AN ANALYSIS STRUCTURAL METAPHOR IN IMAGINE DRAGON'S SELECTED SONGS

Bamagin Fatwansyah¹; Putu Nur Ayomi²; Desak Putu Eka Pratiwi³

English Study Program,Faculty Of Foreign Languages, Mahasaraswati Denpasar University

[email protected]¹; [email protected]²; [email protected]³

		Abstract
Received:	05-03-2022	Introduction: Language is one of the most important parts of our life that is used every day. This is because language supports human communication. Communication is important because it reduces the level of ambiguity in social interaction. Purpose: This article aims to explore the use of Structural Metaphors in selected songs by rock band Imagine Dragon and their meanings. The theory used is from Lakoff, which is used to identify Structural Metaphors and the theory of meaning from Leeches. In this article, Method: the method used is a qualitative method to describe the meaning of structural metaphors comprehensively. Results: After analyzing the data, it was found that for each song such as Believer, Bad Liar, and Enemy, some lyrics contain structural metaphors based on the metaphor theory, but there are only five types of meaning out of seven types of meaning by Leech. The meanings found are Conceptual, Connotative, Collocative, Affective, and Thematic meanings. Conclusion: Based on the data, the analysis of Structural metaphor found in each lyric from selected songs by Imagine Dragon, the writer classified the meaning based on the song using the seven types of meaning.
Accepted:	05-03-2022
Published:	20-03-2022
*Keywords*:	Metaphor; Structural Metaphor; Songs; Lyrics; Meaning.

Corresponding Author: Bamagin Fatwansyah

E-mail: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Language is one of the most important parts of our life that is used every day. This is because language support human communication. Communication is important because it reduces the level of ambiguity in social interaction (Hasanaj, 2017). Language is a symbolic system through which humans interact (Kreidler, 2002). Language is also one of the things we learn and discover from when we are born until we grow up. Language can also be used to express ideas and feelings. There are many ways to convey our emotions; we can use the media as tools to convey our ideas and feelings, such as poetry, drama, novels, music, etc. According to (Albert Sydney Hornby & Crowther, 1995) a song is a part of music with a word to sung. A song is a composition consisting of lyrics and music, with the intent of the lyrics being sung, for the purpose of producing a feeling or emotion that is proportionate in relation to a particular issue.

A figurative language is a tool that allows the reader to visualize the scene in the other minds. According to (Hutauruk, 2019) figurative language is used imaginatively whether in speaking or writing. Metaphor is one of the figures of speech. The use of literal sentences in language makes it tedious at times. A figurative language is a tool that allows the reader to visualize the scene in the other minds. (Lakoff, 2014) argues that metaphor is a medium for conveying meaning through imaginative and rhetorical language. Metaphor is one of the most widely used figurative languages in everyday life because it is useful in conveying a wide range of meaning nuances (Schwarz-Friesel, 2015). It can also convey emotions and feelings through language. Metaphor is also used to make can experiencethe song deeply (Zwicky, 2014). (Kï¿½vecses, 2005). However, the meaning of metaphor is not as clear as literal language it also has denotation meaning. (Arp, 2009) explain that connotation is a word that contains another meaning or message relevant to a word. Connotation is a meaning that modifies the denotative meaning.

Some previous studies have discussed about metaphor. Ayu conducted the first previous study (2020) entitled ï¿½Types and Meaning of Metaphor in Song Lyricsï¿½ By Selena Gomez. The study is about identifying the metaphor then analyzing the meaning of each metaphor found in Selena Gomez song lyrics. The study also identifies the most dominant types and the meanings of metaphor used in Selena Gomez song lyrics. The second previous study is conducted by (Hotmauli, 2021) entitled ï¿½The Conceptual Metaphor of ï¿½Loveï¿½ in Judika's Song Lyricsï¿½. This research aims to identify the conceptual metaphors found in song lyrics and explain the most dominant conceptual metaphors found in Judika's song lyrics. (Smithiana & Hanidar, 2018) conducted the third previous study entitled ï¿½Metaphors in Adhitia Sofyanï¿½s Songs". The findings indicate that the selected song lyrics contain three types of metaphors: structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors. Furthermore, the messages Adhitia Sofyan wishes to convey through metaphors are primarily about love for a sweetheart, an ex-girlfriend, a mother, and God (Smithiana & Hanidar, 2018). Loneliness, regrets, hope, and despair are all expressed through metaphors in the songs.

