Dissonance in Political Communication: An Analysis of Speech Acts and Symbolic Violence in the ‘Tolol’ Utterances of Political Elites and Their Implications for Post-Polarization Peacebuilding

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the pragmatic function and social implications of the utterance 'tolol' used by politician Ahmad Syahroni in the context of political communication in Indonesia. Amidst peace-building efforts after electoral polarization, the language used by political elites plays a crucial role. This study uses a qualitative approach with the critical discourse analysis (CDA) method combined with speech act theory (Searle) and the concept of symbolic violence (Bourdieu). Primary data consists of a video transcript of Syahroni's speech during a working meeting visit to the West Sumatra Regional Police on August 22, 2025, and secondary data include media coverage and public responses on social media. The results show that the utterance 'tolol' is not merely an expressive speech act (emotional outburst), but rather an assertive illocutionary act (assessing) and a directive (delegitimizing) that functions as an ad hominem. This utterance operates as a form of symbolic violence that normalizes verbal aggression in the public sphere. The implication is that the use of this diction directly hinders the creation of positive peace by destroying social trust and strengthening polarization barriers, instead of building deliberative dialogue.