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Language Style - Meghan Trainor's Song Lyrics
Language Style - Meghan Trainor's Song Lyrics
A THESIS
BY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
MEDAN 2018
THESIS. THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD
Signed :
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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
SONG LYRICS
DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
First of all, I would like to thank Allah SWT, for His compassion and
blessing that given to me to finish this thesis. Shalawat and Salam to the Prophet
In this occasion, I also thank Dr. Budi Astono, M.S, the Dean of Faculty of
Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara, for all the opportunities and facilities
Thyrhaya Zein M.A, for his kindness, knowledge, patience, motivation and great
advices for me to write and finish this thesis and my Co-Supervisor Liza Amalia
Putri, SS, M.A. supervisor for his kindness, great advices and knowledge to help me
in writing this thesis and the head of Departement Dr. Deliana, M.Hum and the
Mama Hj. Dahlia Harahap for their prayers, and their endless love that they give for
me, and their material supports for my needs during my academic years and writing
this thesis.I also thanks to my lovelyBrother Dr. Abdul Nasser Hasibuan, SE,
M.Sisister Windari S.E, MA, brother Henri Hutagalung SH, sister Ida Maryam
Hasibuan SH, MH brother Sarwedi Hasibuan Am.Kom, ST, sister Asmidar Nasution
Am.keb,brother Ahmad Surya Saleh Hasibuan SH, brother Dr. Syaiful Asmi
Hasibuan SH, MH sister Siti Julianita siregar S.kom brother Rizki Rizali Rangkuti
Am.kep, sister Efa Rida Yanti Hasibuan, Str.Keb for their supports and endless love
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during my academic years and wherever I am, they always care about me and to all
my nephew and niece najwa alya putri, khaliza putri, alawi zuhairi, badria sartika,
faqih mansur, alief rajashal, azrina felisha, and zhian arkhana rizki to makes my
moodbooster.
Many thanks are addressed to my friends who are in the same pack with,
which we named CUCU (CandakU CandamU), They have always given me supports
and motivation and all helps they could for me to finish my thesis, specifically Roni
Andika who has always been there to cheer me up when I was not in the mood for
writing my thesis, Khairul Basri, Ahmat Tarmizi Rahim SS and Fadillah, S.S who
give me tutors on how to writes my thesis according to the rules of thesis writing
Oktavianita and Henri azis who have made me laugh and made jokes about stupid
things which made my head relaxed when I was tired with my activities of writing
beginning until now. Thank you so much for reminding me, supporting me, and
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ABSTRACT
This thesis focuses on the using of Language Style in Meghan Trainor‟s Song Lyrics.
It was taken from album written by Meghan Trainor‟s. The aims of this research are
to describe the type of language style and to describe the realized one. The writer
uses qualitative method, in which the data are sentences that contain of language
style in the lyrics. The data are analyzes applying the theory of stylistic. The result of
this study, the writer found 43 types of Rhetoric and figurative language which
consist of 3 alliteration, 5 litotes, 12 hyperbole, 2 euphemism, 4 anastrophe, 4
similes, 7 metaphor, 2 personification, 1 allegory, 2 eponymous, and 1 irony. In this
study the type of paradox was not found.
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ABSTRAK
Skripsi ini berfokus pada penggunaan gaya bahasa di dalam lirik lagu Meghan
Trainor. Yang diperoleh dari album Meghan Trainor. Tujuan dari penulisan skripsi
ini adalah untuk menjelaskan tipe gaya bahasa dan menjelaskan ungkapan di
dalamnya. Penulis menggunakan metode kualitatif dan data berupa kalimat yang
mengandung gaya bahasa di dalam lirik. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan teori
stilistika. Hasil dari analisis skripsi ini, penulis menemukan 43 tipe retorik dan
bahasa figuratif yang terdiri dari 3 aliterasi, 5 litotes, 12 hiperbola, 2 eupemisme, 2
anastrop, 4 simile, 7 metapora, 2 personifikasi, 1 alegori, 2 eponimus, dan 1 ironi. Di
dalam skripsi ini tidak ditemukan tipe paradox.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION...................................................................... i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................. iii
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................... v
ABSTRAK ...................................................................................................... vi
CHAPTER I:INTRODUCTION
2.2.1.2 Euphemism................................................................... 14
2.2.1.6 Paradox......................................................................... 16
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2.2.2.2 Metaphor ...................................................................... 18
2.2.2.5 Eponymous.................................................................. 19
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4.2.8 Personification ............................................................... 46
4.2.9 Irony............................................................................... 47
REFERENCES............................................................................................... 52
APPENDIX
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
It is known that in our daily life, language has an important role. Every
human being, society, or nation in this world has their own languages. In the other
words, we may say that no human being and no society live without language. We
need language to communicate with others in daily life, and the language itself is
concepts or feelings using sounds, signs, and symbols with meaning. According to
Sapir (1965: 78), language is purely human and not instinctive method of
vital factors that differentiate human from other creatures. As a human being,
people need language to express their emotions, ideas, feelings, and thoughts to
other people by using sounds, gestures, and signals that have pattern.