This research has similarities with the three previous studies in analyzing metaphor which is also the one of figurative language, and also three of the previous studies used the theory of metaphor by (Lakoff, 2014) in analyzing the metaphor of the data. Meanwhile, there are some differences between the previous studies; the first study used selected songs from the singer Selena Gomez and analyzed the types of metaphors found from the data. Afterwards, the differences from the second previous study with this study are that the previous study used songs from "Love" Judika's song lyrics as the data source, then classified the types of metaphor and identified the most dominant data. The last is the difference from the third previous study with this study. The previous study used Adhitia Sofyanï¿½s songs as the data source and analyzed the types of metaphors found from the data (Smithiana & Hanidar, 2018).

Here, the writer focused on analyzing structural metaphor found in Imagine Dragon's Selected Songs by using theory about metaphor from (Lakoff, 2014) and the meaning from each lyric by using theory from (Leech, 1981) about the types of meaning. This data and topic are very interesting to analyze because people nowadays usually judge the lyric from the genre from the songs themselves, and if the songs are from a metal band, it usually correlates with anarchism, atheism, vandalism, and a negative attitude because the songs are presented in a high tone, and Imagine Dragons is a metal band. Therefore, the writer attempts to break the stigma of the community by interpreting the lyrics and demonstrating that the lyrics also bring a deep meaning that relates to our social situation to open people's minds to not judging before interpreting the meaning. The lyric of a song is an expression of something that is being seen, heard or felt. The lyrics are an expression of the feeling of the writer that are in written version (Awe & Fals, 2007). The Lyrics can be written during composition of a song or after the accompanying music is composed (Osborn, 2011). (A S Hornby, Wehmeier, & Ashby, 2000). This analysis is going to be useful for anyone who loves song and want to comprehend the meaning in it, especially for anyone who loves the song fromImagineDragn.

REASERCH METODH

The data source of this study is from Imagine Dragon's Selected Songs such as Believer, Bad Liar, and Enemy. In this article, library research is used to collect the data. Some steps are listening to the three songs by Imagine Dragons, and reading the lyric from Azlyrics.com to find out words, phrases, and sentences that contain Structural Metaphor, taking note which lyrics are the type of Structural Metaphor, classify the data into the type of Structural Metaphor and then analyze the meaning of it. According from Hancock, Ockleford, and Windridge a book entitled An Introduction to Qualitative Research the data used the qualitative method (Hancock, Ockleford, & Windridge, 1998) the aim of the qualitative method is to describe a place, fact, and characteristic of the population systematically, factually, and accurately. This study used descriptive qualitative method to describe place, fact, and characteristic systematically, factually, and accurately. The writer also presented the data in the form of table and narrative description for the meaning found in the song lyrics. The theory of metaphor from (Lakoff, 2014) and theory meaning by (Leech, 1981) were used to analyze the data.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the results of the data analysis that concern with the description and explanation of the Structural Metaphor used in selected songs lyric by Imagine Dragons. The data presented in the table shows the lyrics that contain Structural Metaphors as well as the type of meaning of those metaphor.

Table of Data Source

No	Lyrics	Song Title	Meaning
1	The master of my sea	Believer	Connotative
2	I know the beauty donï¿½t come without hurt	Believer	Connotative
3	I wage my war	Bad Liar	Affective
4	Everybody wants to be my enemy	Enemy	Thematic
Total	4

Based on the table above, four lyrics found contain structural metaphor. Those metaphor also have different types of meaning.

The analysis of structural metaphor in Imagine Dragon's chosen songs is presented in this section that used the theory of metaphor by (Lakoff, 2014) and for analyzing the meaning of each type of metaphor used seven types of meaning by (Leech, 1981).The meaning includes conceptual, connotative, social, collocative, affective and thematic meaning. Structural Metaphor occurs when one concept is expressed in terms of another defined concept. (Lakoff, 2014) justify that structural metaphor is where one concept is metaphorically structured in terms of another.

Data 1:

I'ma say all the words inside my head

I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been

I'm the master of my sea, oh ooh

The master of my sea

The data above is categorized as a structural metaphor. It can be seen from the phrase my sea is the concept that expressed in terms of another concept. Structural metaphor is where one concept is metaphorically structured in terms of another (Lakoff, 2014). The concept of my sea is connotatively means its depth or veracity, it depends on the individual experience. While the word master it means describe mastery or talent, the words master itself can be interpreted as having or showing very great skill in the field of expertise. Master can also means the leader, the owner, or someone who is in control. In the context of this data is the phrase my sea connotatively means experience or journey. The phrase my sea it refers to the singer's experience which revived his emotional action, which was when the singer was still at the beginning when he was just starting his singing career. The real meaning of this data, the singer explained when he was just starting his career in singing until he became a famous singer. The sea that has its up and downs and sometimes challenging represents the singerï¿½s journey and life in general.

