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FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS IN SONG LYRICS

BY MALE AND FEMALE SONGWRITERS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

AMADEA NANDA LAKSITA

Student Number: 134214074

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2017

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

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FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS IN SONG LYRICS

BY MALE AND FEMALE SONGWRITERS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

AMADEA NANDA LAKSITA

Student Number: 134214074

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2017


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Sooner or later, those who win

are those who think they can.

(Richard Bach)


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This page is written to offer my sincere gratitude to my one and only God,

Jesus Christ, for his everlasting love and blessings in every step I take. I also

want to say my sincere gratitude to my family, especially to my parents, dr.

Athanasia Endah Dwi Wahyuningsih, M.Kes, SpKk and Drs. Robertus

Dudup Gunarjati, for filling me with love and blessings and for being such a

wonderful Mama and Papa for me.

I want to express my gratitude to Arina Isti'anah, S.Pd., M.Hum, as my

advisor for patiently guiding me to finish this thesis. Thank you for always

reminding me to work harder and faster and also for giving me brilliant solutions

for my thesis. I also want to express my gratitude to Anna Fitriati, S.Pd.,

M.Hum., as my co-advisor, and Francis Borgias Alip, M.Pd., M.A., as my

examiner, for giving many helpful suggestions for this thesis.

I also want to say thank you to my dear friends, Suci, Rizky, Lilis, Nino,

Donna, Disa, and Annisa for accompanying me during the making of this thesis

and for the brainstorm we have done. Last but not least, I want to say thank you to

Stefanus Kendra Dwi Nugraha, S.S. for being my biggest support system during

the ups and downs and also for being my biggest reason to finish this thesis

quickly.

Amadea Nanda Laksita


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL PAGE ........................................................................................ iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ................................................................................... iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN ................................................... v

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY .............................................................. vi

MOTTO PAGE ............................................................................................... vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................... viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................ ix

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... xi

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................... xii

ABSTRAK ....................................................................................................... xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................... 1

A. Background of the Study .................................................................. 1

B. Problem Formulation ....................................................................... 4

C. Objectives of the Study .................................................................... 4

D. Definition of Terms ........................................................................... 4

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................... 6

A. Review of Related Studies ............................................................... 6

B. Review of Related Theories ............................................................. 8

1. Stylistics ........................................................................................ 8

2. Semantics ...................................................................................... 9

3. Figurative Language .................................................................... 10

a. Metaphor ............................................................................... 11

b. Simile .................................................................................... 12

c. Personification ...................................................................... 12

d. Hyperbole .............................................................................. 13

e. Onomatopoeia ....................................................................... 14

f. Idiom ..................................................................................... 14

g. Cliches ................................................................................... 14

4. Gender Language Differences ..................................................... 14

5. Song Lyrics ................................................................................. 15

C. Theoretical Framework .................................................................... 15

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study .......................................................................... 17

B. Approach of the Study .................................................................... 17

C. Method of the Study ....................................................................... 18

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS (RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS) ................ 22

A. The Figurative Expressions Found in the Song Lyrics ................... 22

1. Hyperbole ................................................................................... 23

2. Metaphor ................................................................................... 31


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3. Simile ......................................................................................... 34

4. Idiom .......................................................................................... 38

5. Personification ........................................................................... 38

B. The Language Style Differences of Male and Female Songwriters .. 45

1. The Style of Male Songwriters .................................................. 43

a. More Simple ........................................................................ 43

b. More Exaggerating ............................................................. 44

2. The Style of Female Songwriters .............................................. 45

a. More Complicated ............................................................... 45

b. More Comparing .................................................................. 46

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION .................................................................... 46

BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 52


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LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 .............................................................................................................. 9

Table 3.1 .............................................................................................................. 19

Table 3.2 ............................................................................................................. 20

Table 4.1 ............................................................................................................. 22

Table 4.2 ............................................................................................................. 23

Table 4.3 ............................................................................................................. 32

Table 4.4 ............................................................................................................. 34

Table 4.5 ............................................................................................................. 38

Table 4.6 ............................................................................................................. 39

Table 4.7 ............................................................................................................. 42


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ABSTRACT

LAKSITA, AMADEA NANDA. Figurative Expressions in Song Lyrics by

Male and Female Songwriters. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters,

Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2017.

As people listen to the music through its lyrics, language holds on the

important role to convey the meaning of the song. One of the language forms that

is used to create the ambience or the feeling of its audience is called figurative

language. It carries non-literal meaning which helps the songwriter to convey the

meaning of the song. Different songwriters have different styles of language. It

leads to what is called by gender language differences which will be analyzed

through the use of figurative language in song lyrics by male and female

songwriters.

The purpose of this study is to see if the use of figurative expressions by

male and female songwriters is different. This study analyzes and answers two

problems: the classification of figurative language expressions types found in four

selected songs and the differences of language style seen by the use of figurative

language by male and female songwriters.

In order to analyze the data, this research used stylitic approach to analyze

the style of male and female songwriters. It was helped by semantic theory to

define the meanings of figurative expressions in the lyrics. It was used to compare

the literal and non-literal meaning from the dictionary meaning. This analysis was

completed by the semantic property which was put to give the characteristics of

the literal and non-literal expressions. This study took 4 selected songs that

resulted 9 figurative language expressions from male songwriters and 21

figurative language expressions from the females.

As the data resulted the significant range in the total number of male and

female songwriters’ expressions, this study concluded that male and female

songwriters had different styles of language, particularly in conveying feelings

through song lyrics. There were 2 male and 2 female language styles that were

found. In male language style, they tended to be simpler and exaggerating as they

only used 2 types of figurative language in a small number of expressions. They

also used figurative language mostly by exaggerating something in order to

emphasize their intention as they used many hyperbolic expressions. In female

language style, this study found that they tended to be less direct and comparing.

They tended to be less direct as they tended to use many figurative language

expressions to convey their feelings whose meanings are implied. They also often

compared as the use of metaphor and simile whose purpose was to compare two

or more things in order to give a better illustration.


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ABSTRAK

LAKSITA, AMADEA NANDA. Figurative Expressions in Song Lyrics by

Male and Female Songwriters. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris,

Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2017.

Musik seringkali dinikmati dan didengarkan lewat uraian bahasa pada

liriknya. Maka dari itu, bahasa memiliki peran yang penting dalam penyampaian

sebuah isi lagu. Salah satu bentuk bahasa yang digunakan untuk membangun

atmosfer dan suasana hati yang sesuai disebut dengan bahasa kiasan. Bahasa

kiasan mengandung arti yang tidak harafiah yang dapat membantu para penulis

lagu untuk menyampaikan isi lagu dengan lebih baik. Setiap penulis lagu

mempunyai gaya ekspresi yang berbeda. Perbedaan gaya inilah yang mengantar

kepada perbedaan ekspresi menurut jenis kelamin yang akan ditelaah dengan

penggunaan ekspresi kiasan oleh penulis lagu pria dan wanita.

Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk melihat adanya perbedaan dalam

penggunaan ekspresi kiasan oleh penulis lagu pria dan wanita. Penelitian ini

menelaah dan menjawab dua pertanyaan: klasifikasi tipe ekspresi kiasaan yang

terdapat pada 4 lagu pilihan dan perbedaan gaya ekspresi yang terdapat pada

penggunaan ekspresi kiasan oleh penulis lagu pria dan wanita.

Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan ilmu gaya ekspresi. Pendekatan

ini dibantu oleh teori semantik dalam mendefinisikan arti ekspresi kiasan yang

terdapat pada lirik lagu dengan menggunakan semantik leksikal. Semantik

leksikal digunakaan sebagai pembanding antara arti kiasaan dan arti sebenarnya

dengan menggunakan kamus sebagai alat utama. Penelitian ini dilengkapi dengan

ciri semantik yang dipakai untuk menunjukkan karakteristik dari ekspresi kiasaan

dan sebenarnya. Penelitian ini menggunakan 4 lagu sebagai data yang

menghasilkan 9 ekspresi kiasan pada lagu pria dan 21 ekpresi kiasan pada lagu

wanita.

Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat jarak yang signifikan yang

ditunjukkan oleh jumlah ekspresi kiasaan pria dan wanita. Maka dari itu,

penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa penulis lagu pria dan wanita memiliki gaya

ekspresi yang berbeda khususnya dalam menyampaikan isi hati lewat lirik dalam

lagu. Terdapat masing-masing 2 gaya ekspresi pada penulis lagu pria dan wanita.

Pada gaya ekspresi pria, penelitian menemukan bahwa mereka cenderung lebih

sederhana dan terkesan melebih-lebihkan yang didukung oleh fakta bahwa penulis

lagu pria menggunakan sedikit ekspresi kiasaan pada lagu mereka dibandingkan

dengan penulis lagu wanita. Mereka dinilai melebih-lebihkan karena banyaknya

ekspresi hiperbola yang dipakai yang sebenarnya dipakai sebagai alat untuk

mempertegas ucapan mereka. Sedangkan, pada gaya ekspresi perempuan,

penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa mereka cenderung lebih rumit dalam berbicara

dan menyampaikan sesuatu serta lebih sering menggunakan ekspresi kiasan untuk

membandingkan sesuatu. Dari 7 tipe ekspresi kiasan, penulis lagu perempuan

menggunakan 5 tipe dalam 20 ekspresi termasuk metafora, simile, dan idiom. Hal

inilah yang membuat para penulis wanita dinilai lebih rumit karena mereka


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cenderung memilih untuk berbicara dengan menggunakan ekspresi kiasan

dibandingkan dengan menyampaikan sesuatu secara tersurat. Mereka lebih sering

menggunakan ekspresi kiasan untuk membandingkan sesuatu yang dapat dilihat

dari banyaknya penggunaan ekspresi metafora dan simile.


