Hesitation on the dialogue between Barack Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the palace of the Republic of Indonesia

ABSTRACT

This research is about hesitation produced by President Barack Obama and President SBY’s utterances. Hesitation is the act of silence period which almost occurs during speaking. Hesitation pause is one of the frequent features which are commonly produced. This research focuses on the study of Psycholinguistics specifically on hesitation as the part of speech production errors (Bortfield, 2001). In order to make this research manageable and avoid broadening discussion, it is specified on Barrack Obama’s and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s utterances during question and answer section in the dialogue at the palace of republic Indonesia on November 09th, 2010.

The objective of this study is to identify the types of hesitation that is produced by Barack Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and to get the description in what context or situation do Barrack Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono employ hesitation in the dialogue at the palace of republic Indonesia by using GF. Mahl theory.

This research uses descriptive qualitative method. It is called descriptive because it describes in what context or situation Barack Obama and SBY employ hesitation. Qualitative method was used to analyze the types of hesitation. The data were collected by observing Barack Obama and SBY’s speech when they delivered their speech.

The result of this study shows this research finds five kinds of hesitation namely unfilled pause, filled pause, repeats, false starts, word lengthening. The researcher also finds that hesitation happens in the context when SBY and Barack Obama try to give a clear explanation and clarification. In addition, the hesitation also happens in the context of responding criticism, comment and explanation, teasing others, showing feeling, desire and giving promise to get sympathy from all audience, explanation, and suggestion, giving additional suggestion, defending explanation and opinion, and cross talking with other.

The researcher has some suggestions concerning with the topic of hesitation. Firstly, for other researchers who are going to conduct a psycholinguistic study especially hesitation, they are suggested to use this research as one of the references since a deep understanding about hesitation is very needed especially when the speech is presented using foreign language. Secondly, the researcher suggests that English Department students to have more practice and preparations the speech before speaking to overcome hesitation. Thirdly, the researcher suggests that public speakers should prepare the speech well before presenting it.