37 imperative utterances which are disobeyed is 48, higher by 9 than the declarative,
and the number of obeyed imperative is only 10. Then, the least number is the interrogative, which only covers 22 utterances, with 9 utterances disobeyed and 13
obeyed. The analysis shows that sentence types are not significant in determining the addressee‟s obedience. The following sections discuss further on the
declarative, imperative and interrogative moods used in the discourses of Nanny 911 with the communicative functions of the utterances.
1. Declarative
Declarative sentences are mostly used by adults in the discourses. The total numbers of declarative used in the discourses are 60, with 39 utterances disobeyed
and 21 obeyed. The structure of declarative is subject followed by finite, and usually used to show statement from the view point of the speaker. The subjects
being used in the utterances are I, you, and only one we. The utterances are all proposals, in the form of obligation or inclination Halliday, 1970:116.
Furthermore, in the utterances some communicative functions can be identified, they are giving commands, threats, advices, offers, suggestions, and permissions.
a. Disobeyed utterances.
Table 4.2. The communicative function in declarative disobeyed utterances No
Communicative function Numbers
Percentage 1
Command 26
66.7 2
Threat 5
12.8 3
Advise 6
15.4 4
Offer 1
2.6 5
Permits 1
2.6 Total
39 100
38 Table 4.2 shows that in disobeyed declarative moods the functions of the utterance
as giving commands have 66.7 or the highest percentage in the disobeyed utterances. It is followed by advices by 12.8 , threats by 12.8 , offers by 2.6,
and permission by 2.6 . Some examples on the utterances with the identified communicative functions that are not obeyed by the children are described below.
Out of 39 data, 14 are taken as examples. They are taken on the criteria of different forms, such as direct or indirect, imbedded, or conditional for each
communicative function. The first communicative function is giving a command. In uttering a
command, a speaker is exercising his social power over the hearer. A parent is socially has higher power over their children. The speaker demands the hearer to
do the proposition of the utterance. Below are examples of the utterances to give command in declarative.
1 I think you need to go to time out 14.k.1
You don’t care You are stupid 14.k.6 Example 1 is a form of punishment from the father because one of the girls keeps
on challenging what he says. The identified communicative function is giving command to the addressee to have a time out because of what she has been doing.
A time out is when a child is being put in a certain place for some times as a form of punishment. The utterance uses the modal need, which is high in value, which
means that the order should be obeyed by the addressee. However, this order is not respected by the girl that the father has to pick her to the time out place. Her answer
is You don’t care You are stupid This shows her disrespect and disobedience to
her father. She feels that her father does not understand her. Although her father has
39 express the command in an indirect statement, still she rejects to obey because it
disturb her enjoyment in her present activity of coloring. Thus, it is a negative face threatening acts.
2 I‟m on the phone, Joseph 8.a.1
screaming Utterance 2 is expressed by a father to his son who is playing and screaming
when he is speaking on the phone. It is intended to stop the boy from playing and screaming because the activity disturbs the father. The utterance is in the form of
giving information to the boy that he is on the phone, but indirectly it is a command to stop making the disturbing noise of playing. Joseph‟s respond to his father is
screaming, a form of rejection to comply the command. He is in the middle of playing, therefore his father‟s command has interfere his enjoyment of playing, a
form of negative face threatening act. 3
Olivia, I did I asked you to get the napkins 2.d.1 No, you said Mimi. 2.d.2
Example 3 is spoken by a father as a restatement of his previous command to the girl to get him napkins because he is preparing dinner for his children. His
previous command, which is in the imperative moods is rejected by the girl, therefore he is restating his command in the declarative to point out that he is really
command her, not her sister, to get the napkins. The choice of using I did ask you is to emphasize that the command is given by the father to her and not anybody else.
However, this command is still rejected by the girl by verbally saying No, you said Mimi. At the point of his father tells her to get the napkins, she is sitting around the
40 table with her other sisters joking with them, therefore to comply the command will
disturb her present activity. It is a form of negative face threatening act. 4
Yes I want you to try them 13.e.1 listening
Utterance 4 is spoken by a mother who wants her son to eat vegetable, but he does not like it. A type of indirect command showing the mother inclination that
the boy tries the vegetable using I want you to try them. Still, the boy rejects this indirect command. The boy‟s answer is No, I don’t like them. The command is a
form of interference to the boy‟s preference for food. Furthermore, the utterance emphasizes more on the mother‟s interest rather than the boy.