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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Language becomes very important in communication along with its

function as a core of communication itself. Wardaugh (2014) states that language

is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. By using

language, people can express the idea, intention, message, or information. In the

other side, language also has a function to entertain its users. Language can

entertain people in the way it expresses emotion and feeling. It is also applied for

music. Language holds the important role in a song. By using language, the

meaning of the song can be conveyed. It can create the feeling of its listeners

based on what the song wants to convey through the words. One of the language

forms that is used to create the ambience or the feeling of its audience is called

figurative language.

Figurative language is a language which uses figures of speech (a way of

saying one thing and meaning another). It is “a form of expression used to convey

meaning or heighten effect, elaborate expression as opposed to literal language,”

(Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1995:415). It helps the writer to create the mood

of a song or a poem in order to convey the deeper meaning of it. Some kinds of

figurative language are simile, metaphor, allegory, personification, and hyperbole.

As it carries non-literal meaning, figurative language can be analyzed by

semantic theory. Therefore, it also cannot be separated from one of the branches


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of linguistics called stylistics. Stylistics is defined as “the study of the relation

between linguistic form and literary function” (Leech, 2007:3). As Leech asserts,

it can be simply defined as “the study of style”. It is aimed to “explain something,

and in general, literary stylitics has, implicitly or explicitly, the goal of explaining

the relation between language and artistic function” (2007:4).

In order to convey the meaning of the song, different songwriters have

different styles of language. Male and female songwriters tend to use different

ways and different words in producing utterances to convey their feeling. As well

as people in common, in writing song lyrics, male and female songwriters choose

different dictions and produce different utterances to convey the meaning of the

songs.

The different style of language that is brought by male and female

songwriters will become the main focus of this study as males and females tend to

speak differently in the systematic differences such as vocabulary and grammar.

By connecting to some theories of gender and language, this thesis tries to prove

the distinctions that are found between males and females in their language styles.

The perspectives that will be considered are male songwiters tend to speak

explicitly and use simple sentences. In contrast, female songwriters choose to

speak implicitly and use more complex sentences.

As asserted by Leech, the aim of literary stylistics is “to relate the critic’s

concern of aesthetic appreciation with the linguist’s concern of linguistic

description” (2007:11). This thesis examines gender identity of linguistic

situations by analyzing the style of language that they make in their artworks,


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particularly in the song lyrics. Through the language style used by female and

male songwriters, the writer tries to analyze how males and females convey their

ideas in the utterances that they make.

The writer lifts this topic because of the interest in observing male and

female songwriters primarily in the differences of figurative language use in

expressing emotion. Moreover, the study of male and female language style

becomes the interesting topic to write. Despite the fact that there are many well-

known studies which have discussed it, the recent analysis should be improved.

By observing gender differences in language, it widens our research horizon and

helps us to explain the factors in the internal change of language development

better. The writer chooses the data from four songs by four different songwriters.

They are “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, “Something’s Missing” by John Mayer,

“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, and “Red” by Taylor Swift.

Bruno Mars, John Mayer, Adele, and Taylor Swift are the chosen

songwriters that are also the singers of the songs that are analyzed. In order to

equate the songwriters’ background, the songwriters are the American popular

singers and songwriters who all come from the same society and come from the

same average age. All of them are included as top 100 musicians in the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100. They have made many albums with many songs overrun the

world top chart until now. The writer chooses them because each of them used the

language style that, after it is analyzed, can represent their gender. By their

similarity, it helps the writer to distinguish the figurative language easier.


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B. Problem Formulation

Based on the background above, the problems of this present study are

formulated as follows,

1. What kinds of figurative language are used in song lyrics by male and

female songwriters?

2. What are the language style differences found in the song lyrics by

male and female songwriters?

C. Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to answer the questions set up in the problem

formulation. Firstly, the study is aimed find out some kinds of figurative language

used by male and female songwriters such as metaphor, hyperbole,

personification, and others. The answer will help the writer to recognize the

figurative language used by female and male songwriters. Secondly, it is aimed to

figure out the style of male and female language by means of figurative language.

In this further analysis, the writer will start to prove the differences of male and

female language style seen by the use of figurative language.

D. Definition of Terms

In order to avoid misunderstanding on certain terms, the definition of

several words will be explained here. The first word that is mentioned quite much

in this study is figurative language. According to Merriam-Webster’s

Encyclopedia, figurative language is “a form of expression used to convey

meaning or heighten effect, elaborate expression as opposed to literal language,”

(1995:415). The second word is song lyrics. Lyrics are the arrangement of words,


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found in verbal artworks such as poem and song (MWD, 2017). It is created in

beautificial manner in order to develop the concept of the song’s meaning

(Pattison, 2009:2)


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A. Review of Related Studies

This part discusses several similar topics to this study which have been

done by some researchers. The similarity includes the topic, focus, theory, and the

different parts from this study.

The first related study is by Chandra (2011). Chandra‟s thesis mostly

discusses the absence of women‟s language features in Nicki Minaj‟s comments

to the contestants of American Idol Season 12. It focuses on the society that

changes the way a person speaks. According to Chandra, this is an interesting

topic to be brought because as a social phenomenon, a language turns out to

reflect not only the gender but also the social attitudes towards men and women.

Chandra‟s thesis focuses on the language features that Nicki Minaj has in

her comments. By analysing the language features, she found some results such as

high intonation, „hypercorrect‟ grammar, tag question, and lexical hedge that are

usually used by women but it could not be found in Nicki Minaj‟s utterances.

Chandra uses sociolinguistic approach. Chandra‟s focus is more on the

language features of women language such as stress, intonation and lexical hedge.

She focuses on how society affects the women‟s way of speak and how the

language features prove that statement.

The second study is by Sylvia (2011). Sylvia‟s thesis focuses on one of

figurative languages, metaphor, in Coldplay‟s songlyrics. This topic is brought up


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because according to Sylvia, it is interesting to find out some „hidden‟ meanings

in song lyrics, especially one of popular bands like Coldplay. She uses Coldplay

as the object of the data because she finds metaphorical expression in most of the

Coldplay‟s songs.

Sylvia‟s thesis discusses semantic properties to compare the lexical

meaning and the metaphorical one found in Coldplay‟s song lyrics. The data are

collected from the lyrics of several songs. Sylvia collected the data by classifying

the metaphorical lyrics in its type of metaphor.

Though this study discusses figurative language, the differences are found

in some parts of the study. The first difference is the approach that is used. The

thesis‟ approach is on the semantic approach, whose purpose is to find the

meaning of the metaphorical sentences. Second, the problem that is going to be

analysed is also different. Sylvia‟s thesis does not discuss anything related to

gender, female and male language.

The third study is Jinyu‟s (2014). Jinyu‟s journal focuses on how gender

can differ the language that is produced by proving some sociolinguistic theories.

It tries to analyze the various social phenomena and explore different discourse

behaviours. By expanding the understanding of sociolinguistics, according to

Jinyu, we can understand the nature of language better.

Jinyu‟s journal discusses the language gender differences of male and

female language style, by using the previous theories and proving it more by some

examples that he made. Stress, intonation, vocabulary, and syntactic differences of

male and female language style are proven as different in this journal. Jinyu‟s


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journal also discusses the research about the history of how male‟s and female‟s

language are different.

Alhough this journal discusses a lot in language gender differences, the

differences between this journal and this thesis are still found. The first difference

is located in the data that is analysed. Jinyu‟s journal does not discuss anything

related to figurative language. Meanwhile, it discusses more in the language

features. The second difference is that this journal does not focus on stylistics but

pragmatics. Jinyu discusses more about the implicit meaning of an utterance.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Stylistics

Leech desribes stylistics as “the study of style” and relates it as the study

which the purpose is to “explain language and the artistic function” (2007:11). It

is the study about lingusistic nature of the expressive means of the language, also

their characteristics and functions. As asserted by Simpson, stylistics is defined as

“a method of textual interpretation in which primacy of place is assigned to

language” (2004:2). The reason why language is so important to stylisticians is

because the various forms and levels that constitute linguistic structure are the

important indices of the text function. As stated by Verdonk, the purpose of doing

stylistic critic and analysis is “simply to provide objective linguistic data to

support existing readings or intuitions about a literary work” (2002:215). In this

thesis, the objective linguitic data are taken from 4 songs from 4 different

songwriters whose purpose is to support the intuitions of the difference between

male and female songwriters‟ language style.


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There is a list of the major levels of language and their related technical

terms in language study which will be asserted as follows.

Table 2.1 Stylistics: Levels of Language (Simpson, 2004: 5)

Level of language Branch of language study

The sound of spoken language;

the way words are pronounced. Phonology; phonetics

The patterns of written language;

the shape of language on the page. Graphology

The way words are constructed;

words and their constituent structures. Morphology

The way words combine with other

words to form phrases and sentences. Syntax; grammar

The words we use; the vocabulary

of a language. Lexical analysis; lexicology

The meaning of words and sentences. Semantics

The way words and sentences are

used in everyday situations; the Pragmatics; discourse analysis

meaning of language in context.

The levels that are taken as the core analysis are lexicology which will

focus on the vocabulary of a language and semantics that will focus on the words

meaning. In this research, the definition of some terms will be laid on Merriam

Webster Dictionary (MWD).

2. Semantics

Palmer defines semantics as “the technical term used to refer to the study

of meaning, and, since meaning is a part of language, semantics is a part of

linguistics” (1997:5). It associates a message with a set of signs which can be seen


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by the words itself. Meaning is described as the idea that is represented by a word,

phrase, and so on. It has two types of meaning, they are literal and non literal

meaning (Recanati, 2004:31). Literal meaning is language that carries the literal,

or dictionary, meaning of a word or phrase. In the other side, non-literal meaning

means a language that goes beyond the dictionary meaning of the word or phrase.

As asserted by Gibbs and Colston, the non-literal meaning is “presumably derived

as a special cases” (2012:29). It carries the implicit meaning of the words or

phrases. One that carries the non-literal meaning is figurative language. Figurative

language is a language which carries something other than a literal meaning called

figure of speech.

