431

A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

A STYLISTIC STUDY OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN KATY

PERRY’S TEENAGE DREAM

Written by : Fulan Nisyaroh

First Supervisor : Susana Widyastuti, Ph.D.
Second Supervisor : Niken Anggraeni, S.S., M.A.

English Literature Study Program

Faculty of Languages and Arts
Yogyakarta State University

[email protected]

Abstract

This study aims to identify the types and functions of figurative language in Teenage
Dream. This research employed descriptive qualitative method. The data of this study
were taken from the song lyrics in the album entitled Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. The
data were in the form of expressions which contain figurative language. Triangulation
was used to establish the reliability of data, and to ensure the findings, so that it can
enhance trustworthiness. The results of the research show that only ten out of twelve
types of figurative language are employed in the album. They are metaphor, simile,
personification, metonymy, synecdoche, symbol, paradox, hyperbole, irony, and litotes.
The most often used type of figurative language is hyperbole. The hyperboles are used to
make the listeners understand and accept the feeling, effort, and motivation of the singer.
Meanwhile, the four functions of figurative language are found in the album. They are to
give imaginative pleasure, to bring additional imagery, to add emotional intensity, and to
concentrate meaning in brief compass. The most frequent functions are adding emotional
intensity and bring additional imagery. Among the ten types of figurative language found
in the album, hyperbole is the most influential linguistic expression which adds emotional
intensity in listeners’ feeling. The dramatic effect of hyperbole could enhance the readers’
feeling on the story of the songs.

Keywords: figurative language, types, functions, Teenage Dream

INTRODUCTION

Language is a tool that enables song music deals with tones as its
humans to exchange information root, song lyric deals with words as
through verbal or symbolic its raw material. The words are used
utterances. Language can be to create a picture, an idea or a story
expressed through many things. One in a meaningful pattern. Lyrics, as an
of which is through songs. Songs artistic work, need human creativity
consist of music and lyrics. While in using language. When an author
 432
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

wants to make language to be consists of twelve interesting songs

creative, usually, he uses language which have unusual choices of words
different from the conventional and in their lyrics. The lyrics tell about
everyday language. Using this the life of youth, their ideals, their
distinctive language, an author can craziness, their passions, and their
give his readers unexpected surprise regrets. The feelings of being a youth
and make a strong impression on are all being realized with the
their minds. This kind of distinctive author’s choices of words in the
use of language is called style. Style lyrics. These word choices help the
refers to the way a person uses a listeners to experience or re-
language which characterizes his or experience the life of a teenage.
her uniqueness as human being. The The objectives of the research
study of style lies under one branch are to find out the types of figurative
of linguistic fields called stylistics. In language found in Teenage Dream
stylistic approach, style can be seen album, and to identify the functions
in the tone of voice, the different of figurative language found in
ways of pronouncing sounds, the Teenage Dream album.
choice of words and the grammar
RESEARCH METHOD
(Chaika, 1982 :29).
A song album is chosen as the The research was conducted by
object of this research. The song applying descriptive qualitative
album is entitled Teenage Dream. It method. This method emphasizes on
is an album sung by a pop musician, describing phenomenon by
Katy Perry. The album was released interpreting the data. In analyzing
on August 24, 2010 in the United language phenomena, qualitative
States, Canada, Mexico, and on research has the purpose to give
August 30, 2010 for the rest of the description and to provide a richer
world. The album debuted at number and more in-depth understanding of
one on the Billboard 200, and had the matter under the study
sold 192,000 copies in its first week. (Vanderstoep & Johnston, 2009: 7).
Teenage Dream is chosen because it Since this research tried to describe
 433
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