Stylistic is a way to express idea through language to show the soul, spirit,
and the personality of the writer. Keraf (2006: 116) explains that stylistic has four
parts : (1) Stylistic based on the choice of words: formal style, informal style,
convertational style; (2) Stylistic based on tones; simple style, powerful style,
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parallelism, antithesis, repetition; (4) Stylistic based on direct or indirect meaning;
one of four parts stylistics that are started by Keraf, that is stylistic based on direct
and indirect meaning which is including rhetoric style and figurative language
(Simpson: 1996). It means that style is a method which has structure used on text
such as poem, novel, and songs. Style refers to the way in which language is used
describe expression in spoken and written forms such as poem, novel and songs.
to make the hearer understand through the meaning of the language. Meaning is a
expression through a special language which shows the soul and the writer‟s
personality (language user). A good language style has three certain elements:
honesty, civility, and attraction. Honesty means that we go along with the good
rule to use language. Civility is giving appreciation for people who encourage in a
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conversation by using polite words. The last is attraction that contains variation,
the social events as living the impact of the reality. Literature comes from society,
which is described by the writer in their works. The writer can communicate
Waluyo (1987:83, 27) said that language style is often related with literature
especially poetry, besides, language style can give more meaning. Language style
From the definition above it can be concluded that style of language has a
very tight connection with literature. Song is a kind of literary work that uses
figurative language and commonly ambiguously words. Song is one of the ways
to express someone‟s feeling and experience. Song writers express their feelings
lyrics. Hornby (1995:1133) says that a song is a piece of music with words that is
sung. Song lyric is composed by a composer to express his feeling. The composer
also uses non-literal meaning to beautify his song lyric. Song lyric is one of
interesting works that give the enjoyment by reading or listening to it. It also tells
Song becomes a part of human life and stick on their mind because the song
is easy to find, and the lyrics can be an interesting way to express the feeling.
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Song can be found in television, radio or even by downloading from s
smartphone. It even can be easier to find in this modern era since internet
providing is highly increasing. Everyone now can hear songs while going to a
garden, market or coffee shop, etc. Song is made not only to entertain, but also to
especially inspire people with the music and the lyric. There are many expressions
that song writer make from their song, such as sad song, love song, inspired song
and many more that make people easily express the feeling. Sometimes, when
someone is sad and feeling down in their life, she or he will listen to the happy
song which can change their mood. Has beautiful in meghan trainor‟s song lyric,
Trainor‟s song lyrics.Gorys Keraf (2006) classified the language styles based on
direct and indirect meaning, they are rhetoric style and figurative language style.
Both classifications consist of several kinds language style where rhetoric consist
and irony. The following is some examples of language style based on direct and
Here there is a comparison between “I‟m” and “the bass”. Literally, the word
bass refers to a music instrument which means that it has no similarity with
human. But what the song writer means is that she looks like a bass in the
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term of size. She just wanted to say that she is fat just like a bass and everyone
knew it.
of using word like as an element of simile because the song writer compared
can‟t do working. Here the songwriter personifies the magazine as if they can
means that people who worked in the company of the magazine had faked
perfect.
(4) Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top
songwriter used sentence “Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the
top” that actually want to show that everyone is perfect just the way they are.
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Based on explanation above, the researcher analyzes the selected song lyrics
of Meghan Trainor. There are some types of figurative language that the
songwriter uses in every statement. However, Meghan Trainor surely has certain
aims that she wants the listeners to understand. In addition, the writer believes that
Meghan Trainor‟s song lyrics have different language style than other songs
lyrics.
Another reason that the writer chooses Meghan Trainor‟s work as the object
of this analysis is because of the popularity of her songs. Meghan Elizabeth born
who released three independent albums before signing a contract with Epic
Records. She also achieved a breakthrough in 2014 with the single "All About
That Bass" which reached top position on the US Billboard Hot 100.
doo wop which has been recognized with several awards and nominations,
including a nomination for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "All
About That Bass" at the 57th Grammy Awards. Based on the elaboration above,
the writer analyzed Meghan Trainor‟s song lyric by using the theory of language
Based on the background of the study above, the writer finds some problems
that appear in the study and it arises some questions, such as:
1. What types of language styles are used in the Meghan Trainor‟s song lyrics?
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2. What type of language style is dominantly used in Megan Trainor‟s song
lyrics?
2. To find out the dominant language style realized in Meghan Trainor‟s song
lyrics.
In this research the writer also expects that she could achieve some
of the specific data that has been selected and to avoid complications and analysis.
So due to those, the researcher makes a limitation of the research to get more
specific matter to discuss and in order to help the researcher to get the best results.
Due to those reasons, the researcher decided to choose some selected Meghan
Trainor‟s songs as the analytical object of the research. Those selected songs next
will be analyzed based on the language styles according to Gorys “Keraf Diksi
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dan Gaya Bahasa”. In this research, the researcher focuses and analyzes on five
selected song of Meghan Trainor‟s songs in different album they are (1) All About
That Bass, (2) Dear Future Husband (3) Better When I'm Dancin', (4) Me Too,
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CHAPTER II
This chapter is devoted to review the related literature of the research. These
study and discussion of the research. The literature review are consist of stylstica,
framework.
2.1 Stylistics
study and analysis which is usually linked to the study of the style of literary
of use”.
Leech (1981:22) “Stylistic comes from style and linguistic. So, stylistic is a
branch of linguistic that studies the style of language and describes the norms and
public affairs”.
to literary language, and tries to establish principles capable of accounting for the
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particular choices made by individuals and social groups in their use of language”
(1977/1988).