3. Figurative Language

As mentioned before, the language that carries non-literal meaning is

figurative language. Figurative language is “a language that uses words deviating

from their proper definitions in order to achieve a more complicated

understanding or heightened effect” (MWD, 2017). By using figurative

expressions, a meaning can be conveyed more vividly. As asserted by Davis,

“figurative expressions give us the ability to convey more than what we mean,

less than what we mean, the opposite than what we mean, or even something other

than what we mean” (1985:166). Figurative language is often achieved by

presenting words in order for them to be equated, compared, or associated with

other normally unrelated words or meanings. It always carries figurative meaning

which is derived from the literal and “it can be discovered by discovering the

nature of the subtitution of the metaphorical for the literal” (Glucksberg, 2001:8).


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In preliminary analysis, there are 7 types of figurative language. They are

simile, metaphor, personfication, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, idiom, and cliches

which are described as follows.

a. Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a name or descriptive word or

phrase is transferred to an object or action different from, but analogous to, that to

which it is literally applicable; an instance of this metaphorical expression

(Oxford, 2016). In other words, metaphor is a figure of speech in which two

unlike things are shown to create a new image by comparing one another without

using the connective words such as like or as. As Roberts and Kreuz explained,

metaphor is used in order “to compare similarities and clarify something” which is

also aimed to make the lyrics‟ meaning is understood better (1994: 164).

One of the metaphorical expression is “you are the candle in the

darkness”. It is a metaphorical statement which shows a comparison between

“you” and “the candle”. The words “you” and “the candle” are two unlike things

that are shown to create a new image and it compares one another without using

any connective words. It becomes a metaphor because in the sentence, “you” is

compared to “the candle”. Candle means “wax that has been formed into a stick or

another shape and has string in the middle that can be burnt” (MWD, 2017). As

candle can be burnt, it contains a light. Since it contains a light, it can brighten the

surrounding. In the example, the comparison between “you” and “candle” implies

the comparison of something that are both brighten. It implies the meaning of

“you” in the writer‟s life who is as same as “candle” in the darkness.


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b. Simile

This second figurative language is explained as “the figure of speech

which has the likely definition with metaphor but the difference locates in the

using connective words such as like and as in simile” (Spivey, 2016). It is a

figurative language which is used to compare similarities and also to de-

emphasize something (Roberts and Kreuz, 1994: 163).

For example is “you are so sweet, like a bar of chocolate.” It is also a

comparison, like the metaphor, but simile uses the connective word of like. The

words that are compared are “chocolate” and “you” that give a new image of

something sweet. This sentence shows that “chocolate” and “you” has the same

characteristic, sweet, and it is shown by a connective word “like”. It implies the

meaning of “you” and “chocolate” that both gives sweetness to the writer.

c. Personification

Personification is found when the human attribute or characteristic is put

on an animal or a thing (Meisami, 2003). For example is “the wind sang through

the meadow”. Personification is found when a human ability is put on a thing. The

wind is a thing which does not have the ability like a human do, but the sentence

“the wind sang through the meadow” is shown in order to personified “the wind”

itself. It is done in order to create the image of calmness of the “wind” that can

sing like the human sing to make people calm and relax.


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d. Hyperbole

It is defined as the figure of speech which uses an extravagant or

exaggerated statement to express strong feelings. As asserted by Claridge, the

preliminary definition can be explained as below (2010:5).

Literal expression

Agrees with the extra linguistics

facts in the given context, contains

semantic attribute expressing „X‟.

-

Hyperbolic expression

Exceeds the (credible) limits of fact

in the given context, contains

attribute „more of X‟

+

The table above shows the gradability between literal expression and

hyperbolic expression. In literal expression, it does not need any exaggeration in

anything because it just puts the facts in the given context and the semantic

attributes that are used are real without no extravagant statements. In the other

side, as asserted by Spivey, “hyperbolic expression always exceed the facts by

some exaggerated statements to make the meaning deeper” (2016).

The example is “he hurts me with thousands knives in my chest.” It brings

the idea of hyperbole because the meaning of the sentence exaggerates. It is

shown by the words “thousands knives in my chest” which exaggerates the idea of

“being hurt so much”. “He hurts me with thousand knives in my chest” gives the

vivid illustration about how it feels to be hurt by someone which is same as to be

stabbed by thousands of knives in the chest.

Gradability


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e. Onomatopoeia

One of figurative language types is onomatopoeia which means a “word

that describes a natural sound or the sound made by an object or a certain action”

(Spivey, 2016). For example is “Chuck-a-doodle-doo!” which is a description of

the natural sound of chicken crows that is written in letters.

f. Idiom

As also asserted by Spivey, idiom is defined as “a set expression or a

phrase comprising two or more words” (2016). In idiomatic expressions, an

interesting fact is that the expressions are not interpreted literally. Idiom involves

collocations, a particular combination of words, in a special case. It also involves

“some associations of ideas, and the meaning of the entire expression can be

predicted from the meaning of the individual word” (Palmer, 1997:79). For

example is “Barking up the wrong tree” which means accusing the wrong person.

g. Cliches

Cliches are “those idioms which have been indiscriminately used that the

original point has been blunted or removed entirely” (Partridge, 1978). For

example is “All‟s well that ends well.” This means that even if there were

problems along the way, it does not matter as long as there is a happy ending.

4. Gender Language Differences

Sex and gender are connected, related, but totally different. As asserted by

Nobelius, sex refers to “biological differences; chromosomes, hormonal profiles,

internal and external sex organs” (2002:2). On the other hand, gender is

described as “the chacteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or


15

feminine” (Nobelius, 2002:2). Gender is connected to the role and behaviour that

different cultures attribute to the sexes.

Different gender has different behaviour and style. It is also connected to

the way they speak and make utterances. The language style that is produced is

different in some aspects. It happens because of the language and social

interaction that affects each other as language is “a multilectal phenomenon;

people write and speak differently depending on their social group, audience,

setting, and any other contextual factors” (Dancygier, 2014:9). Men affect men

and women affect women in the aspect of language style. They “switch the

language for the purpose of manipulating or influencing or defining situation as

they wish, and conveying nuances of meaning and personal intention” (Suchana,

2014:78).

In daily speaking, men and women tend to speak in different style. They

use different vocabulary, dictions and they speak in different way. As asserted by

Danet and Herring, men tend to speak explicitly and say directly, while the

women tend to speak in the opposite way (2007:250). They speak implicitly,

therefore, they seem to be complicated in saying their ideas as the listeners are

made to guess the meaning behind their saying.

5. Song Lyrics

Lyrics is defined as the arrangement of words contained in literary works

such as poem, song, and poetry (MWD, 2017). In songs, the arrangement of lyrics

helps the songwriter to convey the idea and the meaning of the song. “Accurate

selection of words is important to the expressions of the feeling the songwriter is


16

working for, as well as the visual imagery” (Davis, 1985:164). Moreover, as

inserted by Astor, “the importance of song lyrics; a greater value to those

compositions with lyrics, a sense that the material that contains the greatest level

of emotional commitment is always where words are employed” (2010:143). By

using words and proper dictions, the songwriters try to convey the story behind

the song. Through song lyrics, the listeners can understand how a sad melody

comes also with a sad story or how a happy melody actually comprises a sad story

behind it. The lyrics give the listeners the clearest illustration about how a song

narrates something.

C. Theoretical Framework

There are two problems that will be analyzed in this research. This

research focuses on the language style of male and female in order to discover

gender language differences particularly in the way male and female songwriters

convey the meaning and ideas of the song lyrics.

In order to answer the first and second problem, the writer chooses stylistic

approach to figure out the answers. Stylistics is the approach to analyze the style

of women and men language, especially the songwriters who use figurative

language in their lyrics. Stylistics is the core to establish the point that women use

more complex sentences than men. The second theory that will support the lexical

analysis is semantics. Semantics will help the writer to analyze the meaning of

words and phrases that the songwriters chose for the song lyrics. It will help the

writer to analyze the deeper meaning of the lyrics.


17

The third theory is figurative language that is still related to semantics that

analyzes non literal meaning. It helps the writer to categorize the song lyrics into

some types of figurative language that can make the analysis of lexical meaning

easier. The fourth theory is gender language differences. It is related to the

theories that explain the reasons why male and female songwriters express their

feelings differently through their song lyrics. The last theory is song lyrics. Song

lyrics is defined as “the arrangement of words contained in songs” (Astor,

2010:143). It is the last theory that will bring the importance of song lyrics and it

will be proven by the words that are arranged are put on purpose in order to

convey the important meaning of the song.


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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

In this part, the writer presents the description of the object of the study. It

is about the data that will be analyzed and what linguistic elements that are

contained. The object of this study is the figurative language found in particular

song lyrics. The data were taken from the song lyric compilation website and they

are four different songs from two female songwriters and two male songwriters.

The songs are “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, “Something’s Missing” by John Mayer,

“Red” by Taylor Swift, and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. The writer chose

them because the songs contain figurative language that can be analyzed as the

representation of men’s and women’s language style.

B. Approach of the Study

This research comes under the area of stylistics which is defined as the

study of style. It is also defined as a method of textual interpretation in order to

explore creativity in language use by literary text as its object (Simpson, 2004:2).

Therefore, stylistics is suitable to be used as the foundation of the whole analysis.

Wales states, “style refers to the perceived manner of expression in writing

or speaking” (2001:273). In making song lyrics, language styles of the

songwriters reveal the different expressions to convey the content of the song.

Thus, this thesis is aimed to reveal the idea of how the different style of language


19

between men and women can show the difference between men and women in

making sentences.

C. Method of the Study

In order to make the process of analysis more detailed and effective, the

method which is used to conduct the study is distinguished into two other parts.

Those methods are described as follows.