the phenomena of figurative while reading the downloaded song

language used in song lyrics, lyrics to make sure that the lyrics
qualitative approach was the most were true, reading the song lyrics
appropriate method. repeatedly to find valid and relevant
The forms of the data were data, writing down the data which
expressions in the song lyrics of contained figurative language, and
Teenage Dream album that contain using the experts’ theories of
figurative language. The context of figurative language to see whether
the data was the song lyrics in the the data were appropriate or not.
album. The source of the data was The steps for analyzing the
Teenage Dream album by Katy data are selecting and classifying the
Perry. The song lyrics of the album valid and relevant data based on the
were retrieved from categorizations, transfering the data
http://www.katyperry.com/songs/. into data sheet, conducting data
In qualitative research, the triangulation with some classmates,
researcher becomes the designer, and drawing the conclusion based on
data collector, analyst, interpreter, the finding of the research.
and also result reporter of the
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
research (Moleong, 2010: 121).
Thus, the main instrument of this In total, the researcher
research was the researcher herself. analysed a total of 78 data.
Another instrument of this research According to Perrine (1969), there
was a data sheet. are twelve types and four functions
The researcher did the of figurative language. However, the
following procedures for data researcher only found ten types of
collection: downloading the songs of figurative language in the album. The
the album along with their lyrics types are metaphor, simile,
from reliable sources on the internet personification, metonymy,
(http://www.youtube.com and synecdoche, symbol, paradox,
http://www.katyperry.com), listening hyperbole, irony, and litotes. While
to the songs of the album repeatedly the functions are to give imaginative
 434
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

pleasure, to give additional imagery, imagination in their mind. By

to add emotional intensity, and to comparing a human to an alien, the
concrete the meaning in a brief author tries to give the atmosphere of
compass. To provide more idiosyncrasy. Thus, the atmosphere
explanation about the types and of idiosyncrasy created by comparing
functions of figurative language a loved one to an alien could be
found in the album, some examples described as ‘strange yet special’, a
are provided below. new discovery which is so difficult to
1. Types of Figurative Language find.
Found in Teenage Dream The second type of figurative
The first type of figurative language found in the album is
language in Katy Perry’s Teenage simile. Simile can be defined as a
Dream is metaphor. Metaphor is a statement which says that one thing
type of figurative language which is like another thing. The example of
compares two things which are simile found in the album is the
basically unlike or describes a thing following.
by using another thing. The datum is She was unstoppable
Moved fast just like an
in the following. avalanche.
Boy, you’re an alien, your (Datum 54)
touch so foreign.
(Datum 14) The datum is found in the
song entitled Pearl. The appearance
The datum is found in the
of the word like in the extract
song entitled E.T. In the extract, the
signifies the occurrence of simile.
‘Boy’ is compared to an alien. Alien
The author compares the move of a
is an inhuman existence which is still
human to an avalanche. She is the
considered as a mystery. It is a
personal pronoun for human and an
famous concept of oddity which is
avalanche is a natural disaster. The
beyond difficult to be seen or found.
author employs simile to describe
Using listeners’ basic knowledge
how strong the girl was, by
about alien, the comparison would
comparing her move to an avalanche.
probably draw a new perception of
The illustration of the avalanche
 435
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

invites the listeners to imagine its Metonymy. Metonymy is a type of

high speed and strong force. Then, figurative language characterized by
still in the listeners’ mind, making substitution of a thing with another
those speed and strength as the girl’s thing which is closely related to the
belongings. thing that is actually meant. The
The third type of figurative example of simile found in the album
language found in the album is is the following.
personification. Personification can Sun-kissed skin, so hot.
(Datum 04)
be defined as giving non-human
object the abilities or characteristics In datum 05, the author uses

which belongs to human. The datum the word sun-kissed while actually

is in the following. she wants to say tanned. It indicates

But I still hear the flames the use of metonymy since the author
calling out my name. replaces the word she actually meant
(Datum 73)
(tanned) with another word which is
In the datum, the author uses
closely associated (sun-kissed). For
personification by giving an attribute
white skinned people, tanned skin
of human to the flames. Here, the
can only be obtained by exposing it
flame is given the ability to call a
to the sun light. Here, the author uses
name. The expression certainly
sun-kissed to represent the meaning
cannot be understood literally since it
of exposed by the sun light. The
employs a figurative language. It is
substitution makes the utterance
impossible for flames to call a
more aesthetic.
human’s name, whereas they are
The fifth type of figurative
inanimate objects. The author makes
language found in the album is
some peculiarity in her works by
synecdoche. Synecdoche is a type of
employing figurative language in
figurative language that mentions a
order to attract listeners’ emotion and
part of something to refer to the
imagination.
whole thing or a whole thing to refer
The next type of figurative
to a part. The example is in the
language found in the album is
following.
 436
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

