ANALISIS PRAGMATIK NARASI PEMBACAAN TAROT DI PLATFORM YOUTUBE

Abstract

This study analyses illocutionary speech acts and conventional implicatures in tarot reading narratives on YouTube through a pragmatic approach. A descriptive qualitative method was employed with non-participatory observation of five purposively selected tarot reading videos that represent spiritual narration in the digital sphere. The analysis applied Searle’s (1969) classification of illocutionary acts and Grice’s (1975) theory of implicature. The findings reveal that the illocutionary acts consisted of representatives, directives, and expressives, with representatives being the most dominant (31 utterances) as a means of delivering symbolic interpretations. Directives (10 utterances) served to provide guidance, while expressives (9 utterances) emphasized emotional validation. No commissive or declaratives were found, indicating that tarot naration primarily fulfils informative, persuasive, and supportive functions. Furthermore, the analysis of conversational implicatures identified five main patterns: predictive, emotional validation, moral-spiritual, participatory, and motivational- optimistic. These patterns demonstrate how tarot readers convey indirect meanings that audiences understand through context. The findings also align with the Pollyanna Effect (Boucher & Osgood, 1969), where negative predictions are framed positively to maintain audience optimism. The study concludes that tarot readings on YouTube are not merely spiritual practices but also complex pragmatic discourse. Speech acts and implicatures function as linguistic strategies to deliver symbolic meanings, build interpersonal relations, and influence audience emotions within digital communication.