1. Data Collection

The data were taken from four songs. They are “Grenade” by Bruno Mars,

“Something’s Missing” by John Mayer, “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, and

“Red” by Taylor Swift. This study underlines the lyrics containing figurative

language then makes it into a list. To make it structured better, the data were

separated into different classifications of figurative language where they were

suited on.

The data were collected by purposive random sampling. It is a sampling

method that combines purposive sampling and random sampling. It is used as the

researcher chose the 4 songwriters as they have many figurative language

expressions in their songs more than other songwriters in their age.

Purposive sampling, as asserted by Saunders, Lewis, and Thornhill, is “a

sampling technique in which researcher relies on his or her own judgment when

choosing members of population to participate in the study” (2012:288). It is a

method which the researcher purposely chooses the limited numbers of people

that can be served as primary data source. Furthermore, random sampling is a

“method for choosing a sample among population for a wide range of purposes”.


20

In other words, this thesis uses a method which the researcher relies on her

opinion in choosing members of population (Saunders, Lewis, and Thornhill,

2012:287).

2. Data Analysis

The first determination in analyzing the data was to classify the figurative

language that is found in the lyrics. It was done in order to clarify the figurative

language types which were used and the songs contained figurative language.

After the classification was done, the analysis was started. The analysis began by

counting the number of figurative language that was found in each song and made

it into percentage. After that, it was continued by relating the result of the number

of figurative and the theories on language by gender variety. The example of the

table analysis was asserted as below.

Table 3.1 Summary of Figurative Language in Song Lyrics

Number Types of

Figurative

Language

Male Songwriters Female Songwriters

Number Percentage Number Percentage

Total:

From the analysis above, the writer’s purpose was to answer the two

problems that were written in the problem formulation. The first table above was

used to answer the first problem which was to know what kinds of figurative

languages that were used in song lyrics by male and female songwriters. The

second problem was to know how figurative language showed the difference

between male and female songwriters language style. First, the second problem


21

would be answered by the table shown as below and continued to be analyzed as

follows.

Table 3.2 Song Lyrics with Hyperbole

Data Code Hyperbole Lyrics

In this part, the analysis would be separated into each type of figurative

language. Each type of figurative language would be provided by one table. The

first column was used for the data code and the second column was used for the

lyrics which were appropriate for the data code. Data code stood for the

songwriter whose song was analyzed by its lyrics. The data code that would be

used in the analysis would be explained as follows.

M.1 Bruno Mars

M.2 John Mayer

F.1 Adele

F.2 Taylor Swift

H Hyperbole

M Metaphor

S Simile

I Idiom

P Personification

Thus, the examples of the data code in the next chapter are M.1.H.2 which

is defined as the second hyperbolic lyric in Bruno Mars’ song and F.2.M.1 which

is defined as the first metaphorical lyric in Taylor Swift’s song.


22

Next, the research was continued by explaining each lyrics in paragraphs.

From the table, the writer would describe how the lyrics could be included as

figurative language. In this step of research, the writer would compare the

meaning of each lyrics by word to the real meaning from dictionary. Then, the

writer would compare the result of the total number and related it to the theory of

gender language in order to show what the differences of male and female

songwriters’ language style were. It was the last step which will answer the

second problem in the problem formulation.


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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter discusses the answers of the problems which were presented

in the first chapter. The parts below show what kinds of figurative language found

in the song lyrics and how the use of figurative language shows the differences of

male and female language style.

A. The Figurative Expressions Found in the Song Lyrics

There are seven types of figurative language expressions that were

explained in the previous chapter. In the four songs that are analyzed, there are

five types of figurative language expressions that are found in the data. They are

hyperbole, metaphor, simile, idiom, and personification. The table below shows

the summary of figurative language expressions which are found in the song lyrics

of the four selected songs.

Table 4.1 Summary of Figurative Expressions in Song Lyrics

Number Types of

Figurative

Language

Male Songwriters Female Songwriters

Number Percentage Number Percentage

1 Hyperbole 7 77.8% 6 30%

2 Metaphor 0 0% 3 15%

3 Simile 0 0% 7 35%

4 Idiom 0 0% 1 5%

5 Personification 2 22.2% 3 15%

Total 9 100% 20 100%

The table above shows that female songwriters use more figurative

expressions than male songwriters. Female songwriters use 5 types of figurative

expressions while male songwriters only use 2 types of figurative language


24

expressions. The total number of figurative expressions also shows a difference.

In male songs, there are only 9 figurative language expressions that are found.

Meanwhile, in female songs, it contain more figurative language in the total

number of 20 expressions.

In the further analysis, the data code that will be used are the data code

which were explained in the previous chapter.

1. Hyperbole

The first figurative expressions that is analyzed is hyperbole, which is

defined as “the figurative language which uses an extravagant or exaggerated

statement” to express strong feelings (Claridge, 2011:5). The hyperbolic

expressions can be found by the exaggeration in some parts of the lyrics which is

done by the songwriters in order to create a stronger or deeper meaning of the

song. From four songs that are selected, hyperbole expressions are found in three

songs, a song from male songwriter and two songs from female. The song lyrics

which contain hyperbole will be shown in the table as follow,

Table 4.2 Song Lyrics with Hyperbole

Data

Code

Hyperbole Lyrics Song Title

M.2.H.1 “I gave you all I had and you tossed it in

the trash”

Grenade

M.2.H.2 “I‟d catch a grenade for you” Grenade

M.2.H.3 “I‟d throw my hand on a blade for you” Grenade

M.2.H.4 “I‟d jump in front of a train for you” Grenade

M.2.H.5 “I‟d take a bullet straight through my

brain”

Grenade

M.2.H.6 “Beat me „til I‟m numb” Grenade

M.2.H.7 “You'll smile in my face then rip the

brakes out my car”

Grenade

F.1.H.1 “That‟s why he‟s spinning around in my Red


25

head”

F.2.H.1 “There‟s a fire starting in my heart” Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.2 “You had my heart inside of your hand” Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.3 “I‟m gonna make your head burn” Rolling in the Deep

Data

Code

Hyperbole Lyrics Song Title

F.2.H.4 “Throw my soul through every open door” Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.5 “Throw my sorrow into treasured gold” Rolling in the Deep

The table above shows hyperbole which are found in the song lyrics. The

songs that contains hyperbole are “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, “Red” by Taylor

Swift, and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. There are seven hyperbole in

“Grenade”, one hyperbole in “Red”, and six hyperbole in “Rolling in the Deep”.

The further analysis of hyperbole lyrics will be explained below.

a. “Grenade” by Bruno Mars

“Grenade” is a song that is addressed to a woman whom a man loves so

much, yet the woman often rejects and hurts him. In the middle of his sadness,

pain, and disappointment, the songwriter tries to emphasize the sacrifice of the

man who still sticks with the woman. In this song, there are lyrics contain

exaggerated meaning of sacrifice which is tried to be shown by the songwriter to a

woman he mentions in the song. “Grenade” lyrics that are included as hyperbole

are explained below:

1) “I gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash” (M.2.H.1)

The lyrics above is the first hyperbole that is found in this song. It is called

hyperbole as the lyrics contain words that exaggerate the literal meaning of the

song lyrics. The songwriter tries to show his severe disappointment as he says that


26

“he gave all he had” but someone “tossed it the trash”, yet the literal meaning is

not always meant by that.

Firstly, the word “all” refers to the whole things without exception. It can

be anything including parts of his body; eyes, nose, lips, or his stuffs such as

books and electronic devices. Whereas, by choosing the word “all”, the songwriter

actually mentions about what he has done for his girl. He wants to mention the

eagerness to obey the girl‟s wish. Secondly, the word “trash” is defined as “a

container where people put things that are being thrown away” (MWD, 2016).

The songwriter chooses this word to show how bad the girl treats him after he

gives all he has. This word marks out the rejection of the girl who still refuses him

out of hand.

“Trash” gives an outrageous meaning that make the listeners can feel what

the songwriter feels as a “trash”. “I gave you all I had and you tossed it in the

trash” is one of the hyperbole examples that found in the song lyrics since it does

not bring the literal meaning but the exaggerated meaning.

2) “I‟d catch a grenade for you” (M.2.H.2)

A hyperbole is shown as this part of song lyrics exaggerates the meaning.

The word “grenade” is defined as “a small bomb that is designed to be thrown by

someone or shot from a rifle” (MWD, 2017). By hanging on the definition,

“grenade” is used to exaggerate the meaning of sacrifice. By this lyrics, the

songwriter tries to show that he is willing to catch a “grenade” in order to show

his sacrifice. It hurts him a lot yet he does it to show his love. Since “grenade”

symbolizes a very dangerous tool that is killing and it is impossible for someone


27

to catch, the songwriter chooses that word to show that he will do everything he

can to prove his love.

3) “I‟d thrown my hand on a blade for you” (M.2.H.3)

“Blade” is defined as “the flat sharp part of a weapon or tool that is used

for cutting” (MWD, 2017). It means that, the same as a grenade, it is a dangerous

tool that can make him hurt. Meanwhile, “throw” means to put something in a

particular place in a forceful way (MWD, 2017). By considering these definitions,

this lyrics is included as a hyperbole as the songwriter exaggerates the meaning of

sacrifice. Through this lyrics, the songwriter wants to show his willing to do

everything for her, including to throw his hand on a blade as long as it is done for

her.

4) “I‟d jump in front of a train for you” (M.2.H.4)

This lyrics also contains a meaning of sacrifice. The songwriter makes the

meaning of the lyrics deeper as he chooses the words of “jump in front of a train”.

It is also an action that is impossible to do, as “train” is “a vehicle with a series of

trailer units” (MWD, 2017) that moves very fast. It makes someone who jumps in

front of it directly killed. Thus, the song lyrics clearly show a hyperbole as the

song writer repeat the exaggeration of his sacrifice. It contains exaggerated

meaning as he will not jump in front of a train for real, yet it is written as an

illustration for the listeners that he will do everything he can to show his love

including to jump in front of a train.