According to Leech (2007: 9) the word „style‟ refers to the way in which
language is used in a given context, by a given person, for a given purpose. Style
can be defined as the peculiarity, the set of specific features of a text type. It
means that style becomes an important element that distinguishes a literary text
from another. Since a poet has poetic license, style may always be defined as the
of usage in speech and writing., while stylistic in literary studies is usually made
for the purpose of commenting on quality and meaning in a text. In other word,
stylistic is the study of style used in literary and verbal language and the effect
that stylistic devices are represented by two categories; (1) figures of thought, and
(2) figures of speech. Both figures of thought and figures of speech are used in
speech with the same aim of intensifying the emotional or logical emphasis that
In other hand, stylistics has a tight relation with language style just like what
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2.2 An Overview of Language Style
Language style is the way a writer expresses his thought through the words
written in the pages. Nurgiyanto (2002:296) said that language style is a technique
expression through a special language which shows the soul and the writer
personality (language user). A good language style has three certain elements,
there are: honesty, civility, and attractive. Honesty it means that we go along with
the good rule to use language. Civility is giving appreciation for people who
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attractive. A style that attractive has to contain variation, humor, good
From the definitions above, it can be concluded that style of language is the
from many of viewpoints. Language style can be looked from language aspect and
language style based on word choices, note, sentence structure, and based on
In this study, the writer analyzed the language styles based on direct and
indirect meaning that are started by GorysKeraf. Those classifications are rhetoric
language style and figurative language style. Rhetoric style consists of alliteration,
as the window dressing for logic and more subtantive modes of invention.
“he‟s got style”-then we see a wider and more important role for style as major
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form a rhetoric. Today, theneed of global capitalism to sustain artificially high
must be persuaded to churn its clothing, decoration, grooming style and so forth
constantly to keep consumption up, and the most effective way to achieve that end
thenstyle becomes the major way in which we think about presenting ourselves to
others. Style become the way in which people say who they are, who they want to
beand who they feel opposed to. Rhetoric style consists of:
of letters. It is just about the easiest form of repetition a poet can use.
substituted for a harsh or blunt one. Euphemis is used to make some idea,
concept, or action, more appealing or as the case may be, less unappeling than
it would be if started directly. In the simple word it can be said the euphemism
c. Litotesis figure of speech that express thing by modest and graceful. This style
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f. Paradox is a language style that contains apparently contradiction with the
fact. Paradox is also all of the things that interesting because the fact.
2.2.1.1 Alliteration
of words that are in close proximity to each other. This repetition of ound brings
attention to the lines in which it is used, and creates more aural rhythim. In poems,
alliteration can also refer to repeated consonant sound in the stressed syllables of a
line. For example, in Shakespeare‟s sonet 30, we find the line “then can i grieve at
Alliteration has been used as a literary device in the English language for
many hundreds of years, prevalent in works of literature all the way back to
2.2.1.2 Euphemism
regularly, and there are many example in every language. The examples of
euphemism are: passed away instead of died, departed instead of died, ethinic
2.2.1.3 Litotesis
by negating ist apposite. This sounds like a strange definition, but a few examples
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will make the meaning clear. The classic example of litotes is the phrase “not
bad.” By negating the word “bad” you‟re saying that something i good, or at least
ok. However, in most context it‟s an understatement. For example: “not bad! Not
bad at all! The idea here is that someone is actually pretty excited about
something –that they think it‟s alot better than just “not bad.”
2.2.1.4 Hyperbole
exaggeration. For example: that suitcase weighed a ton! In this example, the
speaker claims that a suitcase weiged a ton-two thousand pounds! Of course, this
does not mean that the suitcase literally weighed a ton. The speaker is using
2.2.1.5 Anastrophe
saying, or idea. By invert, we meant that the words are written out of order. Poets
often use anastrophe in order to help maintain rhytim or a ryhme scheme. Though
the use of anastrophe is less common in prose, it is often used in order to create a
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2.2.1.6 Paradox
simultaniously and persist over time. Some paradoxes are known to be invalid
arguments but are still valuable in promoting critical thinking. For example,
consider a situation in which his father and his son are driving down down the
road. The car chrases into a tree and the father is killed.
meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. When a writer use literal
language, he or she simply stating the facts are they are. Figurative language, in
a. Simile means a comporison between two object using like, than, or as. The
word „‟ smile‟‟ and „‟ similar‟‟ come from the same latin word, similess,
which mean „‟ like‟‟ a smile diffrent from methaphor by keeping the three
items separate and asking the audience to find similar features intead of saying
is may occur in the single isolated comparison or large methapor may fuction
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as the controlling image of the whole work. Methapor is an analogy identyfing
one object with another and ascribing to the first object one more of the
thought in the speaker‟s mind, thus conveying a meaning that contradicts the
literal definition.
2.2.2.1 Simile
between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with
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We can find simile examples in our daily speech. We often hear comments
like, “john is as slow as a snail.” Nails are notorious for their slow pace, and here
the slowness of john is compared to that of a snail. The use of “as” in the example
to draw the resemblance.some more example of common similes are given below:
our soldiers are as brave as lions, her cheecks are red like a rose, he is as funnyas
a monkey, the water well was as dry as a bone and he is as cunning as a fox.
2.2.2.2 Metaphor
comparison between two things that are unrelated,but which share some common
the phrase, “my brother i the black sheep of the family”.is metaphor because he is
2.2.2.3 Personification
is given human atributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a waythat
we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. For example, when we say,
“the sky weeps,” we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human
quality. Thus we can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence.
Like, look at my car. She is a beauty, isn‟t she?, the wind whispered through dry
grass.