The next communicative function in the declarative form is threat. Threat is expressed by a speaker to make the hearer do what they want by giving unpleasant
situations. Below are some examples of the function. 5
If you guys don‟t want to listen to me, I will leave and Nanny Deb can stay
for the rest of the week 14.d.1 spits on mommy
Utterance 5 is stated by a mother to her children who do not comply with her command. It is stated in a conditional sentence and the communicative
function is giving a threat. She orders her children to follow her command or else she will leave them with the Nanny. The sentence uses two modal operators, will
and can. Will is median in value, while can is low in value. It shows the low validity of the utterance, indeed, the mother in this episode threats the children
many times that she will leave them when they are incompliance to her. However, it is only a form of threat because she never really leaves them. The mother
imposes her will on the children. One of the children, Giana, responds to this
41 utterance by spitting on her mother as an expression of rejection toward the
mother‟s imposition. At the point the mother utters the threat, the children are playing, therefore her expression interrupts their activity of playing, interference
to their freedom of action, a threat to their negative face. 6
Then this is going bye bye 10.c.1 No…crying
Example 6 is uttered by a mother who wants her son to stop his crying and comply with her by saying that she would throw away his toy. It turns out to be
only a threat because finally she gives him back the toy although the boy does not obey her. The expression is answered with crying from the boy as a form of
refusal to the proposition because he will lose his possession of the toy. 7
Cause I will put it in your mouth right now 14.e.4 move away from mother
Utterance 7 is expressed by a mother as a restatement of a threat to put pepper in the daughter mouth, but this time she really puts the pepper into her
mouth. Still, the threat does not make the girl obey her command because it is an imposition to her personal preserves, a negative face threatening acts. The girl
runs away from her mother, however the mother catches her and puts the pepper into her mouth. She shouts You burned my mouth to her mother while she spits
the pepper from her mouth and wipes it. 8
I‟m taking it away 10.c.2 No…crying
Example 8 is stated by a mother to her son as a restatement of 6 that she is going to take the boy‟s toys if he does not stop saying bad words as his mother
tells him. However, as 6 it is also only a threat because in the end the mother
42 gives him back the toy with a condition that he would comply with her not to say
bad words. The threat is answered with the boy‟s crying, although in the end he will not lose his possession however the mother has frightened him, a form of
imposition over his personal preserves, a negative face threatening act. Other function used in declarative is giving advice. Advice is given to a
hearer to convince him that there is a certain value or condition that they should believe Bach and Harnish, 1979. Below are some examples.
9 Theron, that‟s not nice 7.g.1
I got her throw something on his Mom Examples 9 to 12 show what speakers say to convince the hearer that what
they are doing is not appropriate. Consequently, they should believe and follow what the speaker says. Utterance 9 is in the context of giving information to a
boy who is disturbing his mother by throwing things to her. She tries to stop him by saying that what he is doing is not a nice thing; consequently he has to stop
doing it. However, the boy, Th eron, does not comply with her mother‟s advice,
instead he is very happy that he can hit his mother. He shouts I got her Compliance to his mother will disturb his current activity and enjoyment.
10 If you are angry, you go to the other room 16.e.1
I am angry. Example 10 is advice given by a mother to her son who is getting angry
because his mother stops him from disturbing his sister. It is the mother‟s effort to stop him from being angry by advising that when someone is angry he has to go to
another room to calm down. The boy does not conform to his mother and answers I am angry A statement that he is still angry, he does not want to go to his room
43 to calm down. The advice is a form of interference to his present emotional
expression. 11
We‟re not doing that. OK? 16.c.2 keeps on doing his activity
Expression 11 is stated by a mother to his son, as advice that he should not bother his sister because it is not an appropriate behavior. Mother‟s advice is
not answered verbally but he keeps on disturbing his sister as an expression that he rejects and does not listen to the advice. The utterance is expressed in an
impersonalized subject using „we‟ to make the addressee does not feel directly attack with the proposition. However, this proposition is a kind of imposition to
his freedom to act as his wish. 12
If you don‟t choose to listen, you gonna have to go to your own room 1.c.2
No….. Utterance 12 is advice from Nanny Deb to a girl that she better listens to
Nanny Deb‟s otherwise she has to go to her room to be separated from other member of the family because she does not comply the rule. Nanny Deb seems to
give choices to the girl, whether she chooses to listen and can join other member of the family, or she does not listen and she has to go to her room and does not
mingle with others. This is answered with the crying when she is taken by Nanny Deb to her room. She does not agree with the given choices of value. She wants to
do what she likes, not listening to the advice but still join with others. Utterances 9 to 12 are disobeyed by the children because the sudden action that they
44 should do by complying with the rule will disturb their present activity and
freedom of action. Another function used in declarative is giving offer. An offer is expressed
when a speaker will do something for the hearer if the hearer fulfills a certain condition given by the speaker Bach and Harnish, 1979. Below is the example.
13 I will let go of you if you go to the other room or sit down so that I can
talk to you 16.f.2 I’m not talking.
Example 13 is in the context of a mother who offers to let her son free if he would choose the given conditions, either to go to the other room or to sit
down. Previously the boy is disturbing his sister. Seeing this, mother holds on him so that he would stop disturbing. However,
he rejects his mothers‟ offer, struggles when his mother slightly forces him to do either of the choice. While his mother
has given him choices, it is not what he wants to do. Thus, it is a form of imposition to his will.
