Linguistic Aspects Found In Riddles.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... i

TABLE OF CONTENTS... ii

ABSTRACT... iii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Background of the Study………... 1

Statement of the Problem………... 5

Purpose of the Study……….. 5

Methods of Research……….. 6

Organization of the Thesis………. 6

CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK……… 7

CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF LINGUISTICS ASPECTS IN RIDDLES………..…………...11

CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION……….. 22

BIBLIOGRAPHY……… 26

APPENDICES: The list of riddles………..27

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ABSTRACT

Topik skripsi ini adalah Linguistic Aspects found in Riddles. Teka-teki dalam Bahasa Indonesia adalah teka-teki. Ketika membaca teka-teki, seringkali kita tidak menyadari keberadaan aspek-aspek bahasa. Melalui skripsi ini, saya akan menggali lebih dalam mengenai unsur-unsur linguistik yang ditemukan di dalam teka-teki sehingga para pembaca sadar akan keberadaan aspek bahasa dan mengerti makna dari teka-teki.

Saya mencari hubungan antara teori linguistik dengan analisis teka-teki. Saya mencari data yang dibutuhkan dalam penulisan skripsi ini. Akhirnya, saya mendapatkan data yang mengandung unsur-unsur bahasa yang kemudian dapat dianalisis dengan menggunakan teori-teori Semantics, Pragmatics, dan Phonology.

Setelah saya menganalisis peranan aspek linguistik dalam teka-teki, saya menyimpulkan bahwa unsur-unsur linguistik mempunyai peranan yang penting dalam teka-teki. Oleh karena itu, diharapkan setelah membaca skripsi ini para pembaca dapat menyadari dan mengerti peranan aspek linguistik sehingga dapat memahami teka-teki.

27

APPENDICES

Spoken riddles:

1. Q. Where do you find giant snails? A. On the end of their fingers.

2. Q: What do you call a deer with no eyes? A: No idea

Written riddles:

1. Q. Why the man made a bow? A. Because of his shoelaces

2. Q. Why is number six afraid? A. Because seven eight nine

3. Q: Why did the tomato blush? A: Because it saw the salad dressing

4. Q: When does the (English) alphabet have only 25 letters? A: At Christmas time, because it is the time of Noel

28 5. Q: Why is the A like a flower? A: Because the B is after it.

6. Q: What four letters frighten a thief? A: O.I.C.U.

Spoken and Written Riddle:

1. Q: Why did the golfer take an extra pair of pants for his Saturday round of golf?

A: In case he got a hole in one

2. Q: Why did Mickey Mouse go to outer space? A: To find Pluto

3. Q: What vegetable goes in a cake that you bake for Lassie? A: Collie flour……..

4. Q. What is the difference between here and there? A. The letter T

5. Q. What is the centre of gravity? A. V

29 6. Q. How many letters are in the alphabet?

A. 11

7. Q. what word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly? A. Incorrectly

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Study

In this stressful world, people need something to entertain them. There are a lot of ways to reduce the stress. We can do anything that we like, and one of the ways is reading something that can entertain us; for example, we can read magazines, jokes, novels, newspapers, riddles, etc. “A riddle is a type of question which describes something in a difficult and confusing way, and which has a clever or amusing answer, often asked as a game. Riddles generally involve pun and require careful thinking for the solutions or answers” (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=67885&dict=CALD ). “The function of a riddle is to entertain people because a riddle can also function as a game. The riddle game is a guessing game which is funny and involves skills. The player of the game should take turns in asking the riddles, and the player who cannot answer the riddles will lose in the

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game. It is not easy to create riddles; many people have difficulty in creating riddles because it involves some linguistics aspects” (http://www.geocities.com/d_champions_hall/ezine/article2.htm).

The topic of my thesis is Linguistic Aspects found in Riddles. Since people have language perception which enables them to analyse and identify words or sentences with certain meanings, I choose this topic to make people realize the existence of linguistic aspects in riddles. Linguistic aspects can help the readers to analyze and to identify words which have a certain meaning in riddles; as a result, the readers will understand the riddles more.

In understanding riddles we need language perception. An accomplishment of our perceptual system is based on figure/ground segregation. Figure/ground segregation is the basic theory in understanding riddles.

“What lies behind our inability to see both the vase and faces at the same time is a phenomenon called figure/ground segregation” (Ungerer and

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Schmid: 157). According to Ungerer and Schmid, the picture above confirms the perceptual prominence of the picture. The factor in making the choice of the figure is up to the observer because it is the matter of personal taste (p.157). If the observer can easily switch between the two ways of looking at the picture than they will find the amusing thing in the picture (Ungerer and Schmid: 156).

This topic belongs to Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology. “Semantics is the study of the linguistic meaning of morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences” (Fromkin and Rodman: 158). According to them, there are two subfields of Semantics: Lexical Semantics (Word Meaning) and Sentential Semantics (p.158). “Pragmatics is the study of meaning as communicated by a speaker and interpreted by a listener” (Yule: 3). “Phonology is the study of the sound system of human languages” (Fromkin and Rodman: 253/303). In writing this thesis, I relate the data to the language perception which is the part of language processes. Language perception will help the reader to get the idea and to understand the meaning of the riddles.