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2.2.2.4 Allegory
principle. The objective of its use is to teach some kind of moral lesson. For
example, “all animals are equal but a few are more equal than others”. The
animals on the farm different sections of Russian society after the revolution.
2.2.2.5 Eponymous
is the eponym of the Elizabeth era, and the “eponymous founder of the Ford
Motor company” refers to Henry Ford. Recent usage, especially in the recorded-
music industry, also allows eponymous to mean “named after its central character
or central”.
2.2.2.6 Irony
Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their
intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also
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For example, the name of Britain‟s biggest dog was “tiny”, you laugh at a person
who slipped stepping on a banana peel, and the next thing you know, you‟ve
words that is sung or music for the voice singing. It may be written for one or
Song can represent ideas about all sides of life which happen in human life,
such as happiness and sadness, love and hate, good and bad. Most of authors
make a song based on their ideas of reality, social life in their point of view, and
their experiences through their own imaginative and intense perception of their
own world. Author‟s purpose is to makes a good response from the listeners.
Song lyric is someone‟s feeling about something which they see, listen, or
their experience in their life. To express their experience, the song‟s writer makes
and messes up the word and the language to create cohesion of the lyrics. In this
case, the song lyric is categorized as a poem because poem not only include in
proverb, advertisement, politic slogan, and song lyrics. From the definitions of
lyric above, we can conclude that a lyric is designed to be sung by the human
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2.4 Theoretical Framework
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2.5 Related Studies
In order to support the analysis of this thesis, the researcher used some
previous researches and journals which are similar with this thesis.
were dominantly found while simile, metaphor, and synecdoche were not.
However, the theory used by this thesis gives contribution to the writer in doing
the analysis.
poems, “When I die”, “From My Bed”, “Just A Saying” and “I Am Young”. The
purpose of writing this paper is to find out the kind of style of language used in
the lyrics from four poems Catherine Cookson. The research method applied is
This relevant study is used by the writer as a reference which does give
Michael Jackson‟s Selected Song Lyrics”. She concluded that there are eleven
language style found in Michael Jackson‟s song lyrics. They are (a) simile, (b)
hyperbole, (c) repetition, (d) personification, (e) symbol, (f) apostrophe, (g)
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rhetoric, (h) asyndeton, (i) hysteron proteron, (j) euphemism, and (k) metaphor
thesis, Retno analyze the language style found in selected Michael Jackson‟s song
lyric. It is found in her thesis that there are eleven language styles in 15 Michael
Jackson‟s song lyrics. Even this thesis did not used the five language style
classification as the writer used, but this thesis does give contribution to the writer
for analyzing song lyric since both of studies have a similar research object.
The fifth is a thesis by Qurrotul „Ain (2013) which. In her research, she
found the figurative language in the song lyrics of Maher Zain they are,
thesis.
The last is a thesis by Atri F Silalahi which entitled In her thesis, she found
simile, three times of personification, twice of imagery and one of metaphor. The
results of the analysis also show that hyperbole is the most figurative type of
language that appears in Ariana Grande lyrics song. This thesis gives the
lyric.
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Another relevant study for this thesis is a journal compiled by Dania Diniari
KajianStilistika”. The focus of this study is about the language style and the
meaning behind eleven song lyrics on Muse‟s Black Holes and Revelations. The
purpose of this study is to show language style in the lyrics, and to illustrate the
correlation between the language style and the meaning in the lyrics. This journal
semantic theory, figures of speech, poem, lyric, and song to complete the
interpretation of the lyrics. This journal gives contribution to the writer that
language style has tight relation with literature. Besides, this journal also shows
that the analysis of language style in song lyrics is also including the theory of
semantics.
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CHAPTER III
METHOD OF RESEARCH
and finding the solution. This thesis deals with four main research items: the first
is research design, the second is data and data source, the third is technique of
writer also uses library research to select the books, journals, and other written
sources in the library to support the research. In completing the analyses, the
writer uses Qualitative Research as the method to reveal language styles unit. This
research used qualitative approach because this study focuses on the analysis or
newspapers, magazines, papers, articles, poem, song‟s lyric. The material of this
makes the description of the situation of event or occurrence, so that this method
only performs the mere basic data accumulation”. The writer uses design of
library research because the writer studies about text in Meghan Trainor's song
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lyrics. According to George (2008:1), library research is not a mystery or a lucky
dodge, but an investigation you control from start to finish, even though you
inquiry with specific tools, rules, and techniques. However library research is a
research uses library as a source of to get the data. Then, to analyze the language
style, the writer used Discourse Analysis to analyzed text and the writer tries to
find the meanings that are involved on Meghan Trainor‟s selected song lyrics.
3.2.1 Data
clauses and sentences. They are selected from the five selected songs :(1) All
About That Bass, (2) Dear Future Husband (3) Better When I'm Dancin', (4) Me
Too, and (5) No. These five songsare chosen by the writer since the songs are very
popular in the world, so due to these reasons, the writer is interested to analyze the
Trainordownloadedfrom www.azlyric.com.
Since the object of this research is song lyrics, the writer has decided to use
the technique of collecting data based on written document analysis. The steps
are:
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1. The writer downloaded the song lyrics for each selected songs to be analyzed
through internet.
2. The downloaded song lyrics were then printed into the script forms. Those 5
selected songs are (1) All About That Bass, Data (2) Dear Future Husband
Data (3) Better When I'm Dancin', Data (4) Me Too, and Data (5) No.