The next function is permission. It is an expression of entitlement from the speaker to the hearer. Below is the example.
14 That‟s right, you have the rights to be angry 16.f.1
I’m not talking. The boy is left by his father and stays in the house only with his mother
and sister when he really loves and respects his father. In fact, now he has to obey his mother and respects her like he does previously to his father. It is a difficult
thing for him, consequently he becomes angry most of the time. The expression 14 is a permission given by the mother for the boy to be angry on the condition.
The expected action is that the boy finally will accept the condition and respect
45 his mother. Consequently, he will obey his mother. However, the boy rejects
mildly by saying that still he wants his father to be the one with him. The discussions above shows the cost of action is determining in
obedience. When the cost of obedience is high the participant tends to disobey the directive given. The high cost includes interruption of present activity or planned
activity and losing possessions. Most of the directives are given to stop the addressee from doing something, certainly this is high cost because it disturbs
their present activity. Other determinant is the form of imposition to the addressee. Almost all directives are form of imposition to the addressee, therefore
when the addressee feels imposed to do something that beyond their preference they tend to reject the directive.
b. Obeyed Utterances
The declarative utterances that are obeyed by the children show some illocutionary forces. They are advise, offer, suggest, request, promise, and threat.
The total numbers of advice is dominant by 66.7, followed by request by 19, suggestion by 9.5, and other functions which are offers, promises, and threats
each of them by 4.8. From 39 utterances in this category, only 13 are taken as examples. The choice is based on the form of the utterances.
Table 4.3. The communicative functions in obeyed declarative utterances No
Communicative function Numbers
Percentage 1
Advise 12
66,7 2
Offer 1
4,8 3
Suggest 2
9,5 4
Request 4
19,0 5
Promise 1
4,8 6
Threat 1
4,8 Total
39 100
46 The first function is advice. The speaker seems to give a certain rule or
condition which has better values than what the children do. The examples are shown below.
15 Then you know what, you need to treat me good all the time 14.m.2
crying Utterance 15 is expressed by a father who reminds his daughter of the value
that she should always take good care of her father if she wants him to be with her even after she grows up. In the previous scene of the episode, she always resists
what her father says by saying bad things, such as I’m gonna poke you in the eye
or You don’t care You are stupid The advice is responded by the girl‟s crying,
which is interpreted as a form of regret of what she has been doing. The utterance uses high value modal need which shows the high intensity of the obligation. It
also uses solidarity markers you know to ask for the girl‟s support on the idea, that
both father and daughter share the same believe that if someone wants to be treated well they should also treat others well. It is a form of asserting reciprocity
between father and daughter. 16
But we are not whining anymore 10.f.3 listening
Utterance 16 is expressed by Nanny Deb to a girl who whines when she wants to have a timer being held by her mother. The girl is being advised not to
whine to get what she wants because it is not an acceptable behavior. The girl responds by stop whining and answers the Nanny‟s next question. The utterance
uses the subject we as an agent avoider so that the criticism is deflected from the addressee to generalized agent. It includes both the speaker and the hearer.
47 Utterance 17 is stated by a father to his son who does not obey his father‟s rule.
In the preceding scenes, the son is running, screaming, and throwing foods. His behavior makes his father angry.
17 All you do is just make it worse 8.g.3
listening Utterance 17 is an advice to stop his behavior if the boy does not want worse
condition. The advice is affirmed by the boy, it is seen from his answer to the father‟s next question. The expression uses the down toner just to modulate and
soften the impact of the proposition to the boy. It also shows that the father notices and attends to the boy‟s deeds and needs.
18 You need to use your word, you have a wonderful word 10.e.2
listening Example 18 is uttered by Nanny Deb to a girl to advise her to say what she
wants rather than just cries, because it would be more acceptable and understandable. This is affirmed by the girl that she answers the Nanny‟s question
when she asks the reason of crying, which means that she finally uses her words to show what she wants. She says
I want that… and points to the timer that is held by her mother on the Nanny‟s question You are just upset, tell me why? The
utterance uses the modal need showing the high level of obligation of the proposition. The Nanny shows that she notices the girl has wonderful word as
reason that she should speak out her mind. Both expressions 15 and 18 use the high value modal need which emphasized the urgency of the advice given by the
adults, meaning that the advices have strong reason to be followed by the addressees.