The specific theories I use in semantics are homophones, homographs, and syntactic ambiguity. The specific theories I use in Pragmatics are reference and background knowledge. The specific theory I use in Phonology is juncture.

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I choose Semantics, Pragmatics, and Phonology as the theories of my thesis because those theories play a dominant role in creating riddles. Therefore, I think those linguistic fields are important theories in riddles. The words or phrases in riddles which contain Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology are used to trick the listener’s ears and make the riddles become unique and funny.

In analyzing the data I choose homophone, homograph, syntactic ambiguity, juncture, reference, and background knowledge as the specific theories. Through those theories the readers can see the whole content of the riddles; thus the readers will be able to understand the meaning of the riddles. The readers will know that different words can have same pronunciation, while the same word can have a different pronunciation and meaning. We will know that sentences and phrases can be interpreted in more than one meaning. Through those theories we will understand about the relationship between one sound and the sounds that immediately precede and follow it and we will also know that someone or something can be referred to a certain meaning. We are able to find the amusing answer to the riddles if we understand those theories.

I choose to analyse riddles because usually we do not realize that in creating riddles sometimes we use some linguistic aspects which make the riddles unique and funny. In reading riddles, not all people are aware

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that they find not only funny things but also some linguistic aspects from Semantics, Pragmatics, and Phonology.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The problems that I am going to analyze in my research are:

1. Which words / phrases in the riddles undergo linguistic processes?

2. What are the linguistic aspects that occur in the phrases and words in the riddles?

3. How do these aspects make the riddles unique and funny?

1.3 Purpose of the Study

In this thesis I would like:

1. To show the words / phrases in the riddles that undergo linguistic processes.

2. To know the linguistic aspects that occur in the phrases and words in the riddles

3. To know how the linguistic aspects make the riddles unique and funny.

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1.4 Methods of Research

In doing this research I follow some steps: First of all, I search for some riddles in the Internet, and then I classify them based on the linguistic processes. After that, I analyze the data by using the theory of Semantics, Pragmatics, and Phonology. Finally, I write a research report.

1.5 Organization of the Thesis

This thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter I, the Introduction, contains Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter II contains the theoretical framework of my analysis. Chapter III contains the analysis of the data. The Conclusion is put in Chapter IV, which contains my opinion about the findings. At the end of the thesis there are Bibliography and Appendices.

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CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

As we know, riddle is a guessing game which has an amusing answer and involves skills when reading it. The readers have to be careful in answering the riddle. Some people have difficulties in appreciating riddles because they involve some linguistic aspects. In reading riddles sometimes we do not realize that there are some linguistic fields involved, such as Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology.

In riddles, we not only find linguistic aspects but also relate riddles with language perceptions. Everyone has a different way in understanding something, depending on their own perception of something. In understanding riddles, people also have different perceptions about the answer to the riddles. Their language perception is based on their experiences. Through language perception, the readers can get the meaning of riddles and find the amusing thing in them.

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In my opinion, language perception not only helps readers get the meaning of riddles but also creates an amusing and unique thing in riddles.

As it is explained in Chapter I, an accomplishment of our perceptual system is based on figure/ground segregation. It is important for us to understand figure and ground; because they also help the readers find the unique thing in riddles. The reason why figure and ground are important in riddles is that through figure and ground the readers can see the two sides of the riddles, and if they can easily switch between the words, then the riddles will become unique and enjoyable.

In my analysis, I divide the riddles into three parts: written riddles, spoken riddles, and both written and spoken riddles. I divide the riddles into spoken, written and spoken-written riddles because these riddles give different effects for the readers, besides it shows the existence of linguistic aspects in riddles, so that the readers will realize and understand linguistic aspects. A riddle can be considered successful if it can create different perceptions and contain ambiguity because it is unique and enjoyable.

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From the analysis, we know that riddles deal with pun in both questions and answers, and most of them use linguistic fields such as: Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology. After I have analyzed the role of linguistic aspects in riddles, I conclude that linguistic aspects have an important role in riddles. Most of riddles are based on the linguistic aspects, especially homophones, homographs, syntactic ambiguity, reference, background knowledge, and juncture. Through linguistic aspects, the readers will understand riddles more and they also help the readers find the idea of riddles.

Since linguistic aspects have an important role in riddles, I think the readers have to understand them. I conclude that linguistic aspects are important for us in understanding the idea of riddles. If we understand the idea of each word in riddles, we will understand the whole idea of riddles and we will find the unique and funny things in riddles. If we do not know the idea of each word in riddles, certainly we will find difficulties in understanding the whole idea of riddles.

I also find out that ambiguity is the basis for most of the riddles. The theories that I use to analyze the riddles deal with ambiguity. I think the readers have to be careful in appreciating riddles so that they will not

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have wrong interpretations. It is better for the readers to understand linguistic aspects, because they will help them find the idea of the riddles and find amusing answers.

