FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE USED IN THE ARCTIC

MONKEYS’S SONGS

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Presented to Universitas Bina Darma

in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra (S.S)

By :

EEN LAILA SARI

201610008

ENGLISH LITERATURE STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF SOCIAL HUMANITIES

UNIVERSITAS BINA DARMA

2024
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the study’s background, why the researcher chose this topic,

the problem formulation, the objective, the significance, and the study's limitations.

1.1 Background of Study

Language is how humans communicate and is much more than spoken or

written words. According to Fromkin (2011, p. 285), language is the source of

human life and power. When you know a language, you can speak and be

understood by others who know that language. This means you can produce sounds

that signify certain meanings and understand or interpret the sounds produced by

others. But language is more than speech. Language is an inseparable part of

human society. Human civilization will only occur through language. Nowadays,

people find much figurative language in everyday life, for example, in song lyrics.

Therefore, in this modern era, people communicate in various ways, including

speaking through literary works such as novels, poetry, drama, and song lyrics,

where generally the message or true meaning of the words is implied using

figurative language.

Figurative language is a word or phrase with a hidden meaning. Figurative

language refers to words or sentences in a way that deviates from their actual

meaning to explain or convey a more complicated meaning. This figurative

language usually uses a comparative language style to convey the meaning well.

Figurative language can also be used to refer to certain meanings without having to

state them directly. For example, when a writer wants to write a literary work, he

will need figurative words in his work to convey through figurative language,

likewise in song lyrics, where the author writes a specific purpose to convey the

hidden meaning of the song.

There are a lot of figurative languages found in song lyrics, especially in Arctic

Monkeys songs.

Arctic Monkeys is an English rock band formed in 2002 in High Green, a

suburb of Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals,

rhythm/lead guitar), Matt Helders (drums, vocals), Jamie Cook (lead/rhythm

guitar), and Nick O'Malley (bass, backing vocals). Former band member Andy

Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) left the band in 2006 shortly after their

debut album was released. Their sound has changed extensively from album to

album, gradually evolving from raw, youthful post-punk revival music to R ‘n’ B

and jazz-inspired experiments.

All four original members of the band were devoted fans of hip-hop when they

were younger, a genre that would have an immense influence on their later work,

but the sound of The Strokes and The Libertines would help shape their early style.

The Arctic Monkeys became one of the first bands to find fame and recognition

purely through internet publicity and social media; the Arctic used to sell their

demo CDs at a bar where Alex Turner used to work, but due to the limited number

of CDs, their fans started to upload them on the internet.

Initially, they refused to sign a record contract with any label for fear that they

would want the band to change their songs, going as far as to refuse scouts

guaranteed entry into their gigs. However, they eventually signed with Domino

because of the “do it yourself” attitude of founder, Lawrence Bell, who ran the

label from his own house.

The group released their scrappy, spirited debut Whatever People Say I Am,

That’s What I’m Not in 2006, an album that spawned their first UK No. 1 singles,
“I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down”. They

followed it up with Favorite Worst Nightmare in 2007, which took on a more

mature lyrical direction, with tighter, more accessible hooks and melodies and

more polished production. Their most accessible album to date is AM, which

contains some of their catchiest and most notable singles, including the indie hit

“Do I Wanna Know?”

Arctic Monkeys subsequently took a five-year break from releasing albums,

before returning with their polarizing sixth studio album Tranquility Base Hotel

and Casino in 2018. In August 2022, two weeks into their European tour, Arctic

Monkeys announced their highly anticipated seventh studio album, The Car, which

was released on October 21st, 2022.

In this research, the researcher chose this topic because some still don’t

understand it. If in each song there is a deep meaning in some of the song’s lyrics,

which if understood, the message behind the song will be felt more by the listener,

and the researcher also realizes when the researcher listens to the song, there is

much figurative language that can be found in the lyrics. We can also find

figurative language in something we read, such as a book or newspaper. The

researcher chose the album AM 2013 by Arctic Monkeys because in the album

several songs are hits with Gen Z and are also often heard by researchers. So Arctic

Monkeys songs are the right choice to be used as research objects, and the author

can better understand the message behind the lyrics of Arctic Monkeys songs and

better understand figurative language when doing research. This is true for all

music lovers and fans of Arctic Monkeys. That’s why the researcher chose to

research the figurative language used in the lyrics of

Arctic Monkeys’s songs. This research focuses on discussing the figurative language

used in the lyrics of Arctic Monkeys’s songs.

1.2 Problem of the Study

Based on the background of the research above, the problem formulation in the

following question is:

a. What are the types of figurative language used in the Arctic Monkeys songs?

b. What is the meaning of the figurative language used in the Arctic Monkeys

songs?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Based on the problems, the objectives of this study were:

a. To identify the types of figurative language used in Arctic Monkeys' song

lyrics.

b. To analyze the meaning of the figurative language used in the Arctic

Monkeys song lyrics.