5) “I‟d take a bullet straight through my brain” (M.2.H.5)


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“Bullet” is defined as “a round or elongated missile to be fired from a

firearm” (MWD, 2017). “Brain” means “the organ of the body in the head that

control functions, movements, sensasion, and thought” (MWD, 2017). When a

bullet passes the brain, it surely can kill the person. Thus, the song lyrics are

included as a hyperbole since the songwriter tries to express his strong feeling by

adding the extravagant statement through the song lyrics. It is a hyperbole as the

songwriter shows that he will take a bullet through his brain, again to show that he

will do everything in the name of love.

6) “Beat me „til I‟m numb” (M.2.H.6)

It is also a hyperbole as the songwriter repeats to exaggerate the statement

as seen in the lyrics. “Beat” refers to “hit something repeatedly in order to cause

pain or injury”. Meanwhile, “numb” is a condition when a person is “unable to

feel anything in a particular part of the body because of cold or injury” (MWD,

2017). The meaning of “hit” itself is “to move your hand quickly so that it touches

someone or something in a forceful or violent way” (MWD, 2017). It means that

when someone is hit repeatedly, it means that he or she in a deep pain as “hit”.

Therefore, “beat me „til I‟m numb” is the way the songwriter wants to show us

how he is willing enough to be beaten even until he is dying.

This lyrics shows that to be beaten until he is numb can be one of the

sacrifice that surely will be done even he gets pain. The songwriter chooses “beat”

instead of “hurt” and “numb” instead of “in pain” in order to make the meaning

deeper. “Beat” and “numb” carry exaggerated meaning of “hurt” and “in pain”.

The songwriter does not refer to someone literally beats him „til he is numb, yet


29

he refers to someone‟s act that hurts him very much. It is not literally a punch that

beats him, but the songwriter wants to say that someone who he mentioned is

allowed to do everything she wants and he will accept it.

7) “You'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car” (M.2.H.7)

The songwriter wants to convey that the meaning of the lyrics is that the

woman whom he mentions will be kind to him, loves him, or accept him but then

will hurt him.

It is included as a hyperbole as it carries an exaggerated meaning. This

lyrics tells about a double face woman who “smiles, yet then rip the brakes out

the car”. The phrase “rip the brakes out the car” does not carry the literal

meaning, yet refers to a hurtful unpleasant act. “Rip” means “to tear, split, or

open” (MWD, 2017). By saying this, the songwriter shows us how the woman in

the song has a double face as she smiles at first, yet then she changes and hurts

him more.

b. “Red” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift wrote this song which tells about her feeling to have a

relationship that is the worst and best at the same time. It is a song about how it

feels to love someone, forget someone, miss someone, and any other feeling she

has. The “Red” lyrics contain hyperbole are explained as below.

1) “That's why he's spinnin' 'round in my head” (F.1.H.1)

The word “spinning” is a verb which, according to MWD, means “to turn or

cause someone or something to turn around repeatedly” (2017). It is a verb that

shows a movement of turn around, yet the song lyrics do not literally refer to it.


30

The song lyrics are included as a hyperbole as the song writer adds the

extravagant statement of “spinning around in my head” to express her feeling. It

refers to the time when the songwriter cannot stop to think about the man whom

she mentions as if the man were spinning around in her head.

c. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

“Rolling in the Deep” is a song about a kiss-off towards a man that she

thinks as an unfaithful and irresponsible man. By this song, Adele conveys her

anger and disappointment. The lyrics of “Rolling in the Deep” which contains

hyperbole are shown as below.

1) “There‟s a fire starting in my heart” (F.2.H.1)

It is a hyperbole as the songwriter brings the idea of exaggeration when

she mentions about a fire starting in her hear as “fire” is defined as “the

phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame, and heat” which is burning

(MWD, 2017). It is not the real meaning of a fire that was starting in her heart but

the songwriter wants to show how she feels her anger that is on the peak. In other

words, the songwriter applies the idea of “anger” on “fire” to give it a better

illustration of extremely “angry”.

2) “You had my heart inside of your hand” (F.2.H.2)

The word which is marked as a hyperbole is “heart” that refers to the body

organ. In the song lyrics, the heart is in someone‟s hand and it makes the lyrics

sound impossible considering that it is a body organ that is kept in someone‟s

hand. It is considered as a hyperbole as “it exceeds the limits of facts in the given

context, contains attribute more of „X‟” (Claridge, 2010:5). The fact that is


31

exceeded is to give her love entirely as it looks like giving his heart into her hand.

Instead of saying a literal statement of giving all of her to show her love,

exaggeration is added to make the lyrics stronger and deeper.

3) “I‟m gonna make your head burn” (F.2.H.3)

The words “make your head burn” are included as hyperbole as it gives an

exaggeration of anger that becomes stronger as it is said in an extravagant

statement.

“Burn”, which means “to give off heat” (MWD, 2017), is added to make

the lyrics stronger as it shows emotion of anger. In literal meaning, the songwriter

wants to say that she will make someone furious and feel the pain because of his

own fault in the past as it feels like his head was burnt. She will make a revenge

of what the man has done to her until he is stressed-out.

4) “Throw my soul through every open door” (F.2.H.4)

“Soul” refers to “the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating

cause of an individual life”, while “open door” symbolizes a chance. It contains

exaggerated meaning as the songwriter says “throw” which refers to her “soul”. It

does not proper as “soul” is an invisible thing which cannot be touched or thrown.

Every “open door” also does not contain the real meaning yet “door” symbolizes

every “chance”. This quotation of the lyrics creates a hyperbole meaning of a

request for the man to be with her in every chance they have.

5) “Throw my sorrow into treasured gold” (F.2.H.6)

The lyrics above is also included as hyperbole. It has the non literal

meaning which is exaggerated because “treasured gold” that is mentioned is not a


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real treasured gold. “Treasured” is an adjective form of “treasure” which means

something valuable that is hidden or kept in a safe place (MWD, 2017).

Meanwhile, ”gold” means “a yellow malleable ductile metallic element that

occurs chiefly free or in a few minerals and is used especially in coins, jewelry,

and dentures” (MWD, 2017). “Gold” brings the idea of something very valuable

as the mine of gold is done laboriously. The gold mine is done usually by

“filtering out the water (of the river) hundred times” (O‟Donnel, 2003:9). Thus,

gold has a high value and price on trade. In this song, “treasured gold” is used as

the extravagant word of a happiness and encouragement hidden by the sorrow

which is very valuable as its presence is sorely missed.

It can be referred to the meaning of the lyrics that gold and happiness

contain a high value. In the lyrics, the songwriter exaggerates “happiness” to a

“treasured gold” as to find her happiness need an extra effort as to find a treasured

gold. She wants to convey her willingness for the man whom she mentions to turn

her sorrow into happiness which she loses it for long.

2. Metaphor

As explained in the previous chapter, metaphor is known as a figurative

expressions that uses comparison without put any connective words such as „like‟

and „as‟ (Ortony, 2002:3). It compares two or more things in order to show the

similarity of that things. In four songs that were selected as the data, metaphor is

found only in a female song, Red, by Taylor Swift. In “Red”, the songwriter uses

colors to make a comparison towards her feeling.


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Table 4.3 Song Lyrics with Metaphor

Data Code Metaphor Lyrics

F.1.M.1 “Losing him was blue like I‟d never known” – Red


F.1.M.2 Missing him was dark grey all alone” – Red

F.1.M.3 “Loving him was red” – Red

From the table above, there are three metaphorical lyrics which are shown

in “Red”. The song lyrics which contain metaphor are shown as below.

1) “Losing him was blue like I'd never known” (F.1.M.1)

The lyrics quotation above is included as a metaphor as it has the

comparison of two different things, “losing him” and the color of “blue”. The

literal meaning of “loss” has the correlation with “sadness” as it means “the

experience of having something taken from you” (MWD, 2017). The color of blue

is also correlated with sadness, as explained by Fiseman that blue is the color or

sadness and longing (2006:27). Therefore, the semantic properties of “loss” and

“blue” can be written as follows.

Loss [+sadness]

Blue [+sadness]

From the semantic properties above, it can be concluded that both “loss”

and “blue” color has the same semantic properties of sadness. Therefore, both

“loss” and “blue” can represent “sadness”. By the color of blue, the songwriter

wants to elaborate her feeling of losing someone she loves. She feels sadness and

longing as the color of blue when she is losing her man.


34

2) “Missing him was dark grey all alone” (F.1.M.2)

It is also a comparison without any connective words. The purpose is to

compare the feeling of “missing him” and a color of “dark grey”. Semantic

properties will be given in order to make the analysis clearer.

Longing [+sorrow]

Dark grey [+sorrow]

The semantic properties above can be found by analyzing the definitions

of “longing” and “dark grey” which both have the same characteristic of

“sorrow”. “Longing” has the literal meaning of “a strong desire especially for

something unattainable” (MWD, 2017). The word “unattainable” is related to

“sorrow” as the definition shows a failure of achieving something. In this lyrics,

the “dark grey” color the representation and the description of how it feels when

she is missing someone she loves.

Meanwhile, the “dark grey” color means “sorrow and sadness”, the

songwriter subtitutes the literal meaning of sorrow and sadness into a color of

“dark grey” as the comparison to her feeling when she is missing someone who

she mentions in the song lyrics (Wright, 2011: 23). “Loving him was red”

(F.1.M.3)

The lyrics above is the last metaphor shown in “Red” song by Taylor

Swift. It is included as metaphor as it also has a comparison between the feeling

of “loving him” and the color of “red”. “Loving” literally means “feeling love and

affection”, while “red” color is used evoke the erotic feeling. It leads to the idea of


35

love that is passionate, affectionate, and desirable (Wright, 2011: 5). As added by

Khan, the red color also means happiness and warmth (2016:360). By hanging on

those definitions, the semantic properties are written as follow.