In analyzing the data of the study, miles and humberman‟s techniques were
used. Miles and Humberman (2014) elaborated some steps of analyzing data, they
1. Data condensation
transcription. In this research it is the process to select the song lyricsof Meghan
Trainor‟s selected songs which apply the language style discussed, to focus on the
song lyrics showing language style, to simplify the song lyrics by making them
the research problems and transform in order to help displaying data easier.
2. Data display
data by showing the visual data in form of chart, graphic, diagram or matrix
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that allows conclusion drawing. In data display, the data were organized to
answer research problems. Therefore, by doing this step, the types of language
styles as well as the realization and the circumstances that applied in Meghan
problems‟ answers was made in the form of narration. The description made
In data display, the writer gives the code for each data which are going
to be analyzed. The code is given to each song title and line of the song lyrics.
The five song titles are given code A, B, C, D, or E, while the lines in each
songs are given code the number which started from number one. For
example, the code of A17 refers to the song A and line 17. (See Appendix)
3. Drawing conclusion
Conclusion drawing was done though deciding the meaning of data after
reading the data display in research. The conclusionsof this research consisted
of types of language styles and how they are found. The systematic procedures
The writer identified each line of the lyrics for each 5 selected songs to
The data are selected and classified into the five language styles.
Analyze each lyrics based on 5 complements, they are: frozen style, formal
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d. Drawing some conclusions and suggestions
In the final step, the writer was drawing some conclusion about the data
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CHAPTERIV
compressing and assembling the data by showing the visual data in form of chart,
graphic, diagram or matrix that allows conclusion drawing. Bellows are the tables
In this chapter, the writer presents the result of the study through some
steps, as mentioned in data analysis that involves the language style of the
Meghan Trainor‟s selected song lyrics and the meaning of language style used in
song lyrics by Meghan Trainor‟s. The writers analyzed according the data.
In the data, the writer will give the code to each of the cases which refers
to the index in appendix. Each of the five selected song will be signed by the letter
A to E which is in the appendix. While, every line of the lyric in each of the songs
The example is, like the lyric of “That‟s gold, show me some respect”
which is included in alliteration case, it has been signed by the code of A4which
means that the lyric is listed in the song A and in the line number 4 which can be
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Table 4.1.1: Data Display of Song A (Me too)
Language Styles
No Code Data Rhetoric Figurative
language
style
style
That's gold, show me some
1 A4 Alliteration
respect
2 A13 I walk in like a dime piece Simile
Methapora /
3 A17 My life's a movie. Tom Cruise
Eponymous
4 A20 They can't do it like I do Paradoks
5 A24 And I don't need nobody else Hyperbola
6 A25 If I was you, I'd wanna be me, too Litotes
Language Styles
No Code Data Rhetoric Figurative
language
style
style
Because you know I'm all about Methapora
1 B1
that bass
2 B2 'Bout that bass, no treble Alliteration
Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no
3 B9 Litotes
size two
But I can shake it, shake it, like
4 B10 Alliteration
I'm supposed to do
And all the right junk in all the Allegory
5 B12
right places
I see the magazine workin' that Personification
6 B13
Photoshop
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Yeah, my mama she told me
7 B17 Euphemism
"don't worry about your size"
She says, "Boys like a little more Allegory
8 B19
booty to hold at night"
You know I won't be no stick Methapora
9 B21
figure silicone Barbie doll
No, I'm just playing, I know you
10 B34 Euphemism
think you're fat
Every inch of you is perfect from
11 B36 Hyperbola
the bottom to the top
Hey! Yeah yeah... ohh... You Simile
12 B71
know you like this bass... Hey...
Language Styles
Rhetoric Figurative
No Code Data
language
style
style
1 C1 Dear future husband Euphemism
2 C2 Here's a few things Litotes
3 C4 My one and only all my life Hyperbola
4 C9 I'll be the perfect wife Hyperbola
5 C10 Buying groceries Hyperbola
6 C15 I never learned to cook Litotes
7 C16 But I can write a hook Hyperbola
You gotta know how to treat me Simile
8 C19
like a lady
9 C20 Even when I'm acting crazy Hyperbola
C20, Even when I am acting crazy tell
10 Paradoks
C21 me everything is alright
11 C27 Tell me I'm beautiful each and Hyperbola
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every night
12 C31 Even if I was wrong Litotes
And know we‟ll never see your Methapora
13 C45
family more than mine
14 C48 Don't have a dirty mind Euphemism
Language Styles
Rhetoric Figurative
No Code Data
language
style
style
I think it's so cute and I think it's Irony
1 D1
so sweet
2 D5 My name is "No" Methapora
3 D6 My sign is "No" Methapora
4 D7 My number is "No" Methapora
5 D23 Telling me I'm not like other girls Simile
Language Styles
No Code Data Rhetoric Figurative
language
style
style
1 E6 Go ahead, get crazy Hyperbola
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4.2 Data Analysis
It has been decided by the writer of this thesis that for making this thesis
authentic, this section the data in a from Meghan Trainor songlyricsare going to
seek truth by dialogue as a technique. Because the truth dialogue can arise by
relationship is the conviction of the hearer of the truth of the idea of what the
speaker is talking about. This means that the purpose of rhetoric is to foster
4.2.1.1 Alliteration
combination of letters. It is just about the easiest form of repetition a poet can use.
The lyricsThat’s gold, show me some respect from song title Me Toois
“That’s gold, show me some respect” contains the repetition of consonant sounds
of S.
