CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, the writer presents seven topics related this study. This

includes of background of the study, formulation of the research problem, purpose

of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, the

definition of key terms is given so there is no interpretation given by readers

toward the study, and the organization of the study.

A. Background of the Study

The word "language" has two meanings: language as a general concept

and "a language" (a specific linguistic system, e.g. "French." Languages other

than English often have two separate words for these distinct concepts. French for

example uses the word language for language as a concept and langue as the

specific instance of language (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language accessed 20

June 2011). Language is a signaling system which operates with symbolic vocal

sounds and which is used by a group of people for the purpose of communication.

Social interactions either daily communication are constantly liked to other via

facilitation of language. Obviously, language plays an important role in human

life. It is acknowledge from some definition carried out by some linguists.

Pinocchiaro states that language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbol which

permits all people in a given culture or other people who have learned the system

of that culture to communicate or to interact. Meanwhile according to Sapir,

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language is as purely human and non instinctive method of communicating ideas,

emotion and desire by means of system of voluntarily produced symbol.

Furthermore, as Hamby states that language is a system of sounds, words, and

pattern used by human to thoughts and feeling (Sociolinguistic 2007:7). Language

may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using

complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of

complex communication. The scientific study of language in any of its senses is

called linguistics. Linguistic, it has brought to the subject of semantics a certain

degree of analytic rigour combined with a view of the study of meaning as an

integrated component within the total theory of how language works. To study the

‘content’ side of language without reference to the ‘expression’ side ultimately

makes no more sense than to study the ‘expression’ side without the ‘content’ –

something linguists once tried, and found barren.

When we study about linguistic, we will know about semantics which

study of meaning. In English we know that meaning have important position to

study because it will give influence to someone to understand about speaker’s

mean or how far some information can receive by listeners.

Semantics (as the study of meaning) is central to study of communication;

and as more a crucial factor in social organization, the need to understand it

becomes more and more pressing. Semantics is also at the centre of the study of

the human mind – thought processes, cognition, conceptualization – all these are

intricately bound up with the way in which we classify and convey our experience

of the world through language. Because it is, in these two ways, a focal point in
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man study of man, semantic has been the meeting place of various cross-currents

of thinking, and various disciplines of study. Philosophy, Psychology, and

linguistics all claim a deep interest in the subject. Semantics has often seemed

baffling because there are many different approaches to it, and the ways in which

they are related to one another are rarely clear. Leech (1981: vii) the strength of

the integrated view is that it makes possible a transfer to semantics of techniques

of analysis which have proved successful with other aspect of language. But the

extension of the horizon of semantics in one direction has limited it in another

direction: the precise analytic methods developed in the study of grammar and

phonology only apply to that part of meaning which is traditionally called

‘conceptual’ or ‘cognitive’; other part, which may be lumped together as

‘connotative’ or ‘associative’ meaning, have been somewhat neglected.

We know that lyrics in westerns music not only use denotative meaning to

express message from singer but also connotative meaning. Connotative meaning

happens because the singer wish to make agreement, disagree, happy, unhappy,

etc, for the listeners. Many kinds of literature give us so much information in

which they use non literal meaning of words. For example, some lyric on the

songs uses figurative language to make it more interesting and imaginative.

Figurative language is language using figures of speech (a way of saying

one thing and meaning another),

(http://www.westga.edu/~scarter/Figurative_Language1.htm accessed on 22 June

2011). It is associated with lyric of the song uses figurative language. There are

many types of figurative language such as: metaphor, simile, symbols, hyperbola,
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irony, etc. But in general, the figurative language is differentiated into four

groups, they are: confirmation, comparison, opposition, and allusion. These

figurative languages are famous in society, and also in the field of education

starting from elementary school up to the university level.

The writer interested to analysis lyrics of Westlife song because in lyrics

many expression from singer that are imagine about condition or situation which

singer got. So, the writer found figurative language in lyrics to express the

emotion from singer to more interesting. To analysis, the writer uses literary

approach and literary devices such as allusion, and the figures of speech. Among

the figures of speech, the writer uses metaphor, simile, personification,

synecdoche, metonymy, symbol, paradox and irony, etc.

Related to the description above, the writer studies figurative language

used in selected lyrics of Westlife songs. Besides, the writer found some kinds of

figurative language used; He also studies about the meaning of figurative

language used in selected lyrics of Westlife songs

B. Formulation of the Research Problems

Related to the backgrounds of the study above, the formulation of the

problems are:

1. What are the figurative languages used in the Westlife’s selected song?

2. What are the general meanings of lyrics on the Westlife’s selected songs?

3. What are the messages in every Westlife’s selected song’s lyrics?

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C. Purpose of the Study

In the line with the research problems above the purpose of this study:

1. To find out the figurative language used in Westlife’s song.

2. To know the general meaning of lyrics on the Westlife’s selected songs.

3. To know the messages of lyrics on the Westlife’s selected songs.

D. Significance of the Study

1. Theoretically

This study is expected to enrich the study of English especially in

figurative language to help more understanding the meanings or messages in

lyric.

2. Practically

It is hoped that the research findings of the study will give benefit to:

a. Writer

The study is a very significant and useful. It will give some

valuable experiences and it can be used for the preparation of the writer as

a candidate of teacher.

b. Reader

This study makes every one more knows and understands about

figurative language, because when we study about language especially

song, we will find kinds of figurative language used in word to more

interesting and also many interpretations which give reader or listener

understand uses their word.

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E. Scope and Limitation of the Study

Based on the background of the problem stated above, the writer specifies

about Analysis of Figurative Language in Westlife songs lyric.

F. The definition of Key Term

For more understand about this study, it is provided several definition of

key term.

1. Analysis is examined or studies especially, by separating something into its

part.

2. Figurative language is a collection of poetic devise which provoke imagery,

or making of mental pictures, (http://www.answers.com/topic/AnswerTips).

3. Lyrics are a composed for singing (Oxford Dictionary 1995:703).

4. Westlife is an Irish pop band formed on 3 July 1998. The group's original

lineup comprised Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and

Brian McFadden who left in 2004. Currently, Filan and Feehily serve as the

band's lead vocalists. The band is the only act in UK history to have their first

seven singles go straight to Number 1, and they have gone on to sell over 45

million records worldwide which includes their studio, single, video, and

compilation albums. (http://www.westlifeindonesia.com/wi/profile/default.asp

accessed 27 June 2011).

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G. The Organization of the Study

Chapter 1

This chapter discusses the background of this study, formulation of the research

problems, purpose of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation, the

definition of key term, and organization of the study.

Chapter 2

This chapter discusses about the important background information to support the

study and the discussion of the findings. It is divided into three subtopics: (1)

Figurative language, (2) Meanings, (3) Message.

Chapter 3

This chapter discusses about research design, data and data source, research

instrument and data collection.

Chapter 4
This chapter discusses about Finding and discussion.
Chapter 5
This chapter contain about conclusion and suggestion