Love [+affection]

Red [+affection]

From the semantic property above, it can be concluded that both “love”

and “red” contain “affection”. The meaning of “affection” is shown by the

comparison between a feeling of loving someone and the color of red. By showing

this comparison, the songwriter wants to show how it feels when she is loving

someone which is affectionate and warm as the color of red.

3. Simile

Simile is the third figurative expressions that is analyzed. It is figurative

expressions that is similar to metaphor. The difference locates in the use of

connective words in simile, such as „like‟ and „as‟ (Bartlett, 2016:62). The simile

that are found in song lyrics are summarized in the table below.

Table 4.4 Song Lyrics with Simile

Data

Code

Simile Lyrics

F.1.S.1 “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end

street” – Red

F.1.S.2 “Loving him is passionate as sin” - Red

F.1.S.3 “Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you‟re

already flying through the free fall” – Red

F.1.S.4 “Loving him is like the colors in autumn” – Red

F.1.S.5 “Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never

met” – Red

F.1.S.6 “Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your

old favorite song” – Red


36

Data

Code

Simile Lyrics

F.1.S.7 “Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and

realizing there‟s no right answer” – Red

“Red” by Taylor Swift has many lyrics containing simile in it. The song

lyrics contain simile are explained as below.

1) “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street”

(F.1.S.1)

“Maserati” is a luxury sport car which can be related to the song writer‟s

feeling. When it is related to something that is luxurious, it implies something that

provides “pleasure and satisfaction” (MWD, 2017). Dead-end street is known as

“an end, as of a street, without an exit”. In this lyrics, the songwriter implies her

feeling of loving someone that feels like driving a new Maserati which gives her a

big pleasure and satisfaction. Yet, the following lyrics shows the contrast. “Dead-

end street” refers to a situation that even the songwriter loves the man so much

and that it gives her so much pleasure, it will end soon as there is nothing she can

do more as she faces a dead-end street.

2) “Loving him is passionate as sin” (F.1.S.2)

The lyrics above also contains simile in it. It is included as a simile as the

songwriter compares how she loves the man that is passionate to a sin. “Sin” is

known as “an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible” (MWD, 2017). It

is related to the passionate feeling. When the passionate feeling is compared to a

sin, it implies a feeling that is desireable and erotic. What the songwriter wants to

convey is the situation when someone does a sin. It is usually done passionately as


37

it is done in hurry. As shown in the complete lyrics, “loving him is faster than the

wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly”, the songwriter explain about her

feeling of loving the man in the song which ends so suddenly as if it is faster than

the wind and as passionate as doing a sin.

3) “Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you‟re already flying

through the free fall” (F.1.S.3)

It is a simile as it has the comparison between “loving him” and “trying to

change your mind once you‟re already flying through the free fall”. Again, the

songwriter compares her feeling to a thing. “Free fall” is a phrase which means

“the fall of a body within he atmosphere without a drag-producing device such as

parachute” (Farlex Dictionary, 2017). In this song, “free fall” is related to an

action that cannot be repeated because it is already done. When a person is already

flying through the free fall, he cannot go back. It means she cannot change her

mind even though she tries it a lot. The same as the her feeling of loving someone,

it is a feeling that she cannot take back because it is already happened. In other

words, to love the man is not an option anymore because she has loved him

yesterday and she will love him for more.

4) “Loving him is like the colors in autumn” (F.1.S.4)

The comparison is located between the feeling of loving someone and the

colors in autumn. When autumn comes, it has a dominant color of yellow. The

feeling of loving her man is related to the meaning of yellow color which is

associated with “joy, happiness, intellect, and energy” (Wright, 2007:9). Thus,

when the songwriter connects her feeling with the color of autumn, yellow, it


38

implies the feeling of loving someone makes her happy and gives her spirit and

energy.

5) “Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met”

(F.1.S.5)

It is included as simile as it compares the feeling of forgetting someone

and a feeling of trying to know somebody you never met. It is very hard to know

somebody you never met as there is no relationship or connection before. By this

lyrics, the songwriter implies the feeling when she is forgetting someone whom

she loves the most which needs an extra effort as knowing somebody we never

met.

6) “Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old

favorite song” (F.1.S.6)

It is also a comparison between memorizing someone and knowing all the

words of old favorite song. Favorite is defined as “one that is treated or regarded

with special favor or liking” (MWD, 2017). When it refers to a song,

unconsiously a person will remember even every word of the lyrics. It does not

take any effort since it is the favorite one. As knowing every word in an old

favorite song, although it is old and persisting in the past, the song writer feels

that she does not put much energy to memorize someone she loves because it is

easy. In contrast to the previous lyrics that forgetting him needs an extra effort,

yet memorizing him is as easy as knowing all the words of her favorite song. It is

by rote to memorize someone through every single thing of him.

7) “Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing

there‟s no right answer” (F.1.S.7)


39

There is a comparison between two things using a connective word of

“like”, thus, the lyrics above is also included as a simile. Crossword is “a puzzle

in which words are filled into a pattern of numbered squares in answer to

correspondingly numbered clues and in such a way that the words read across and

down” (MWD, 2017). The number of the total words of an answer must be the

same as the number of the spaces that are provided. If it is not, it means that the

answer is wrong or there is an error in making the spaces. The simile of solving a

crossword, which in fact does not have any right answer, implies the songwriter‟s

feeling that her feeling when she has a fight to someone she loves is frustating and

actually useless as certainly there is no way out.

4. Idiom

Idiom is a figurative expressions that contains a phrase which is

comprising two or more words in order to create new meaning (Tabossi, 2014:6).

Moreover, it involves “some associations of ideas, and the meaning of the entire

expression can be predicted from the meaning of the individual word” (Palmer,

1997:79). “Rolling in the Deep” is the only song contains idiomatic expression.

The song lyrics which contains idiom is asserted as below.

Table 4.5 Song Lyrics with Idiom

Data Code Idiom Lyrics

F.2.I.1 “A fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch”

From the table above, there are only one idiom found in Adele‟s.

1) “A fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch and it‟s bringing me out

of the dark” (F.2.I.2)


40

The words “fever” and “pitch” are combined and it creates a new meaning

of “a state of extreme excitement” (MWD, 2017). Fever means “a body

temperature that is higher than normal” or also “a state of excited emotion or

activity” (MWD, 2017). Meanwhile, “pitch” refers to an action of “presenting in a

high-pressure way” (MWD, 2017). By considering those definitions, the

songwriter talks about a fire in her heart, that is meant by anger, which starts to

culminate. It is an idiom to show a strong feeling of anger that the songwriter has

in order to assert the meaning of “fire” itself.

5. Personification

The last type of figurative expressions that is analyzed is personification.

From four songs as the data, personification can be found in two songs. They are

“Something‟s Missing” by John Mayer and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. The

summary of song lyrics which contain figurative language can be seen in the table

below.

Table 4.6 Song Lyrics with Personification

Data Code Personification Lyrics

M.1.P.1 “When autumn comes, it doesn‟t ask” – John Mayer

M.1.P.2 “It just walks in, where it left you last” – John Mayer

F.2.P.1 “ There‟s a fire, it‟s bringing me out of the dark” - Adele

F.2.P.2 “The scars of your love remind me of us” - Adele

F.2.P.3 “The scars of your love, they leave me breathless” – Adele

From the table above, there are five personification expressions which are

found in two songs from both male and female songwriters. As explained before,

personification brings the character of human being in an unliving thing

(Meisami, 2003). Two songs which the lyrics have personification are


41

“Something‟s Missing” by John Mayer and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. The

song lyrics of each song that are contained personification are explained as below.

a. “Something’s Missing” by John Mayer

In this song, the songwriter questions his meaning of life. He already gets

everything he thinks he needs, yet he still feels empty. He has friends, money, a

good job, and a well sleep yet he feels that he needs something more. It refers to

his need of God and also a true love. The personification lyrics in “Something‟s

Missing” are explained below.

1) “When autumn comes, it does not ask” (M.1.P.1)

It is a personification as the human attribute of “ask” is put in. It stands for

an action that characterizes human. “Ask” is an action word which means “say or

write something to someone as a way of gaining information” (MWD, 2017). It is

an act that can be done only by a human. “Autumn” is an inanimate and “human”

is an animate. As “autumn” is not a living thing, yet it is added by a human

character, this song lyrics are included as a personification. It is done in order to

make the “autumun” is alive which it can ask as the humans do.

2) “It (autumn) just walks in, where it left you last” (M.1.P.2)

The human attributes that are found are “walks” and “left”. “Walk” is an

action where a living thing “moves with the legs at a slower speed” and “left” is

“leave” in the past form which means “to go away from” (MWD, 2017). “Walk”

and “left” are the actions that can be done by a living thing. Since in the song

lyrics those words are addressed to an unliving thing, autumn, it is included as a


42

personification. “Autumn” is personified by the words “walk” and “left” in order

to make it more vivid.

b. ”Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

This song also contains figurative language of personification. The lyrics

are shown as below.

1) “A fire, it's bringing me out of the dark” (F.2.P.1)

This quotation of song lyrics has the personified expressions. It contains

personification as the lyrics carries a human character towards a thing which is

applied on “fire which is bringing her out of the dark”. “Fire” has a human

attribute of “bring”. “Bring” is a human characteristic as it is an action that can be

done only by the living things, human and animal. It means “to come with

someone or something to a place” (MWD, 2017). It is not an action that “a fire”

can do since “a fire” is not included as a living thing that can “bring” something.

2) “The scars of your love remind me of us” (F.2.P.2)

The word that is personified in this lyrics is “scars”. The songwriter puts

the human character of “remind” which marks that the scars can remind as human

does. “Remind” is an action of “making someone think about something again”

(MWD, 2017). By hanging on this definition, it can be said that it is impossible

for “the scars” to “remind” for real as it is an unanimate thing which does not

have ability to make someone think about something again. The one that does that

action is not the scars itself but the human.


