Podcasts As a Medium for Expressing Political Opinions: An Analysis of the Illocutive Speech Acts in Mahfud Md's Interview on Deddy Corbuzier's Youtube Channel

Abstract

This study discusses the forms of illocutionary acts in political discourse as a communication strategy between speakers in a podcast. The focus of this research is a podcast episode by Deddy Corbuzier titled “Exklusif Saatnya Blak-Blakan Soal Ganjar-Megawati-Prabowo,” which features a political discussion with Mahfud MD in the context of the post-2024 Indonesian presidential election. Using a descriptive qualitative method, the data were obtained from Deddy Corbuzier’s official YouTube channel. Data collection was conducted through non-participant listening and documentation techniques. The data were then categorized and analyzed based on John Searle’s speech act theory. The findings reveal a total of 22 illocutionary acts, classified into five types: directives (9 utterances or 40.91%), commissives (4 utterances or 18.18%), expressives (5 utterances or 22.73%), representatives (3 utterances or 13.64%), and declaratives (1 utterance or 4.55%). These speech acts function to request information, express commitments, convey emotions, describe reality, and make formal statements. The dominance of directive speech acts indicates Deddy Corbuzier’s intention to explore sensitive political issues in depth. Meanwhile, Mahfud MD’s responses reflect a careful and professional rhetorical stance, aimed at maintaining credibility and a positive public image. This research demonstrates how language use in podcasts can shape political narratives and influence public perception.