The Role of Translation Techniques in Preserving Illocutionary Acts: A Case Study of Shadow and Bone Season 1 Episode 1

Abstract

This research aims to identify the types of illocutionary acts present in the dialogues of characters in Shadow and Bone Season 1 Episode 1, as well as to investigate how translation techniques help maintain the original illocutionary force. Based on Searle’s (1979) theory, five categories of illocutionary acts are identified: representatives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations. Furthermore, this study applies Molina and Albir’s (2002) theory of translation techniques to analyze how the Indonesian subtitles convey both the meaning and function of the original utterances. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the utterances are categorized by illocutionary type and analyzed in terms of how they are translated. The findings indicate that representative acts are the most frequently occurring, followed by directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations. This study highlights the importance of illocutionary acts in shaping narrative development, character relationships, and message delivery in audiovisual media. Furthermore, it underscores the relevance of applying both pragmatic and translation theories to understand how language achieves communicative goals across languages.