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(2) But I can shake it, shake it like I am supposed to do (B10)
This lyricsBut I can shake it, shake it like I am supposed to dofrom song
title All About That Bass also contains the repetition of consonant sounds of S as
in the word of shake which repeat twice and the word supposed.
This lyricsBout that bass, no trebledofrom song title All About That
4.2.1.2 Litotes
Litotes is figure of speech that express thing by modest and graceful. This
style is used to shrink the reality for the purpose of humbling. The following is the
example of litotes.
This lyricsyeah, its pretty clear, I ain’t no size twodoes related with what the
song talked about. This lyric is in her song entitled “All about that bass” in which
the song writer expressed about her feeling for her size of body. This song is
specially refers to girls who lost their confident because of fat body. The lyrics of
“I ain’t no size two” is a kind of the way she expressed that she realizes she‟s fat
but it actually did not bother her at all. and is referred to fat by Meghan is well
built is the body desired by the women and coveted by each partner, and indirectly
Meghan express it and suport the listener especially woman fat with big butt.
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(2) Here’s a few things (C23)
The lyrics of Here’s a few things you’ll need to know if you wannabe song
entitled Dear future husband in this song is including of litotes. However, this
lyric means that there are the things that man probably should understand about
the woman. But the word a few things never means that they‟re really a few or a
little. The word a few things is used just to give a simple impression because the
in the reality, there are many things that a man must understand about woman.
This lyrics I never learning to cook song entitled Dear future husband is
just used in order just to give a humble impression. She said that she never learn
to cook does not always mean that she rally never. The lyric just perhaps means
that she is not good in cooking as good as best chef who can serve delicious food.
and with humility in accordance with the litotes language style which means
humble in this sentence I never learn to cook, Meghan revealed that he never
cooks, because every woman must be able to cook even though not like the
The lyric even if was wrong song entitled Dear future husband is including
of “even if I was wrong” is kind of realization that nobody is perfect even the
best human can possibly do wrong. So the humbling statement in this lyric might
signed that this is a kind of litotes language style.and in accordance with the
notion of rhetoric style of questioning about how to speak that has appeal and
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charm, so that people who listen to it can understand and aroused feelings in
accordance with that contained in the style of Litotes language that shows
humility and in this sentence also provides motivation for listener, with words that
This lyrics If I was you, I’d wanna be me, too song entitled Dear future
husband In a context called litotes because the authors compare your '' you '' and
'' me '' where in you words it shows a very great person that I want to be like him
by expressing his desire to mean it with pride that he is a great person indirectly or
4.2.1.3 Hyperbola
This lyrics I don’t need nobody else song lilted Me Too this statement might
been classified in hyperbola language style since this lyric is overstate. Human is
a social creature which lives in a society and always need other‟s help. So due to
those, the statement which declare that “I don’t need nobody else” does not mean
as literally as it is. This statement might be used by the song writer to express that
she could be an independent girl and show them that she is strong enough.
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(2) Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top (B36)
This lyrics Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top song
the lyric piece shows exaggerated statement or something sound many or more.
We can see the songwriter used sentence “Every inch of you is perfect from the
bottom to the top”that actually want to show that everyone is perfect just the way
they are. Because it‟s impossible to know the perfectness of some by measuring
The lyrics Show the world you’ve got that firesong entitled Better When I
Am Dancing is including hyperbola since showing the thing to the world does
not mean we show that thing to the entire world. It is just an expression which
means that we are able to do thing which people assume we cannot do. It is a kind
of expression that we should prove ourselves to those who have doubt with us.
ThislyricsMy one and only all my lifesong entitled Dear Future Husband
refers to the meaning that a man who loves a woman will always be with him
the phrase "the only on 'and' 'in my life'’ 'in accordance with the Hyperbola
language style that the man will not cheat his girl with another girl forever.
However, these lyrics contain expression hyperbole because the lyrics just meant
that the man will always be with him all his life.That does not mean that the man
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(5) Buying groceries (C10)
This lyrics Buying groceries song entitled Dear Future Husband No doubt,
this is a kind of Hyperbolaexpression. This lyric refers to couple who love each
other and they can buy anything they want in groceries. So, the sentence of
“buying groceries” does not meant that they are buying the groceries, but they are
Husband actually means a man must understand her anytime even in bad
condition though. It does not really mean literally that the girl goes mad, the crazy
thing here is because in this condenses the woman who has to be understood with
This lyrics I’II be the perfect wifesong entitled Dear Future HusbandThis
these lyrics is that the girl is always trying to be best wife she can and she is going
to do anything to give her best as a wife. However, a perfect human does never
This lyrics but i can write a hook song entitled Dear Future
Husbandactually still contains ambiguity meaning because it does not clear about
what write a hook means. Generally, the world “hooks “does not have any
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relation semantic with the verb of “write”. But however, this lyric has any relation
with the previous line that said “I never learn to cook”, with means that the girl
want to tell that even she never learn to cook, but she still write a hook. The song
writer just wants to show a contrary statement just to give a defense for she never
learns to cook. However, his defense by using the statement “But I can write a
This lyrics Tell me I am beautiful each and every nightsong entitled Dear
Future Husband contains a Hyperbola expression since she hoped that the man
would admit that her girl is beautiful each and every night. Regardless of people
have many arguments about what the characteristics of beautiful are, but to tell a
girl that she is beautiful each and every night is kind of over statement. True love
reality no one is perfect. A girl will never always beautiful each and every night, it
is just the man who love her unconditionally will always see that girl is beautiful
every day.
