT

Gestures are a form of nonverbal communication in which visible bodily actions are used to communicate important messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words. Speech-related gestures are used in parallel with verbal spoken word; this form of nonverbal communication is used to emphasize the message that is being communicated and provided information to a verbal message such as pointing to an object of discussion (Kendon, 2004).

This thesis analyzes the gesticulation which is used in “The Artist” film to find out the types and the way the gesticulation occurred in the film. According to Mc Neill (2005:5) Gesticulation is motion that embodies a meaning relatable to the accompanying speech. Then, to analyze the intended message in the way of each gesticulation types are used in the film, the researcher uses speech acts theory, exactly illocutionary act taxonomies. Actions performed via utterances are generally called speech acts (Yule.1996:47). The researcher decides “The Artist” film as the data because the film has won many film awards and that makes it as the phenomenal film, then the film is a silent film which has many nonverbal communication used in the film.

The descriptive qualitative method is used to analyze the data in this study. The data are presented descriptively because it describes and explains gesticulation used in “The Artist” film such as describes the types and the way gesticulation used according Mc Neill’s theory (2005). In addition, through the illocutionary act taxonomies of Searle (1977) the researcher describes the intended messages of gesticulation which are occurred in the film.

After analyzing the data, the researcher finds 32 data of gesticulation used in “The Artist” film, the types are iconic, metaphoric, deictic and beat. Then, he finds the ways of gesticulation used such as hand shaping, pointing movement, and opening palms. Furthermore, in analyzing the intended message of gesticulation which is occurred in the film through illocutionary act taxonomies, the researcher finds three point of illocutionary act taxonomy, namely assertive, directive and expressive.

There is still much linguistic uniqueness in “The Artist” film. This research only focuses on the types and the ways of gesticulation used by the actor or the actress in the film. It is also important for the next researchers who are interested in the same field to conduct the study by trying to use different approaches and theories of nonverbal communication. After all, hopefully, this study can be useful at least as a guide reference to start a new research.