AN ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE STYLE USED BY THE MAIN CHARACTERS ON “WHAT GIRL WANTS” MOVIE

AN ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE STYLE USED BY THE MAIN
CHARACTERS ON “WHAT GIRL WANTS” MOVIE

THESIS

By:
A’YUNIL FADHILAH
08360084

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2013

AN ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE STYLE USED BY THE MAIN
CHARACTERS ON “WHAT GIRL WANTS” MOVIE
THESIS

This thesis is submitted to meet the requirement to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Education


BY:
A’YUNIL FADHILAH
08360084

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
2013

MOTTO AND DEDICATION

Anything will be perfect if we make it with love
(By: Azmi)

DEDICATIONS:
I dedicated this thesis to:
My beloved mother and father,
Mysisters, mybrother and all my family
My best and beloved friends,


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AN ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE STYLE USED BY THE MAIN
CHARACTERS ON “WHAT GIRL WANTS”MOVIE
ABSTRACT
Language is a fundamental aspect of human life. Everyone use language as a
media to express feeling, idea, and to communicate each other. To communicate
means to transfer ideas from one person to the others. Basically, language can be used
in many forms, primarily through spoken and written communications as well as
using expressions through body language. In expressing or delivering ideas in both
forms, spoken and written language, people have and use their own style because it is
related to the social aspects. It means that people used style in different ways to utter
statement based on the situation. The different situation can influence the style of
speakers. So language style is one of types of language variation. This research
focused in studying the language style used by the main characters on “What Girl
Wants” movie. This movie has story about teenager life that is relevant with language
style. It will give and develop the knowledge about sociolinguistics subject especially
about language style. There are two problems in this research. They are kinds of
language styles and what the dominant language style used by the main characters on
“What Girl Wants” movie. The aims of the research are to know what the language

style used by the main characters and to identify what the dominant language style
used by the main characters.
This research focused on analyzing language style on movie. The researcher
used a descriptive qualitative research, because the researcher wants to explore a
literary work which needs a deep library research in order to get a real data. In
analyzing this research “What Girl Wants“ movie script is as the object of the study.
This research used document analysis as research instrument. The data were collected
from the scrip of “What Girl Wants” movie.
There are two points the result of this research. First is kind of language styles
used in this movie. It was casual language style and intimate language style. Second
is the dominant language style. It was casual language style. In accordance with the
findings, the researcher would like to suggest to further researcher to analyze other
elements, such as the power of language style or its functions.
Key words : (language style and movie)

Advisor 1

The Researcher,

Bayu Hendro Wicaksono S.Pd, M.Ed, Ph.D


v

A’yunil Fadhilah

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah SWT, the most gracious and the most merciful
First of all, I would like to say to Allah SWT who has given me the knowledge with
powers and given me inspiration to finish this thesis. May Sholawat and Salam
always be given to our prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought us from the
darkness to the lightness and brought Islam asRahmatan Lil ’Alamiin.
In addition, the in process of finishing this thesis I would like to dedicate my
best thank to:
1. My pride Father (H.Fatchurohman)and Mother (Hj.Ikromiyah), thanks for prays,
loves, supports, understanding, and cares. My beloved brother (Arif Zulafan
Arahman), sister (Anis Fakhrun nisa’)and all members of my big families, many
thanks for your endless love and pray.
2. My advisors, Bayu Hendro Wicaksono S.Pd, M.Ed, Ph.D, and Rahmawati
Khadijah Maro S.Pd, M.PEd who have carefully guided me throughout the entire

process of the thesis and gave all the constructive comments to make this thesis
better.
3. All of the lecturers of English Department for being so kind, patient and generous
in leading me giving a lot of valuable knowledge.

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4. All of my friends in English Department, especially Dina, Mega, Maya, Lingga,
Doni, Budi thanks for your helps, unforgettable memories and a marvelous
experiences.
5. All of the part timers at I.R.O and Faculty who have helped me during counseling
to my advisor.
6. My lovely one (Muhammad Hafidh Masyhuri) who has supported me in doing my
thesis.
Last but not least, I invite the readers’ suggestions and critics responding to
the presence of my thesis. Hopefully, this research will give many advantages to all
of people who much concern in English language. Finally, there is no rose without
thorn.

Malang, 23January 2013


The Researcher

ivi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL SHEET .......................................................................................

ii

LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................

iii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION ........................................................................

iv

ACKOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................


v

ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................

viii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study .....................................................................