43

3) “The scars of your love, they leave me breathless” (F.2.P.3)

The lyrics above contains personification as “the scars” are considered as

the things that can “leave (someone) breathless”. The word “scars” refers to

“marks remaining (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed” which means

that it is unliving things yet it is followed by the action verb of “leave”. “Leave” is

an action word which is defined as “to go away from (somewhere)” (MWD,

2017). As “scars” is the unliving things, it cannot do something such as “leave” as

a human can. “Scars” are personified by the word “leave”. Thus, this part of lyrics

is contained as personification.

B. The Language Style Differences of Male and Female Songwriters

From the finding above, the types of of figurative language found are

different from types and total number. Figurative language types and total number

will be shown in the table as follow.

Table 4.7 Figurative Expressions Types and Total Number

Figurative Expressions by Male

Songwriters

Figurative Expressions by Female

Songwriters

Total Number Types Total Number Types

9 Hyperbole and

Personification

20 Hyperbole,

Metaphor, Simile,

Idiom, and

Personification

There are only 2 types of figurative language that are found in male

songwriters‟ songs. Meanwhile, female songwriters put more figurative language

expressions in their songs. They have 20 figurative language expressions from

five types of figurative expressions.


44

1. The Style of Male Songwriters

There are 2 styles which can be concluded from the first and the second

problem formulation.

a. Simpler

From the analysis above, it can be concluded that in making song lyrics,

the male songwriters tend to be simpler than the female. First, it is shown by the

percentage of the findings. Male songwriters use only 2 types of figurative

language and make 9 expressions of it. Meanwhile, female songwriters use 5

types figurative language and make 20 expressions. By considering this fact, it

can be concluded that male songwriters tend to be simpler as they choose to

express their ideas explicitly and tend to reduce the use of non-literal meaning

which can create ambiguity. As asserted by Cameron, “men‟s style of

communication tends to be more direct and less polite” (2007:8). They tend to say

anything explicitly, therefore, they avoid to use figurative language. As the

function of figurative language is to “make a meaning goes beyond the literal”

and make it explicit, the men tend to convey something more in literal

(Glucksberg, 2001:10).

Second, the fact that the male songwriters tend to say simpler in

expressing their feeling is seen in personification lyrics, John Mayer‟s

“Something‟s Missing”. In this song, the songwriter uses personification which is

simple and easy to be understood. The lyrics contain personification are shown as

follows.

“When autumn comes, it doesnt ask


45

It just walks in, where it left you last”

Those lyrics are considered as simple as the pronouns are already referred to

the earlier subject which does not make any ambigious meaning. In the first line,

“it” is referred to “autumn” which becomes the subject in the previous phrase. The

same condition in the second line which “it” pronouns are stood for the one and

only subject for all of the phrases of the lyrics.

b. More Exaggerating

In speaking up their feeling, the male songwriters use only 2 types of

figurative language. One of them is hyperbole whose purpose is to make the

meaning goes beyond literal (Claridge, 2010:5). In hyperbole, the literal meaning

is added by the extravagant statement which can make the meaning goes deeper.

Bruno Mars‟ song titled “Grenade” contains many hyperbolic expressions which

can be shown as below.

“I'd catch a grenade for you

Throw my hand on a blade for you

I'd jump in front of a train for you

You know I'd do anything for you”

The lyrics above are the examples of hyperbolic expression shown in

“Grenade”. Instead of other figurative language, the songwriter chooses to use

hyperbole to make the song meaning is understood. As Roberts and Kreuz assert,

hyperbole is used to emphasize something (2006:164). In “Grenade” song,

hyperbole are used to emphasize the point of “sacrifice” that the songwriter tries

to show. He says it in hyperbolic expressions by adding the extra linguistics facts,


46

semantic information, in order to give a deeper illustration of “sacrifice” for the

listeners.

“I would go through all this pain

Take a bullet straight through my brain”

The semantic information which is given is in the form of figurative

language of hyperbole. The lyrics above is included as hyperbole which can

characterize the emphasis of the lyrics‟ meaning. This part of lyrics also

emphasizes the meaning of “sacrifice”. The songwriter wants to express his

willingness to sacrifice by emphasizing that ”he would go through” everything his

woman does to him, even to “take a bullet straight through his brain”.

2. The Style of Female Songwriters

The same as male songwriters, there are also 2 styles which can be

concluded as the style of female songwriters in expressing their feeling through

the lyrics.

a. Less Direct

Generally, women speak in order to “be cooperative and making

connection” (Cameron, 2006:68). Therefore, women use more implicit statements

such as figurative language in the purpose of implying her thoughts and ideas and

expect that it will be accepted by others. Based on the findings above, female

songwriters use 5 types of figurative in 20 expressions, compared to male

songwriters who only use 2 types of figurative language in 9 expressions. By

considering this total number, it can be concluded that female songwriters tend to

use implicit meaning in expressing their feelings. They tend to be less direct than


47

male songwriters as they use many figurative language expressions than saying

their feelings literally. Female songwriters tend to avoid words which can relieve

connection, therefore, they intend to create the deeper feeling of the listeners so

that the listeners can understand the deeper meaning of the song by speaking

implicitly. In contrast to the male songwriters, the female tend to hide the literal

meaning by saying something implicitly in order to let the listeners think and

guess their intention (Danet and Herring, 2007:250).

The facts that the female songwriters tend to speak implicitly and use more

complicated expressions lead to the vagueness that is caused by the use of

figurative language. The more they use figurative language, the more they create

vagueness in their speaking. The examples are found in the use of metaphor,

simile, and idiom.

“Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street” (F.1.S.1)

“Loving him was red” (F.1.M.3)

From the lyrics above, the use of metaphor, simile, and idiom leads to

ambiguity as the real meaning of it cannot be known directly. There are many

possible meanings that can be found. The example is taken from first lyrics

(F.1.S.1) has the possible meanings of futility and joyful. Futility is the first

possible meaning which can be seen by the feeling when someone is driving a

very marvelous car down a dead-end street. It means that it is a futility as it cannot

be continued and there is no way out. Yet, in the other side, this lyrics can also be

meant differently. The feeling of “loving” shows a very joyful feeling. As there is

no exit in “dead-end street”, it can also be said that the feeling of loving someone


48

is cannot be stopped. Although all figurative language are non-literal language,

metaphor, simile, and idiom need more “riddles” to disassemble the real meaning.

It needs “riddles” to figure out how it feels to drive a Maserati down a dead-end

street (F.1.S.1) and what “red” means in the term of psychology and emotion

(F.1.M.3).

b. More Comparing

In the finding percentage, the table 4.1 shows 10 expressions of metaphor

and simile. By considering this fact, it can be concluded that female songwriters

tend to use figurative language that the purpose is to compare (Roberts and Kreuz,

1994: 163). They tend to make a comparison between two things or more that is

expected to give better illustration of their intention.

“Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of

you,

memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song,

fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there's no

right answer,

regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that

strong”

This lyrics is included as simile, whose purpose is to compare two or more

things. The songwriter uses simile in order to compare her feelings that she

remembers when she touches, memorizes, fights, and regrets him. By comparing

her feelings, she intends to give the listeners the better illustration of her true

feelings. The first lyrics of the examples above is “touching him was like realizing

all you ever wanted was right there in front of you”. The feeling when “she is

touching someone she loves” is tried to be described by the feeling that the


49

listeners may have. The listeners are tried to imagine how it feels when they

realize all they ever wanted is right in front of them. The songwriter tries to

compare one thing to another to make the meaning goes clearer and easier to be

understood.


49

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

This chapter presents the conclusion based on the analysis which has been

done in the previous chapter. The data of the analysis are taken from four songs

by four songwriters. They are “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, “Something’s Missing”

by John Mayer, “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, and “Red” by Taylor Swift.

This present study finds that female songwriters use more figurative

language in creating song lyrics. In male songs, there are only hyperbole and

personification that are found in the total number of 9 expressions. In the other

side, there are 5 types of figurative language in the total number of 20 expressions

found in female songs. In detail, both male and female songwriters have 7

hyperbolic expressions. In metaphor, there are 3 expressions from 1 female

songwriter. In simile, it has 7 expressions from 1 female songwriter. In idiom,

there is only 1 expression from 1 female songwriter. The last is personification

which has 5 expressions from 1 male and 1 female songwriters.

This present study finds there are some differences of male and female

language style, particularly in conveying feelings and making song lyrics. There

are 2 male’s language style. First, this study finds that male songwriters tend to be

more simple and exaggerating. They tend to be simpler as the findings percentage

in table 4.1 shows that they only use 2 of 7 types of figurative language in the

total number of 9 expressions. Morever, the use of pronoun subtitution shown in

personification’s lyrics is considered as simple and easy to be understood. Second,

this study also finds that male songwriters tend to be more exaggerating as one of


50

the male songwriter use a lot of hyperbolic expressions in conveying his feeling.

As shown in table 4.1, there are 7 hyperbolic expressions from “Grenade” which

are used to emphasize the meaning of the song.

In female language style, this present study finds 2 styles of female

songwriters. First, female songwriters tend to be less direct. It is seen in the

percentage of figurative language that shows 20 figurative language expressions

are used. The language by female songwriters tends to be less direct in expressing

their feelings as they choose to use many non-literal expressions in their songs

that make the listeners have to guess the real meaning behind it. The use of

metaphor, simile, and idiom also becomes the proof that females tend to be less

direct in saying their intention. Metaphor, simile, and idiom are figurative

language expressions that tend to have more implicit meaning. Second, female

songwriters tend to be more comparing as they use many metaphor and simile in

their songs. In table 4.1, female songwriters have 10 metaphorical and similiar

expressions. As metaphor and simile are used by comparing two or more things,

female songwriters are considered to be more comparing. They tend to compare

something to another thing in order to give a deeper illustration to the listeners.

