48 the humans will be changed by machines. Then, the text writer asserts that there
are the advantages and disadvantages of the implementation.
8. Theme H: Jakarta to Scrap Property Tax Next Year
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama decided to spare the low- and middle-income residents from the hardship amid the economic slowdown.
Jakarta’s low- and middle-income residents will be freed from property tax in 2016. There were five texts of the readers’ opinion regarding the issue.
Table 4.8 Speech act category classification in Theme H
Theme H Speech act category
No Text
ass com
dir exp
dec 1
TH.54
- -
-
2 TH.55
-
-
- 3
TH.56
-
-
4 TH.57
-
-
- 5
TH.58
- -
-
Total 5
3 3
There are 5 assertive categories, 3 directive categories, and 3 expressive categories. It has two categories which have same point. Those are assertive and
expressive categories. In this case, the typical characteristic of TYS column in the theme is that assertive category is the most frequently employed speech act category
in the theme. Assertive category always accompanies other categories when the text has more than one speech act category. The text writers tends to commit themselves
to the truth of the proposition toward the issue. The text writers prefer to appreciate what Ahok does. The researcher provides the example of the findings in the
following page. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
49 27
TH.57 If middle-income residents do not have to pay property tax, who else will
pay for all the facilities and services required in a modern metropolis? If residents sometime in the future expect to have rubbish collection, a
sewerage system, fire service, a metro transportation system, good quality water and flood relief, similar to other major capital cities, then city
residents should contribute.
If residents’ contributions are not required it could mean that some other sector will have to bear the burden, or that the city may never achieve the
standard that so many aspire to.
The text has three-sentence length and one speech act category. All of the sentences show assertive category. The text writer uses the interrogative sentence
to open the text. Then, the text writer gives prediction in the next two sentences. He explains the evidences for his prediction in the future. It is clear that the speaker
convinces the readers to believe what he says.
9. Theme I: Light Rail Transit Construction Starts
Traffic has always been an issue for metropolitan cities, including Jakarta. To ease traffic in Jakarta and its outskirts, the government started the construction
of the light rail transit LRT system. The researcher finds out that the readers of TYS column gave 15 texts toward the issue.
From Table 4.9, the text writers use 11 assertive categories, 1 commissive category, 11 directive categories, and 12 expressive categories in its theme.
Different from the previous themes, the researcher finds out that the speaker often uses expressive category to respond the issue. Therefore, the typical characteristic
of TYS column in this theme is that expressive category is the most frequently speech act category.
50
Table 4.9 Speech act category classification in Theme I
Theme I Speech act category
No Text
ass com
dir exp
dec 1
TI.59 -
-
- -
2 TI.60
-
-
- 3
TI.61 -
-
-
4 TI.62
-
-
- 5
TI.63
- -
-
6 TI.64
-
-
- 7
TI.65 -
-
-
8 TI.66
- -
- 9
TI.67
-
-
10 TI.68
- -
- 11
TI.69
-
-
12 TI.70
-
- 13
TI.71
-
-
14 TI.72
-
- 15
TI.73
-
-
Total 11
1 11
12
The LRT issue is controversial. Some disagree with the project whereas other agree with the project. In this case, the text writers prefer to express their
feeling about the project. They wonder whether the project will solve the traffic congestion problem in the metropolitan cities. The researcher provides the example
of the findings: 28
TI.63 The LRT reminds me of the power plant project that the government
announced recently. They say it’s going to be built, but in reality they haven´t even purchased the land from the local owners.
The text has two speech act categories. Those are assertive and expressive categories. In the first sentence, the text writer uses assertive category. The text
writer tries to explain and give the evidence of the related project. The text writer explains that the LRT project reminds him power plant project. The text writer says
