الفهرس 
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Abstract
This thesis discusses the application of speech act theory on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It aims at finding out the kinds of communication function in illocutionary acts. It attempts to figure out categories of speech acts to show their intention in humor. Speech Act Theory is concerned with the ways in which language can be used. It originated with Austin, but was developed by Searle. The novel deals with issues prevalent in the nineteenth century such as slavery, injustice, exploitation and religious hypocrisy. Twain uses humor to highlight these issues. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain creates a contrast between the innocence of Huckleberry Finn and the mob-like mentality of southerners in the United States to mock the racism of the south and prove that individual morality is superior to the morality of the majority. The findings show that the kinds of communication function in illocutionary acts are assertive, directive, expressive, commissive, and declarative. The author uses indirect speech in which the function and the mood of utterances are not in line. Moreover, Politeness is established in the communication act in order to maintain social harmony. The study also displays maxims of politeness in speech acts by applying Geoffrey Leech’s politeness principle theory. The analysis shows that politeness maxims which are found in Mark Twain’s novel consist of tact maxim, generosity maxim, approbation maxim, agreement maxim, and sympathy maxim.