After I analyse all the riddles in this thesis, I am convinced that in riddles there is ambiguity which makes them unique and enjoyable. Since riddles are a guessing game with amusing answers, they need to have their own perception to find the answer. Besides, riddles deal with word play. Usually, in word play we find ambiguity and most of the riddles that I have found are based on ambiguity.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Caron, Jean. An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. UK: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992.

Clark, H.H. and Clark, E.V. Psychology and Language: An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc, 1977.

Fromkin, Victoria and Rodman, Robert. An Introduction to Language. USA: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1998.

Riddles.com:NIEHS Kids Riddles. 2007. 08 September 2007 <http://www.kidworkers.com/kidz_downloads/KidZ%20Musi c/rd1tx.htm#tuff>

Riddles.com:Squigly’s Jokes and Riddles. 2007. 1 April 2007 <http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/JokesAndRiddles/> Riddles. com:Jokes in English for the ESL/EFL Classroom. 2005.

<http://iteslj.org/c/jokes-riddles.html>

Roach, Peter. English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.

Ungerer, F and Schmid, H.J. An Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics. UK: Addison Wesley Longman Limited, 1996.

1.4 Methods of Research

In doing this research I follow some steps: First of all, I search for some riddles in the Internet, and then I classify them based on the linguistic processes. After that, I analyze the data by using the theory of Semantics, Pragmatics, and Phonology. Finally, I write a research report.

1.5 Organization of the Thesis

This thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter I, the Introduction, contains Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study, Method of Research, and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter II contains the theoretical framework of my analysis. Chapter III contains the analysis of the data. The Conclusion is put in Chapter IV, which contains my opinion about the findings. At the end of the thesis there are Bibliography and Appendices.

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

As we know, riddle is a guessing game which has an amusing answer and involves skills when reading it. The readers have to be careful in answering the riddle. Some people have difficulties in appreciating riddles because they involve some linguistic aspects. In reading riddles sometimes we do not realize that there are some linguistic fields involved, such as Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology.

In riddles, we not only find linguistic aspects but also relate riddles with language perceptions. Everyone has a different way in understanding something, depending on their own perception of something. In understanding riddles, people also have different perceptions about the answer to the riddles. Their language perception is

In my opinion, language perception not only helps readers get the meaning of riddles but also creates an amusing and unique thing in riddles.

As it is explained in Chapter I, an accomplishment of our perceptual system is based on figure/ground segregation. It is important for us to understand figure and ground; because they also help the readers find the unique thing in riddles. The reason why figure and ground are important in riddles is that through figure and ground the readers can see the two sides of the riddles, and if they can easily switch between the words, then the riddles will become unique and enjoyable.

In my analysis, I divide the riddles into three parts: written riddles, spoken riddles, and both written and spoken riddles. I divide the riddles into spoken, written and spoken-written riddles because these riddles give different effects for the readers, besides it shows the existence of linguistic aspects in riddles, so that the readers will realize and understand linguistic aspects. A riddle can be considered successful if it can create different perceptions and contain ambiguity because it is unique and enjoyable.

From the analysis, we know that riddles deal with pun in both questions and answers, and most of them use linguistic fields such as: Semantics, Pragmatics and Phonology. After I have analyzed the role of linguistic aspects in riddles, I conclude that linguistic aspects have an important role in riddles. Most of riddles are based on the linguistic aspects, especially homophones, homographs, syntactic ambiguity, reference, background knowledge, and juncture. Through linguistic aspects, the readers will understand riddles more and they also help the readers find the idea of riddles.

Since linguistic aspects have an important role in riddles, I think the readers have to understand them. I conclude that linguistic aspects are important for us in understanding the idea of riddles. If we understand the idea of each word in riddles, we will understand the whole idea of riddles and we will find the unique and funny things in riddles. If we do not know the idea of each word in riddles, certainly we will find difficulties in understanding the whole idea of riddles.

I also find out that ambiguity is the basis for most of the riddles. The theories that I use to analyze the riddles deal with ambiguity. I think

have wrong interpretations. It is better for the readers to understand linguistic aspects, because they will help them find the idea of the riddles and find amusing answers.

After I analyse all the riddles in this thesis, I am convinced that in riddles there is ambiguity which makes them unique and enjoyable. Since riddles are a guessing game with amusing answers, they need to have their own perception to find the answer. Besides, riddles deal with word play. Usually, in word play we find ambiguity and most of the riddles that I have found are based on ambiguity.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Caron, Jean. An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. UK: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992.

Clark, H.H. and Clark, E.V. Psychology and Language: An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc, 1977.

Fromkin, Victoria and Rodman, Robert. An Introduction to Language. USA: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1998.

Riddles.com:NIEHS Kids Riddles. 2007. 08 September 2007 <http://www.kidworkers.com/kidz_downloads/KidZ%20Musi c/rd1tx.htm#tuff>

Riddles.com:Squigly’s Jokes and Riddles. 2007. 1 April 2007 <http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/JokesAndRiddles/> Riddles. com:Jokes in English for the ESL/EFL Classroom. 2005.

<http://iteslj.org/c/jokes-riddles.html>

Roach, Peter. English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.