In the future research, the researcher argues that it needs more reliable

resources to find more language style differences. In the end of the conclusion,

this present study hopes that the readers can be able to differentiate the language

style between male and female based on how this study analyzed it.


51

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1

Hyperbole Lyrics

Data Code Hyperbole Lyrics

M.2.H.1 “I gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash” – Grenade

M.2.H.2 “I’d catch a grenade for you” - Grenade

M.2.H.3 “I’d throw my hand on a blade for you” – Grenade

M.2.H.4 “I’d jump in front of a train for you” - Grenade

M.2.H.5 “I’d take a bullet straight through my brain” - Grenade

M.2.H.6 “Beat me ‘til I’m numb” - Grenade

M.2.H.7 “You'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car” – Grenade

F.1.H.1 “That’s why he’s spinning around in my head” – Red

F.2.H.1 “There’s a fire starting in my heart” – Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.2 “You had my heart inside of your hand” – Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.3 “I’m gonna make your head burn” – Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.4 “Throw my soul through every open door” – Rolling in the Deep

F.2.H.5 “Throw my sorrow into treasured gold” – Rolling in the Deep


55

Appendix 2

Metaphor Lyrics


F.1.M.1 “Losing him was blue like I’d never known” – Red

F.1.M.2 Missing him was dark grey all alone” – Red

F.1.M.3 “Loving him was red” – Red


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Appendix 3

Simile Lyrics

Data

Code

Simile Lyrics

F.1.S.1 “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end

street” – Red

F.1.S.2 “Loving him is passionate as sin” - Red

F.1.S.3 “Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you’re

already flying through the free fall” – Red

F.1.S.4 “Loving him is like the colors in autumn” – Red

F.1.S.5 “Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never

met” – Red

F.1.S.6 “Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your

old favorite song” – Red

F.1.S.7 “Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and

realizing there’s no right answer” – Red


57

Appendix 4

Idiom Lyrics

Data Code Idiom Lyrics

F.2.I.1 “A fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch”


58

Appemdix 5

Personification Lyrics

Data Code Personification Lyrics

M.1.P.1 “When autumn comes, it doesn’t ask” – John Mayer

M.1.P.2 “It just walks in, where it left you last” – John Mayer

F.2.P.1 “ There’s a fire, it’s bringing me out of the dark” - Adele

F.2.P.2 “The scars of your love remind me of us” - Adele

F.2.P.3 “The scars of your love, they leave me breathless” – Adele


59

Appendix 6

Male Language Style: More simple

Num. Data Code Personification Lyrics

1 M.1.P.1 “When autumn comes, it doesn’t ask” – John Mayer

2 M.1.P.2 “It just walks in, where it left you last” – John Mayer


60

Appendix 7

Male Language Style: More exaggerating

Num. Data Code Hyperbole Lyrics

1 M.2.H.1 “I gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash” –

Grenade

2 M.2.H.2 “I’d catch a grenade for you” - Grenade

3 M.2.H.3 “I’d throw my hand on a blade for you” – Grenade

4 M.2.H.4 “I’d jump in front of a train for you” - Grenade

5 M.2.H.5 “I’d take a bullet straight through my brain” - Grenade

6 M.2.H.6 “Beat me ‘til I’m numb” - Grenade

7 M.2.H.7 “You'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car”

– Grenade


61

Appendix 8

Female Language Style: More complicated

Num. Data Code Lyrics Types

1 F.1.M.1 “Losing him was blue like I’d never

known” – Red

Metaphor

2 F.1.M.2 Missing him was dark grey all alone” –

Red

Metaphor

3 F.1.M.3 “Loving him was red” – Red Metaphor

4 F.1.S.1 “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati

down a dead-end street” – Red

Simile

5 F.1.S.2 “Loving him is passionate as sin” - Red Simile

6 F.1.S.3 “Loving him is like trying to change your

mind once you’re already flying through

the free fall” – Red

Simile

7 F.1.S.4 “Loving him is like the colors in autumn” –

Red

Simile

8 F.1.S.5 “Forgetting him was like trying to know

somebody you never met” – Red

Simile

9 F.1.S.6 “Memorizing him was as easy as knowing

all the words to your old favorite song” –

Red

Simile

10 F.1.S.7 “Fighting with him was like trying to solve

a crossword and realizing there’s no right

answer” – Red

Simile

11 F.2.I.1 “A fire starting in my heart, reaching a

fever pitch”

Idiom


62

Appendix 9

Female Language Style: More comparing

Num. Data Code Lyrics Types

1 F.1.M.1 “Losing him was blue like I’d never

known” – Red

Metaphor

2 F.1.M.2 Missing him was dark grey all alone” –

Red

Metaphor

3 F.1.M.3 “Loving him was red” – Red Metaphor

4 F.1.S.1 “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati

down a dead-end street” – Red

Simile

5 F.1.S.2 “Loving him is passionate as sin” - Red Simile

6 F.1.S.3 “Loving him is like trying to change your

mind once you’re already flying through

the free fall” – Red

Simile

7 F.1.S.4 “Loving him is like the colors in autumn” –

Red

Simile

8 F.1.S.5 “Forgetting him was like trying to know

somebody you never met” – Red

Simile

9 F.1.S.6 “Memorizing him was as easy as knowing

all the words to your old favorite song” –

Red

Simile

10 F.1.S.7 “Fighting with him was like trying to solve

a crossword and realizing there’s no right

answer” – Red

Simile


63

Appendix 10

The lyrics of "Something's Missing" by John Mayer

I'm not alone, I wish I was.

Cause then I'd know, I was down because

I couldn't find, a friend around

To love me like, they do right now.

They do right now.

I'm dizzy from the shopping malls

I searched for joy, but I bought it all

It doesn't help the hunger pains

and a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing

And I don't know how to fix it

something's missing

And I don't know what it is

At all

When autumn comes, it doesnt ask.

It just walks in, where it left you last.

And you never know, when it starts

Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart:

Something's missing


something's missing


At all

I can't be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design

I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness.

For loneliness like this.

Something's missing


Something's missing


No I don't know what it is

Something's different

And i don't know what it is

No I don't know what it is

Friends -check- Money -check-

A well slept -check- Opposite sex -check- Guitar -check- Microphone -check- Messages

waiting for me, when i come home

-check-


64

How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries

What do you think it means

How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries

What do you think it means


65

Appendix 11

The lyrics of "Grenade" by Bruno Mars

Easy come, easy go

That's just how you live, oh

Take, take, take it all

But you never give

Should've known you was trouble

From the first kiss

Had your eyes wide open

Why were they open?

[Pre-Chorus:]

Gave you all I had

And you tossed it in the trash

You tossed it in the trash, you did

To give me all your love is all I ever asked

'Cause what you don't understand is...

[Chorus:]

I'd catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Throw my hand on a blade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)

I'd jump in front of a train for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)

You know I'd do anything for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Oh, I would go through all this pain

Take a bullet straight through my brain

Yes, I would die for you, baby

But you won't do the same

No, no, no, no

Black, black, black and blue

Beat me 'til I'm numb

Tell the devil I said "Hey" when you get back to where you're from

Mad woman, bad woman

That's just what you are

Yeah, you'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car

[Pre-Chorus:]

Gave you all I had

And you tossed it in the trash

You tossed it in the trash, yes you did

To give me all your love is all I ever asked

'Cause what you don't understand is...

[Chorus:]

I'd catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)




66






[Bridge:]

If my body was on fire

Oh, you'd watch me burn down in flames

You said you loved me, you're a liar

'Cause you never, ever, ever did, baby

[Chorus:]

But, darling, I'd still catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)








No, you won't do the same

You wouldn't do the same

Oh, you'd never do the same

Oh, no no no, oh


67

Appendix 12

The lyrics of "Red" by Taylor Swift

[Verse 1:]

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street

Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly

Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you're already flying through the free fall

Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all

[Chorus:]

Losing him was blue like I'd never known

Missing him was dark grey all alone

Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met

But loving him was red

Loving him was red

[Verse 2:]

Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you

Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song

Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there's no right answer

Regretting him was like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong

[Chorus:]

Losing him was blue like I'd never known



But loving him was red

Oh, red

Burning red

[Bridge:]

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes

Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go

But moving on from him is impossible

When I still see it all in my head

In burning red

Burning, it was red

[Chorus:]

Oh, losing him was blue like I'd never known



'Cause loving him was red


68

Yeah, yeah, red

We're burning red

[Post-Chorus:]

And that's why he's spinnin' 'round in my head

Comes back to me, burning red

Yeah, yeah

His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street


69

Apendix 13

The lyrics of "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch, it's bringing me out the dark

Finally I can see you crystal clear

[Clean version:] Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare

[Explicit version:] Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your shit bare

See how I leave with every piece of you

Don't underestimate the things that I will do

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch

And it's bringing me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us

They keep me thinking that we almost had it all

The scars of your love, they leave me breathless

I can't help feeling

We could have had it all

(You're gonna wish you never had met me)

Rolling in the deep

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You had my heart inside of your hand


And you played it, to the beat


Baby, I have no story to be told

But I've heard one on you

And I'm gonna make your head burn

Think of me in the depths of your despair

Make a home down there

As mine sure won't be shared


The scars of your love remind me of us


They keep me thinking that we almost had it all


The scars of your love, they leave me breathless


I can't help feeling


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Rolling in the deep




And you played it, to the beat



Rolling in the deep


But you played it, with a beating

Throw your soul through every open door (woah)

Count your blessings to find what you look for (woah)

Turn my sorrow into treasured gold (woah)

You'll pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow (woah)






It all, it all, it all




Rolling in the deep




And you played it to the beat




Rolling in the deep




But you played it

You played it


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You played it

You played it to the beat.


figurative expressions in song lyrics by male and … · ini dibantu oleh teori semantik dalam...

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