1

1.2 Statement of Problem ......................................................................

3


1.3 Purpose of Study..............................................................................

4

1.4 Significant of Study .........................................................................

4

1.5 Scope and Limitation.......................................................................

4

1.6 Definition of Key Terms..................................................................

4

CHAPTER IIREVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Language...........................................................................................

6


2.2 Sociolinguistic ..................................................................................

7

2.3 Language Style .................................................................................

9

2.3.1 Kinds of Language Style ........................................................

10

2.4 Movie................................................................................................

13

2.4.1 Kinds of Movie.......................................................................

14


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2.5 Previous Research.............................................................................

16

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design ...............................................................................

18

3.2 Data Source.......................................................................................

19

3.3 Research Instrument .........................................................................

20


3.4 Data Collection .................................................................................

20

3.5 Data Analysis ...................................................................................

21

CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Findings ............................................................................................

23

4.1.1 Kinds of language style used by the main characters .............

23

4.1.2 The dominant language style used by the main characters ....

27

4.2 Discussion.........................................................................................

28

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTION
5.1Conclusion .........................................................................................

30

5.2 Suggestion ........................................................................................

31

5.2.1 Suggestion for the Readers .....................................................

32

5.2.2 Suggestion for the English Department students....................

32

5.2.3 Suggestion for the next researchers ........................................

32

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REFERENCES
Agha, Asif. 2007. Language and Sosial Relations. New York: Cambridge University
Press.
Ary, D, Jacobs. 2002. Introduction to Research in Education. New York: Wadsworth.
Audrey, reyzka. 2011 synopsis “What Girl Wants” movie. Accessed on July, 01,
2012.http://reyskaivana.blogspot.com/2011/10/synopsis-what-girl-wants.html.
Bogdan, Robert C. and Sari Knopp Biklen. 2007. Qualitative Research for Education.
USA: Syracuse University.
Chaika, Elaine. 1982 Language the Social Mirror. Mascusset: Newbury House
Publish.inc.
Crystal, David, and Davy, Derek. 1969. Investigating English Style. London:
Longman.
Dirks, Tim. 2005. Main film Genres. New York: AMC.
Eckert, Penelope and Rickford, John R. 2001. Style and Sociolinguistics Variation.
United Kingdom: University Press, Cambridge.
Home Douglas William. 2003. What Girl Wants Movie. USA
Kate Shoup, Loberger Gordon. 2009. Webster’s New World English Grammar
Handbook second edition. Wiley Hoboken. NJ
Keraf, Gorys. 2009. Diksi dan Gaya Bahasa. Jakarta: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Leech, G. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. London: Longman.
Longman 2007, Advanced American Dictionay, U.S
Marjohan, Asril. 1988, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Jakarta: Departemen
Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

MC. Millan 1993. Reseach In Education: A Conceptual Introduction, New York:
Harper Collins College
Mesthrie, Rajend. 2000. Introducing Sociolinguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press.
Minami, Masahiko. 2002. Culture-specific Language Styles The Development of
Oral Narrative and Literacy. Great Britain. The Cromwell Press Ltd.
Nadia. 2011. Language Style Used by the Main Character of “The Sisterhood of
Traveling Pants” 2a Movie. Unpublished. Malang: Digilib UMM.
Paul, 2012, Language Learning Style. Accessed on September, 20, 2012. http:// Esl.
Fis. Edu/ parents/ advice/ style. htm.
Pateda, Mansoer. 1987. Sosiolinguistik. Bandung: ANGKASA.
Rosida. 2008. An Analysis Of Language Style Used In TravelingGear Advertisement
Of “Outside” Magazine. Unpublished. UIN malang.
Spolsky, Bernard. 2003. Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tabanlioglu, Selime, 2003. The Relationship Between Learning Styles and Language
Learning Strategies of Pre- Intermediate EAP Students. Unpublished. Social
Sciences of Middle East Technical University.
Trudgill, Peter. 1983. Sociolinguistics: an Introduction to Language and Society.
Britain: Cox & Wyman Ltd.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006. Sixth Edition. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. UK:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 1986. First Edition. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. UK:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents such topics as: background of study, statement of
problems, purposes of study, significances of study, scope and limitation, and
definition of key terms. Each section is presented as follows:
1.1. Background of the Study
Language is a system of arbitrary verbal symbols by which members of
speech community that use as a means of communication to interact and express the
ideas, feeling and thought (Wardhaugh, 2006). Language may refer either to the
specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of
communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex
communication. Furthermore, according to Pateda (1981), one of the functions of
language is as a tool of communication. Based on the statement, it means that every
single persons needs language to interact with others in written or spoken. Basically,
language can be used in many forms, primarily through spoken and written
communications as well as using expressions through body language. It has a
function as a tool to express an idea, concepts, and thought. It also becomes the
reflection of someone’s personality. Language is the way to communicate ideas
comprehensibily from one person to another who use the language.
The use of language style is various. According to Marjohan, “Language style
is variation in speech from more formal or informal one“(1988: 34). Following the
previous statement, Joos (in Mesthrie, 2000), states that there are five language styles