1.4 Significances of the Study

This research can be seen in its theoretical and practical significance:

a. Theoretically, this research can contribute to the development of

linguistics, especially in the study of semantics and more specifically in the

figurative language found in Arctic Monkeys songs.

b. Practically, this research can help readers understand the types and

meanings of figurative language in the lyrics of Arctic Monkeys songs.

Besides that, it can motivate them to research the lyrics of the song,

especially on its form and meaning.

1.5. Limitation of the Study

This study is only limited to analysis to find some figurative language in

album AM from Arctic Monkeys songs and interpret their meaning. This means

this research will only focus on the words and meanings in Arctic Monkeys songs.
 CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter will discuss figurative language, types of figurative language, and

previous related studies.

2.1 Figurative Language

Figurative language refers to words, phrases, and sentences that go beyond

their literal meaning to add layers of interpretation to the audience's understanding.

Figurative language refers to words or sentences in a way that explains or conveys

a more complex meaning by departing from their literal meaning. To effectively

communicate the message, this figurative language typically employs a

comparison language style. It is also possible to allude to certain meanings using

figurative language without explicitly stating them. According to Keraf (2010),

figurative language is a further deviation, especially in the field of meaning. This

language style was originally formed based on comparisons or similarities.

Meanwhile, according to Sayuti (2010), figurative language is a type of expression

with a different meaning than its literal meaning, which can be in words, phrases,

or broader syntactic units.

2.2 Types of Figurative Language

According to Hamilton (2023), there are:

2.2.1 Simile: A simile directly compares two unconnected objects. Simile

use connecting words such as “like” or “as” comparable would be to

remark “O My love is like a red rose.” (Robert Burns, “A Red, Red

Rose,” 1794). Burns makes a comparison of his love to a blooming

rose to make us think about what the two have in common fresh,

colorful, and full of life. His love (which can mean the emotion itself
 or the person he loves) is not a reminder, the simile is an imaginative

comparison.

2.2.2 Metaphor: A metaphor refers to something as something else to make

us see the similarities between them. For example: “My sister is a sly

fox”. This is an example of a metaphor because one thing (“My

sister”) is being referred to as another thing (“a sly fox”). We can

assume that the speaker is not related to the fox, therefore this

statement is figurative.

2.2.3 Personification is the process of describing non-human entities as

having human characteristics. An example of this is the statement,

“Fallen leaves dance.” This description of leaves falling and blowing

in the wind is an example of personification because of the term

“dancing.” The leaves cannot dance, this line describes them as

having non-human entities capable of dancing to create a clearer

image.

2.2.4 An idiom is an established phrase or expression that has a figurative

meaning. “To pull someone’s leg.” If someone says, “Are you

pulling my leg?” you will likely understand it as, “Are you kidding

me?” like all idioms, this phrase will only make sense if you know its

figurative meaning it will not make sense if you take it literally.

2.2.5 Metonymy refers to something with the name of something closely

related to it. “What’s your favorite dish?” most people would

understand this as, “What is your favorite thing to eat?” and not a

question about what kind of kitchen equipment they prefer. The word

“dish’ is a metonym for “food,” because it is something closely

related
 to it, and it could replace that word in a sentence and still have the

same meaning.

2.2.6 Synecdoche refers to a thing by the name of something that is part of

it, or that it is part of. “The waves from the west are scorching”

(Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 1798).

In this example, the word “wave” refers to the sea or ocean. This is

an example of synecdoche because Coleridge mentions a passage

“The waves” to refer to the whole sea or ocean.

2.2.7 Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration to make a point, usually for the

rhetorical effect. “I’ve been eating a lot of pasta” Here, the speaker

makes an exaggerated statement to emphasize their point, there is no

way they have eaten a literal to of pasta the point is that they have

eaten a lot of pasta.

2.2.8 Irony There are several different types of irony, but all in all, there is

a stark contrast between expectations and reality both for the

characters, and for the reader). “It is a truth universally

acknowledged that a single man who has good fortune will certainly

want a wife.” (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813). This is one

of the most famous examples of irony in English Literature, which

makes a statement that is not meant to be taken literally. The contrast

between what it says and what we know to be true is what makes it

ironic.

2.2.9 An Oxymoron is an expression or phrase that contradicts itself by

combining words with opposing meanings. “O heavy light, serious

vanity,” “Deformed chaos of fine-looking forms!” “Lead feathers,

bright smoke, cold fire, sick health.” (William Shakespeare, The

 Tragedy of Romeo, and Juliet, 1591-1596). Romeo expresses how

mixed his emotions are through this series of oxymorons Romeo and

Juliet.

2.3 Previous Related Studies

Some previous related studies on figurative language had been carried out
previously:

First, “An Analysis of Figurative Language in Taylor Swift’s Song Lyrics”

written by Maryani, 2018. This research uses the theory of Kennedy (1983, p.

481). The figurative language found consists of simile, metaphor, hyperbole,

paradox, irony, and personification.

Second, “An Analysis of Figurative Language on the Lyric of Coldplay’s

Selected Songs” written by Hamdani, 2021. The researchers use the theory of

figurative language based on Knickerbocker and Reninger's theory (1963) based on

their book entitled Interpreting Literature. In this research, there are four types of

figurative language found in five Coldplay songs in their lyrics, such as metaphor,

synecdoche, hyperbole, and symbol.