California girls unblemished perfection. In datum 59,

We’re unforgettable.
(Datum 03) the author refers to the girl as a pearl.
The synecdoche in the extract It means that the author sees the girl
is the whole that stands for its part. as an unblemished perfection. Based
California girls could mean all of the on the context, the author intends to
girls who live in California. tell that the girl was someone
However, as human naturally have flawless, great, and adorable. It can
diverse personalities, there are also mean that the author sees the
actually various types of girl who girl as someone valuable. Thus, the
live in California. Those various expression can be categorized as
types are California girls too. Yet, symbol because the author tries to
the phrase California girls here describe the girl with the meaning
refers only to the type of girls who implied in the word Pearl.
match the description in the song The seventh type is paradox.
lyrics. It becomes the reason why Paradox is a statement or a situation
this figure of synecdoche could be that appears to contradict itself. The
understood as a whole that stands for following extract is an example of
a part considering the purpose of the paradox found in the album.
author who actually wants to say Could you be the devil, could
you be an angel.
some girls of California. (Datum 08)
The sixth type of figurative
The word ‘you’ in the extract
language found in the album is
refers to the boy the singer falls in
symbol. Symbol can mean as
love with. The author states that the
something that express more ideas
boy could be the devil but afterwards
than what the word actually means.
she states that he could be an angel.
An example of symbol is discussed
A devil is an evil being from hell.
as follows.
While an angel is a fine being from
Oh, she used to be a pearl.
(Datum 50) heaven. The two beings are totally
opposite. Naturally, it is impossible
Since ancient times, pearls
for the two beings to be united.
have been known as a symbol of
 437
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

However, the statement is somehow to be able to peek. The words break

true if it is applied to human. their necks in the extract cannot be
Sometime a human can be as cruel as taken literally. Those words intend to
a devil but the other time the human say that for the sake of peeking at the
can be as kind as an angel. girls, the boys will do anything. Not
Therefore, the statement is necessarily breaking their necks but
considered as paradox because it they will do things even as hard and
contains a contradiction which is dangerous as breaking their own
somehow true. Thus, the lyric tells necks.
that in the girl perspective, the boy The ninth type of figurative
she loves can be as wicked as a devil language found in the album is irony.
and as adorable as an angel at times. The definition of irony is a literary
The next type of figurative device in which the expression says
language found in the album is the opposite meaning of what is
hyperbole. Hyperbole is an actually intended by the author. The
exaggerating statement used to example is as follows.
deliver a certain point. An example All this money can’t buy me a
time machine,
of hyperbole found in the album is Can’t replace you with a
discussed as follows. million rings.

The boys break their necks (Datum 42)

Trying to creep a little sneak
peek at us. Based on the extract, the
(Datum 01)
singer now has lots of money.
The words break their necks However, what she wants the most is
in datum 01 is an overstatement since for the boy to be by her side. Sadly,
ones cannot break their necks and all those money cannot buy her a
still alive to do the peeking. time machine to bring the boy back.
Therefore, the utterance can be Indeed, it can buy her lots of rings
categorized as hyperbole. The author but the rings would never be able to
uses hyperbole to tell that the boys’ replace the presence of the boy. It is
desires to peek at the girls are so ironical that as much money as
strong that they will work really hard someone could have, it will never be
 438
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

able to buy a machine since there is 2. Functions of Figurative

no such thing as time machine in the Language Found in Teenage
real life. Also, as valuable as the Dream
rings could be, they would never be The first function of
equal to the presence of a precious figurative language found in the
person. album is giving imaginative pleasure.
The last type of figurative Imagination is the ability of human
language found in the album is to form some kind of picture in their
litotes. Litotes is the type of minds. The following extract show
figurative language that suggests how figurative language gives the
affirmative expression by negating listeners an imaginative pleasure.
its opposite. The datum is as follows. She is a pyramid.
(Datum 43)
Wanna be your victim, ready for
abduction. In datum 51, a girl is being
(Datum 13)
compared with pyramid. A pyramid
Datum 13 is found in the
is an ancient building famous for its
song entitled E.T. The words victim
unique shape, its glorious treasure,
and abduction are both contain
its strength structure, and its security.
negative meaning. Normally, no one
Here, the author intends to tell that
would ask to be the victim for
the girl is a unique, noble, strong,
abduction. However, the statement
and secured person just like a
shows that the author is willingly ask
pyramid. After hearing the line, the
to be abducted. The author states
listeners will automatically build an
implicitly that she desires to be the
image of pyramid in their mind.
victim. In this context, there is
They will get to enjoy the picture of
affirmative statement of the persona
its beautiful shape, the image of the
in which she positively agrees to
overflowing treasure kept inside it,
accept the role as the victim of the
also the illustration of the building’s
abduction.
strong structure and the traps which
make it safe from intruders. Then,
the listeners will relate all those
 439
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