In the data of the master of my sea it refers to a singer who has very great skills in his field of expertise. This song is about the singer's struggles in his music career, and his journey to success. By saying that he himself is the master of the sea, means that the singer is fully in charge and responsible for his life

The data above is used connotative meaning. Connotative meaning occurs when a word is being associated with imaginative or emotional meaning, beyond it is literal meaning. Connotation have a variety of meaning besides the denotation meaning (Leech, 1981). Sea conceptualize journey or world and master means the leader, the conqueror. Meaning that the writer is in charge or in control of his life.

Data 2:

I know that losin' don't come without gain

I know the beauty don't come without hurt

My life, my love, my drive, they came from

Pain

The data above is classified as a structural metaphor. The data from the word beauty can be expressed by another concept. (Lakoff, 2014) state, A structural metaphor is one in which one concept is metaphorically structured in relation to another concept. The word beauty connotatively means pleasing to the senses or the mind. Meanwhile, in the context of this song, the word beauty refers to achievement. This song explains that success comes through hard work and determination. The singer uses this metaphor of the word beauty to refer to achievement, while the word without hurt it refers to hard work and dedication.

The data is classified as connotative meaning. Connotative meaning occurs when a word is being associated with imaginative or emotional meaning, beyond it is literal meaning. Connotation have a variety of meaning besides the denotation meaning (Leech, 1981). The word beauty here is usually associated with women, gardens and houses, etc. In the context of this data, the singer explains that the word beauty is the result or achievement of his career in the music industry. The singer always works hard to get big results or achievements in music; this is explained in the word hurt, which is described as hard work. The singer explained the real meaning of this data that success will not come without hard work and determination to achieve it.

Data 3:

Did all my dreams never mean one thing?

Does happiness lie in a diamond ring?

I wage my war

I take my gun to the enemy's side

The data above is categorized as a structural metaphor. The data my war can expressed in terms of another concept. Structural metaphors occur when one concept is expressed in other defined concepts (Lakoff, 2014). This song is about someone who has lost his feelings for his partner, that person decides to tell the truth and accept the consequences, which include being abandoned by his partner. The war in literal meaning is an intense armed conflict between countries or a group, while in connotative meaning it refers to struggle. In the context of this data, the concept of my war describes a struggle between someoneï¿½s feelings with his partner. The singer used this metaphor to explain how the struggling his feeling with his partner because she has no feelings for him anymore.

The data above is used affective meaning. It is categorized as affective meaning because the word my war can evoke feelings and emotions that rely on other meanings (Leech, 1981). The words my war is the focus of this data. The words my war here can evoke the speaker's feelings and emotions because it describes someone's feelings who are struggling toward with his lover. The singer emphasizes the main point or main topic to focus on specific words that make us imagine the true meaning of this data. The real meaning of this data, the singer explains his war as an inner struggle of the singer who no longer loves his partner for some reason.

Data 4:

I stack it in my mind, and I'm waiting for the time

When I show you what it's like to be words spit in a mic

Tell you you're the greatest

But once you turn, they hate us

Everybody wants to be my enemy

This data is categorized as a structural metaphor. It can be seen from the phrase my enemy is expressed in terms of another concept. Structural metaphors occur when one concept is expressed in other defined concepts (Lakoff, 2014). This song is about someone who becomes the enemy of many people because they are influential, dominant, or powerful. In the context of this data, everybody here refers to fellow singers, while the phrase my enemy is connotatively means to fellow singers who become competitors from the songwriter. In this data, the songwriter explains that he has many competitors in the music field, and the songwriter never gives up on achieving success.

The data everybody wants to be my enemy used thematic meaning. The data serves as the singer's main focus for the readers or listeners to fully comprehend the meaning and implications (Leech, 1981). It can be seen from the word everybody is the topic with the adding word my enemy to emphasize this data. The real meaning of this data, the singer explains that he has many rivals, this refers to my enemy data which is described as a competition between singers, but the singer himself never gives up to achieve success.

CONCLUSION

Following an examination of the structural metaphor in the songs chosen by Imagine Dragon, the writer concludes that in each song, there are lyrics that contain structural metaphor-based from the theory of metaphor by Lakoff (1980), but there are only four types of meaning found from 7 types of meaning based on the theory of meaning by (Leech, 1981) that found from the data such as Conceptual meaning, Connotative meaning, Affective meaning and Thematic meaning.

Based on the data, the analysis of Structural metaphor found in each lyric from selected songs by Imagine Dragon, the writer classified the meaning based on the song using the seven types of meaning theory by (Leech, 1981). There are Conceptual, Connotative, Affective and Thematic meanings. Conceptual and connotative meaning were automatically included in each data because conceptual meaning is the basis of all the types of meaning, and connotative is above the conceptual meaning that can be interpreted depending on how the society or community understand what topic that communicated based on what the language when it interpreted into general or literal meaning. For the other three meanings, Reflected, Affective and Thematic meaning were used to explain the expanded meaning of the lyrics to make audiences understand the meaning.

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