Third, “Uncover the Meaning of Figurative Language in BTS Selected Song

Lyrics” written by Santika, 2021. This research uses the theory of Keraf (2006) and

Kennedy (1983) to identify the types of figurative language and the theory of

meaning by Leech (1981) to uncover the meaning of figurative language. This

research shows that there is various figurative language used in BTS song lyrics

such as metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, symbol, and synecdoche.

 Fourth, “Analysis of Figurative Language in Easy On Me Song Lyrics” written

by Swarniti, 2022. This research uses the theory from Miller and Greenberg (1981)

about figurative language. Each piece of data was analyzed based on the theory of

figurative language. Based on the result of this research, in Comparative Figurative

Language, just found data in personification (4 data). In Contradictive Figurative

Language: hyperbole (3 data), litotes (2 data), and paradox (1 data). Correlative

Figurative Language was found in this data source, namely: allusion (1 data),

ellipsis (2 data), metonymy (2 data), and symbol (8 data). The most data found in

the data source was a symbol. This song's lyrics had many figurative languages. It

means this song lyric tried to use figurative language to express a feeling or idea.

imaginatively. In other words, this song lyric tried to create a special image and

bring out one's emotions.

Based on the research above, the researcher sees that there are differences and

similarities between previous studies. The differences exist in the objects and

theories used, while the similarity is researching figurative language in the song's

lyrics. First, Maryani (2018) took data on Taylor Swift’s song lyrics based on

Kennedy’s theory (1983). Second, Hamdani (2021) took data on Coldplay song

lyrics based on the theory of Knickerbocker and Renninger (1963). Third, Santika

(2021) took data on BTS song lyrics, using the theories of Keraf (2006) and

Kennedy (1983). The last one, Swarniti (2022) took data on the lyrics of the song

“Easy On Me” by Adele and based it on the theory of Miller and Greenberg

(1981). Meanwhile, the researcher uses objects and theories that are different from

the four studies above, so according to the researcher, this research still needs to be

carried out.
 CHAPTER III
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
This chapter presents the research method, the research object, the technique for

collecting the data, and the technique for analyzing the data.

3.1 Methodology of the Research

In this research, the researcher will use a descriptive qualitative method.

According to Suryana (2010, p. 16). The descriptive method is a method used to

search for elements, characteristics, and properties of a phenomenon. The

descriptive method is implemented by collecting data, analyzing the data, and

interpreting it.

At this stage, the researcher will listen to twelve songs from the album AM

2013 by Arctic Monkeys and read each lyric to understand what the song is about.

The researcher then will read e-books and other sources about figurative language

that can support research, such as journals, theses, and articles from the internet, to

find out the meaning of figurative language.

3.2 Object of the Study

The object of this study are Arctic Monkeys' songs found in the album AM

2013, the album has twelve songs such as Do I Wanna Know?, R U Mine?, One

For The Road, Arabella, I Want It All, No. 1 Party Anthem, Mad Sounds, Fireside,

Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, Snap Out Of It, Knee Socks, and I

Wanna Be Yours. AM album was released on September 9, 2013.

3.3 Techniques for Collecting the Data

The data source of this study is Arctic Monkeys songs on AM album. There are

several steps that the author will take in this research.

Through the following steps :

 1. In collecting data, the researcher will download the songs on the AM album

Arctic Monkeys from the Spotify music platform.

2. Then will listen and read every song lyric on the AM album.

3. After that, the researcher will identify the data by listening to the song

repeatedly note down the figurative language found contained in the lyrics,

and classify them into several figurative languages.

3.4 Techniques for Analyzing the Data

To analyze the data of this study, the researcher will analyze figurative

language by reading each song's lyrics in the AM album from Arctic Monkeys,

then will classify the types of figurative language and describe them based on

theories from Mezo (1999) and Hurford (2007).

In Mezo’s theory (1999) there are seven types of figurative language, such as:

1) Metaphor: a comparison between two different things. (These things must

have some features in common)

2) Simile: a comparison between two different things using the word “like” or

“as”

3) Personification: a comparison of something not human to a human being.

4) Metonymy: the use of a word closely related or associated with the thing

meant.

5) Synecdoche: the use of the part for the whole (or vice versa).

6) Hyperbole: an overstatement (exaggeration).

7) Litotes: an understatement (exaggeration).

While according to Hurford et. al. (2007), there are:

1) Idioms are multi-word phrases whose overall meanings are idiosyncratic and

largely unpredictable, reflecting speaker meanings that are not derivable by

combining the literal sense of the individual words in each phrase according to

the regular semantic rules of the language.

2) Metaphors are conceptual (mental) operations reflected in human language

that enable speakers to structure and construe abstract areas of knowledge and

experience in more concrete experiential terms.

3) Metonymy is a kind of non-literal language in which one entity is used to

refer to another entity that is associated with it in some way.