The lyrics Go ahead, get crazy song entitle Better When I Am Dancingare a
kind of Hyperbola. Because the statement of get crazy doesn‟t mean becoming a
crazy person. It means like an invitation or persuasion to do the happy thing. The
song in which this lyric contains, tells about how it is happy to dance. So that, the
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(11) And you slay that solo (E19)
This lyrics and you slay that solo song entitle Better When I Am
DancingThe world slay refers to an act of killing. But in this lyric, the world slay
is linked with the world of solo which means loneliness. So the lyric may have a
meaning of how a person solving her loneliness. However, the statement of “slay
Dancingis in the context of dancing. It does not mean someone is dropping the
hips away but it just about how they do dance by moving their hips. So this line
4.2.1.4 Paradox
fact. Paradox is also all of the things that interesting because the fact therein.
language style since it contains two contrary worlds for some purpose. “They
can’t do”and“I do” is the two contrary words which mean that “they” are not
“everything is alright”. Song entitled Dear future husband Those two words
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have a contradictive meaning because the statement of “crazy” does mean that
everything is alright.
4.2.1.5 Euphemism
substituted for a harsh or blunt one. Euphemism is used to make some idea,
concept, or action, more appealing or as the case may be, less unappealing than it
would be if started directly. In the simple word it can be said the euphemism is
This lyrics don’t worry about your size song entitle All Abote that
bassThis is a kind of Euphemism because she used a polite way to state about fat
which in this lyric she used the word size. However, this lyric means that a girl
should not worry that they will not be a beautiful girl if they are fat.
This lyrics i know you thnk you’re fat song entitle All Abote that
ugliness which is mostly perceived by the girl. But in this lyric, it is not said that
“I know you think you’re ugly” instead “I know you think you’re fat”.
This lyrics dear future husband song entitled dear futuure husbandactually
has a broad meaning which needs an extra explanation. However, the statement of
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“dear future husband” is a very polite way to address the man who would
become the husband one day. This politeness in mentioning dear future husband
This lyrics dont have a dirty mind song entitled dear futuure husbandIt is a
kind of polite saying to not have a dirty mind. Even this statement is actually
seemed usual or common, but it is actually polite enough since many people now
which in Indonesian is better known as the term majas, is a form of deviation from
4.2.2.1 Simile
Simile means a comparison between two object using like, than, or as. The
word „‟ smile‟‟ and „‟ similar‟‟ come from the same Latin word, similes, which
mean „‟ like‟‟ a smile different from metaphor by keeping the three items separate
and asking the audience to find similar features instead of saying they are the
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(1) I walk in like a dime piece (A13)
This lyricsI walk in like a dime piece song entitled Me TooThat piece of
like as an element of simile because the song writer compared herself with the
(2) Hey yeah yeahohh you know you like this bass hey (B71)
This lyrics hey yeah ohh you know you like this bass hey song entitled All
About that bass is a kind of Simile case for there are two things compared
directly using the conjunction of like. The two things compared are the word
“you” and “this bass”. This comparison means a size of body which is likened to
the bass.
This lyrics you gotta how to treat me like a lady song entitled dear future
husband sentence compares the writer with another woman, since writer does not
want to be equated with other women he wants to distinguish and women want to
be cool like a queen who always in accordance with his will.Theauthor uses '' You
gotta know how to treat me '' with '' a lady '' using the word '' like '' as the parable
Just as the previous context in this lyrics shows that '' I'm not like other girls'
which means that in this context the girls do not want to be equated with other
woman, that‟s song entitled No. This thing called smile because using word' 'like'
'' as comparison
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4.2.2.2 Metaphor
comparison or large metaphor may function as the controlling image of the whole
work. Metaphor is an analogy identifying one object with another and ascribing to
This lyrics My life’s a movie, tom cruise song entitled Me TooThe sentence
above is Metaphorsince the song writer wanted to compare between life and
movie, where life is drama like in movie. The lyric might have a meaning that
her life is full of drama where many people pretended to be nice in face to face.
Life that is compared with a movie might also mean that her life was full of
(2) Because you know I’m all about the bass (B1)
This lyricsbecause you know I’m all the bass song entitled All About that
bass Based on the piece of lyric above shows figurative language of Metaphor.
Here there is a comparison between “I’m” and “the bass”. Literally, the word bass
refers to a music instrument which means that it has no similarity with human.
But what the song writer means is that she looks like a bass in the term of size.
She just wanted to say that she is fat just like a bass and everyone knew it.
(3) You know I won’t be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll (B21)
This lyricsyou know I want be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll song
entitled All About that bass is a kind of Metaphor case since it talks about the
similarity between the word “I” and a “figure silicone Barbie doll”. The song
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writer just wanted to say that however she does not look like a Barbie doll which
is well known as a reflection of beautiful girl whether from the body size, etc..