48 The second communicative function in this group is giving offer. The
example is given below. 19
Ok. We work the same way, I treat you nice, you treat me nice 14.m.4 crying
Utterance 19 is stated by a father to his daughter that if she wants him to treat
her good she also has to treat him nicely. The context of the discourse is that the father is previously angry to her because she behaves badly by saying bad things
and challenging his wants. Therefore, to make up the condition, he offers a win- win solution for both of them, that he will treat her nice if she also treat him
nicely. This is a form of reciprocity between father and daughter. Reciprocity will share the burden of responsibility between both participants. The offer is
responded by the girl‟s crying as a form of regret and acceptance. Another communicative function identified in the declarative mood is
giving suggestion. It is a statement where the speaker gives reasons to the hearer for a certain condition. Below are the examples.
20 You have no reason to cry 14.n.3
crying Example 20 is expressed by a father to his daughter who is crying because she
regrets what she has been doing. The father suggests that she cries for not enough reason therefore she should not cry. Giving reason is a way to mitigate a face
threatening act. The girl understands that she should stop crying without feeling imposed by her father. The girl says
I’m sorry, Daddy as a respond to the father‟s suggestion.
49 21
I love you very much, Joseph, but you got to stop and learn to behave better 8.g.2
listening
The context of utterance 21 is a father speaks to his son about his behavior. Previously, he behaves badly that he throws food, screams and plays around and
does not listen to his father‟s instruction. By suggesting to his son that he loves his son, the father wants him to believe that there is good reason for him to stop his
bad behavior and learn to be better. In this case, father is giving sympathy to his son. Bad behavior will lead the boy to worse condition, which is not wanted by
both. The bo y affirms father‟s suggestion by answering the next question that he
does not want him to scream a lot because of his bad behavior. Giving request is also communicative function in declarative mood.
Expressing a request is a communicative function that made the hearer do something on the speaker‟s desire, however the hearer have a chance to reject or
grant it. Some examples are presented below. 22
I need to talk to you 8.d.2 listening
In example 22 the speaker is a father who requests his son to talk to him on the
issue of his son bad behavior. It is classified as a request because in the context, the father asks the son‟s consent to talk to him, he does not force his son to do so.
I t is the speaker‟s desire and the son may not affirm the proposition. The utterance
uses the modal operator need with the subject I and not you. Need is high value modality, therefore the urgency of the proposition is high. The respond to this
50 request is t
he son‟s approaching father to talk to him. He also responds to fathers questions after that.
23 I expect you to behave 8.d.4
listening Similarly, utterance 23 is also a father‟s request to his son. The context is the
same. It is the father‟s desire that his son behaves better, therefore, the son is given a change not to affirm to the proposition. However, the proposition is
accepted by the son. The use of I expect is to lower the degree of commitment of the father to the proposition and to weaken the illocutionary force of the utterance.
24 I just want you to do what I say 14.n.1
I’m sorry, Daddy Expression 24 is also similar, it is on the speaker‟s desire, in this case a father
who wants his daughter to obey the rules that is set by her parents. The utterance is responded positively that the daughter regrets what she has been doing. It uses
the down-toner just to lower the degree of the impact of the utterance on the girl. 25
I expect you to listen. OK? 8.d.5 listening
Example 25 is expressed by a father to his son to listen to him, which means that he would obey the rules given to him and behaves well. The request is affirmed by
the boy. Similar to 23 it uses hedges that weaken the illocutionary force of the proposition.
Giving promise is another communicative function identified in the declarative mood. A promise is a condition that is wanted by the speaker and it
requires the speaker to the intended condition. Below is the example.
51 26
You know what, that‟s gonna be changed 16.l.1 Give me a little space
Utterance 26 is expressed by a mother who wants her son to obey her instead of
always wishing his father who has passed away to be with him and to be the one who controls the house. The mother asserts the promise that she will act like his
father, therefore the boy should obey her. The boy responds by saying Give me a little space which is interpreted as a sign of giving up and accepting the
proposition. The utterance uses the solidarity markers expression you know what as an appeal to the boy to support
the mother‟s promise that the condition will be changed started from the moment.
Threat is the next communicative function found in the declarative mood. A threat is given to suggest that something unpleasant is going to happen if the
addressee does not follow a particular action. Below is the example. 27
Then we are gonna leave her 1.k.1 I wanna go too
Utterance 27 is expressed by Nanny Deb when Catherine does not want to obey
her when she tells her to stop jumping on the bed. The girl is being sent to a time out in her room as a punishment. After she finishes the time out, Nanny Deb asks
her to speak out what she wants and follow the rules of the family. At first she says that she is not ready to return and join other members of the family therefore
Nanny Deb threats to leave her in her room. It is intended to make the girl follow the rule on her own consent. Indeed, it is then followed by Catherine, who
responds I wanna go to. This is interpreted as she is willing to obey the rule. The girl is given a chance to follow them or not to avoid disagreement with her.
52 The above discussion shows that compliance can be achieved by given the
addressee a chance to decide whether they agree or not. It means that speaker does not imposed on the addressee‟s freedom of action, but supports them to choose the
right decision which is the speaker‟s intention.
2. Imperative