1

2

which have outline, they are casual language, intimate language, consultative
language, formal language, and frozen language. It might be clear to inform that, the
use of language style is divided into two, namely formal style commonly is used at
ceremonies, public function, and formal discussions, informal style commonly use in
appropriate for conversation with friend, fellow students or at home. Informal style is
also called as casual language style. Every one has different styles in speaking or
writing. Using different language style gives different interpretation for the reader or
the listener. In communication, people cannot leave language style because it is
fundamental part of social aspect. Other statement, styles is an integral part of society
that interaction which cannot go ahead if one does not speak in the right style
(Chaika, 1982:34).
According to Wardhaugh (2006), language variation is influenced by our
experiences with the outside world as we have dealt with that world in all its
complexity, consequently, any of many factors, might have affected it : (1) age, when
we talk with someone who older or younger than us.(1) region, it is appearing when
we are stay in some districts.(2) occupation, it is appearing when we talking with our
partners in the office or work places, physical location. (3) social class, when we
making interaction with teachers and friends in the school. (4) ethnicity, when people
speak with different ethnic background, especially in a mixed community, and (5)
leisure activities, etc.
According to Eckert (2001), style is the locus of the individual’s
internalization of broader social distributions of variation. In a society every
individual has their own ways to express their feelings, and everything that they want

3

to do.It can be called style. Moreover, it can be concluded that every single person
can create his/her own styles in communication. As a part of language, language style
has important meaning on written and spoken language. Most people in the world
produce and use of language styles to communicate and express the ideas or thought
with others. When people communicate each other, they should pay attention to the
language style they used.
Therefore, the researcher analyzes language style used by the main characters
on the “What Girl Wants” movie. Language style is the important point for everyone
as it may produce something different of language in expressing a speech. To sum up
the ideas above, the researcher is interested in studying the language style used by the
main characters on the movie because of the knowledge about the language style
presented in it.
1.2. Statements of the Problems
Based on background of study, the researcher formulates research questions
on the present study as the statement of problems namely:
1. What kind of language styles are used by the main characters on “What Girl
Wants” movie?
2. What is the dominant language style used by main characters on “What Girl
Wants” movie?
1.3. Purposes of the Study

4

In order to maintain the aim of this research, the researcher needs to state the
purpose of the study as follows:
1. To know what language styles used by the main characters on “What Girl Wants”
movie.
2. To identify the dominant language styles used by the main characters on “What
Girl Wants” movie.
1.4. Scope and Limitation
This present study focuses on the types of language styles used by the main
characters on “What Girl Wants” movie. The scope of this study is the use of
language style on the “What Girl Wants” movie that limited on the form of casual
language and intimate language used by the main characters on “What Girl Wants”
movie, they are Dephne, Henry, and Libby.

1.5. Significance of the Study
The result of this study is targeted to enrich the knowledge of the readers and
the next researchers about kind of language styles in sociolinguistics subject. It also
gives contribution to develop another movie analysis.

1.6. Definition of Key Terms
To avoid misunderstanding of some terms used in this study, it is important to
explain those terms as below:

5

Language Styles :

is the way to use language (Keraf, 2009). It means that language
style allows us to find out the moral value, character, and ability
of someone who use that language.

Movie

: is a story presented in the form of moving and static pictures on
film and sound (Longman, 2007). Besides, movie is pictures
produced by using recording and photographic imagesthrough
the use of cameras.

Main Character : A very important figure in making roles in literature (Khairil
2010). Besides, main character is someone who often appears in
every scene around 80% from 100%.