Figure 4.1 The Lexical Features of Magnum Advertisements
The researcher found that Magnum advertisements only had some lexical features of the advertising language. They lacked neologism, repetition, and
humor. Overall, Magnum advertisements only had 36 of the whole lexical features in the advertising language proposed by Grey 2008.
a. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is one way to exaggerate the product in order to attract the consumers‟ attention to the product. There were seven Magnum advertisements
which had the hyperbole feature in the advertisements and the rest did not have hyperbole feature. The advertisement of Magnum Infinity had the most number of
hyperboles. For example, the use of longer lasting pleasure described how the consumers could feel the longer pleasure when they ate Magnum Infinity than
other ice cream. The word new dominated the hyperbole feature in Magnum
20 40
60 80
100 70
30 60
100
40 40
20
P er
ce nta
g e
The Lexical Features
Hyperbole Neologism
Weasel Word Familiar Language
Simple Vocabulary Repetition
Euphemism Humor
Glamorization Potency
advertisements, such as New Magnum Ecuador and New Magnum Temptation. It showed that the advertisers emphasized the presence of new Magnum product in
the majority of Magnum advertisements. Besides, the phrase for the first time also had the same meaning with the word new. The other words which indicated the
use of hyperbole in Magnum advertisements were special, intense, forever, perfection, very, and best. The presence of hyperbole in Magnum advertisements
added the variation of personal expression which could affect the consumers‟ willingness to taste Magnum whether the speakers‟ utterances were true.
b. Neologism
The advertisers of Magnum did not use neologism to advertise Magnum. Magnum advertisements did not introduce a new word which was formed by
joining two or more word parts. The diction of Magnum advertisements was very simple and did not use too many language features.
c. Weasel Word
Grey 2008 states that a weasel word carries unspecified meaning. Therefore, it makes people question the missing information. There were only
three Magnum advertisements which used weasel word to gain the consumers‟ attention. Each weasel word had different styles of attracting people. It depended
on the diction the advertisers chose to use. In the advertisement of Magnum in 1992, the actress said that Magnum was so different. People could raise a question
“from what it is different.” Then, it affected people‟s curiosity to find out from what aspect it is different by buying the product. The phrase another little
indulgence in Magnum Mini advertisement also could make people curious about
what kind of indulgence it is. Those kinds of curiosity could push people to buy the advertised product.
d. Familiar Language