treats to the personality or quality the of hearing more sensitive. Therefore,

girl used to have. The statement this utterance can be categorized as a
could simply drive the listeners’ bringing additional imagery in
imagination about how majestic the relation to the function of figures of
girl used to be. Thus, it gives them speech.
delights through the imagination. The third function of
The next function of figurative language found in the
figurative language found in the album is adding emotional intensity.
album is giving additional imagery. Figurative language is used to
This function intends to make the explain informative statements in
listeners get more concrete imageries such a way that can create emotional
through their senses. The discussion sense. Thus, the readers or listeners
is presented as follow. could feel the condition of the
But I still hear the flames character in the story as if they
calling out my name.
(Datum 73) experience it themselves. The
discussion is presented as follow.
In the extract, the author
You don’t have to feel
gives a human attribute to the flames. Like a waste of space.
It gives an additional imagery for the (Datum 25)

listeners in which they can imagine The words a waste of space

how flames make such sound to call can mean a futility. In this context, it
out a human name. Since this can also mean something useless or
utterance tells about the sound made meaningless. Thus, the author tells
by the flames, the listeners try to the listeners not to think of
illustrate of how the voice of the themselves as useless or
flames calling out a name sounds. meaningless.
The presence of auditory sense Hearing the statement in the
emerged in this utterance through the extract, the listeners can feel the
imagination of the listeners in how motivation conveyed by the author.
such sound appears. Implicitly, the The message of not to feel useless or
listeners will try to make their sense meaningless is clearly delivered by
 440
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

the statement. The mood appears in mentioning the words the fourth of
the statement could touch the July, the author wants to depict the
listeners’ feeling by hearing it. The joy and the freedom brought by the
simile in the statement is able to memories of the day as well as to
arouse the emotion of the listeners convey the deep meaning behind the
such as the feeling of comfort, historic day. The statement can make
secure, and peace embedded in the the listeners grasp more meaning just
statement itself. by mentioning a few words. Thus,
The next function of the statement functions to
figurative language found in the concentrate meaning in a brief
album is to concentrate meaning in compass.
brief compass. This means that an
CONCLUSIONS
author can explain much about
something without employing many Based on the data, hyperbole
words. The discussion is presented as is the most dominant type of
follows. figurative language in the album. The
Just own the night, author uses hyperbole to impress the
Like the fourth of July.
(Datum 22) listeners or to add emotional
intensity, such as feeling, efforts, or
The fourth of July is the
motivation. In a creative work,
independence day of United States of
hyperbole is an effective literary
America (USA). On the night of the
device. It is used to gain a dramatic
fourth of July, the people of USA
effect and to get a point across or
hold out a party to celebrate the day.
make a desired effect.
On that day, everyone is a free
Among the ten types of
person. Thus, the word the fourth of
figurative language found in the
July symbolizes freedom. In the
album, hyperbole is the most
extract, the author wants to tell the
influential linguistic expression
listeners that they can free
which adds emotional intensity in
themselves just like what the nation
listeners’ feeling. This is because the
did on its independence day. By
dramatic effect of hyperbole that
 441
A Stylistic Study... (Fulan Nisyaroh)

could enhance the readers’ feeling Simpson, P. 2004. Stylistics: A

Resource Book for Students.
into the story of the songs.
New York: Routledge.
Meanwhile, simile, metonymy,
Vanderstoep, S. W. and Deirdre D. J.
hyperbole, and metaphor are the
2009. Research Methods
most dominant types to bring For Everyday Life. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
additional imagery. This is because
simile, metonymy, and metaphor
create depiction through comparison
and hyperbole creates exaggerated
illustration in an utterance.

REFERENCES

Anonim. Teenage Dream: Song

lyrics.
http://www.katyperry.com/so
ngs/. Retrieved on February
10 , 2016.

Chaika, E. 1982. Language: The

Social Mirror. Boston:
Newbury House Publisher.

Leech, G. N. and M. H. Short. 2007.

Style in Fiction: A Linguistic
Introduction to English
Fictional Prose. Second
Edition. Edinburgh: Pearson
Education Limited.

Moleong, L. J. 2010. Metodologi

Penelitian Kualitatif (Revised
Ed.). Bandung: PT. Remaja
Rosdakarya.

Perrine, L. 1969. Sound and Sense.

An Introduction to Poetry.
Third Edition. New York:
Harcourt, Brace & World,
Inc.