(4) And know we’ll never see your family more than mine (C48)
This lyrics and know we’ii never see your family more that mine song
lyric, they are the family of “yours” and the family of “mine”. However, it‟s
rather difficult to determine the exact meaning about this lyric and what the
purpose of the song writer to make the comparison is. The comparison is
which uses the word "like" in the sentence as a simile. As we know in the lyrics of
this song, about the arrogant comparison where Meghan has only one response
„‟NO „‟ Well but of course the woman has a reason, He already knows that "all"
uses the word "like" in the sentence as a simile. As we know in the lyrics of this
song, about the arrogant comparison where Meghan has only one response „’NO
„‟ Well but of course the woman has a reason, He already knows that "all" the
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(7) My number is no (D7)
which uses the word "like" in the sentence as a simile. As we know in the lyrics of
this song, about the arrogant comparison where Meghan has only one response
„’NO „‟ Well but of course the woman has a reason, He already knows that "all"
4.2.2.3 Personification
only to humans onto inanimate objects, animals, deities, or forces of nature. These
characteristics can include verbs of actions that only humans do or adjectives that
This lyrics I see the magazine workin’ that photoshopsong entitled all about
that bass The magazine is not a living creature and it can do nothing. But the
lyrics of “Magazine” and “Working” just said that the magazine is doing a
This lyrics I show the roo what you can do song entitled better I am when
animated thing which means cannot do as living creatures does. But in this lyric it
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is likened as if the room is able to observe, to see, to understand just like a living
creature can do. The statement “show the room what you can do” is giving
4.2.2.4 Irony
thought in the speaker‟s mind, thus conveying a meaning that contradicts the
literal definition. The following is some examples of irony which was made to
This lyricsI think it’s so cute and think it’s so sweet song entitled NoThis
kind of Irony expression since this line is seemed like a praise. But since this lyric
has a linked with the next line, it is found that actually this is not fully praise. This
lyric is actually has a meaning about how a man is trying to get a girl with the way
how the man let the friends of the girl encourage him to try and talk to her.
4.2.2.5 Allegory
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(1) And all the right junk in all the right places (B12)
This lyrics and all the junk in all the right place song entitled All Aboute
that bass figuratively has a meaning that is not said literally in it. In the statement
of “all the right junk in all the right places” in this lyric, the world junk may
refer to people who always.The rubbish of the world may refer to people who
always make troublemakers without the implications of the consequences that will
come, and in this lyrical sentence that shows the comparison of all the right junk
This lyrics boys like little more booty to hold at nightentitledAll Aboute
that bass is a kind Allegory figurative language. The lyric of “Boys like a little
more booty to hold at night” contains a figurative meaning in which the song
writer figuratively said that the boys like the girls with big buttocks. The meaning
of these lyrics refers to fat girls who do not have a confident for their size of body
that however the boys still interest for such kind of girls since they have big
4.2.2.6 Eponymous
thing caused by the role of the public figure in object that named.
This lyrics my life is a movie, tom cruise song entitled me too Tom Cruise is
one of famous actor which has played in many movies. In this lyric, the song
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writer is comparing his life with a movie and is added with Tom Cruise as an
icon actor in movie. So that, this lyric may include an Eponymouslanguage style.
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CHAPTER V
5.1 Conclusions.
After analyzing the language style in five selected songs of Meghan Trainor,
1. The types of language style used in Meghan Trainor‟s song lyrics are 43
types, Rhetoric style consists of 3 alliteration, 5 litotes, 12 hyperbola, 2
euphemism, 4 anastrophe, and the figurative languages consists of 4
simile, 7 metaphor, 2 personification, 1 allegory, 2 eponymous, and 1
irony, while the type of paradox is not found.
2. The two types of figurative language style Hyperboles and metaphors are
dominant. Those types of language styles lyrics form counterfactual
expression this style is the main device in conveying the message through
the lyrics which give special effect to beautify and intensity further
meaning to related particular message in lyric.
5.2 Suggestions
In this part the writer suggests that research about figurative expression can
use different theories with the same data and all types of language style in
Meghan Trainor‟s song lyrics can be discussed totally. Researchers can also
conduct research on different data with different theories so that readers know the
difference of the roles of language style in a literary work such as song lyrics, to
the language style used in other aspects. So the readers can understand about the
language style, the types, the function and the roles in a literary work well.
Furthermore the readers will no longer have difficulty to interpret the meaning of
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The writer also would like to suggest analyzing language style in songs
because the writer thinks that language style is an interesting subject to study and
analyzing as well. In language style the words have other meanings from the
literal one. That is why the writer thinks it is very important especially for the
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REFERENCES
Eliot, G. and Steinbeck, J. 1953. Noble‟s Comparative Classics: Silas Marner and
The Pearl. United State of America: Noble and Noble.
53
Wren, P.C. and H. Martin. 1981. High School English Grammar and
Composisition. (Revised Edition). New Dehli: S. Chand & Company Ltd.
54
Data B
Song Title: All About That Bass
(14) We know that shit ain't real, come on now, make it stop
(15) If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up
(16) 'Cause every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top
(17) Yeah, my mama she told me "don't worry about your size"
(18) (Shoo wop wop, sha-ooh wop wop)
(19) She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night"
(20) (That booty, uh, that booty booty)
(21) You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll
(22) (Shoo wop wop, sha-ooh wop wop)
(23) So if that's what you're into, then go 'head and move along
(37) Yeah my mama she told me, "don't worry about your size"
(38) (Shoo wop wop, sha-ooh wop wop)
(39) She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night"
(40) (That booty booty, uh, that booty booty)
(41) You know I won't be no stick figure, silicone Barbie doll
(42) So if that's what you're into, then go 'head and move along
Data C
Song Title: Dear Future Husband
Data E
Song Title: Better When I am Dancing
(26) Show the world you've got that fire (fire, baby)
(27) Feel the rhythm getting louder
(28) Show the room what you can do
(29) Prove to them you got the moves
(30) I don't know about you,