Commissive Speech Acts in the Movie “The Wall -2017-” : A Pragmatic Study

This paper examines commissive speech acts in The Wall (2017), exploring how characters' commitments and promises shape the narrative and thematic elements of the film. Drawing from the field of pragmatics, where commissive speech acts are those in which speakers commit to future actions, this study investigates the role of these acts in conveying themes of alienation, rebellion, and self-destruction. By employing a pragmatic analysis of selected dialogue scenes, the research identifies and categorizes various types of commissive acts, such as promises, vows, and offers, and analyzes how they reflect the psychological states of the characters, particularly the protagonist, Pink. Through this approach, the study reveals how these speech acts function not only as communicative tools but also as vehicles for emotional and thematic expression. The findings suggest that commissive acts are integral to understanding the characters' motivations and their interactions with their environment, offering a deeper insight into the emotional and ideological conflicts portrayed in the film. Ultimately, this paper contributes to the intersection of pragmatics and film studies by demonstrating how the study of speech acts can enrich our understanding of cinematic storytelling.