AN ANALYSIS OF READABILITY LEVEL OF SHORT STORIES WITH LESS THAN 300 WORDS TAKEN FROM O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE (A STUDY BASED ON A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS APPROACH)
commit to user AN ANALYSIS OF READABILITY LEVEL OF SHORT STORIES WITH LESS THAN 300 WORDS TAKEN FROM O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE (A STUDY BASED ON A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS APPROACH) THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of Requirements
For Sarjana Sastra Degree of English Department Faculty of Cultural Sciences
By:
Dewi Ruth MeiC0309024 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY 2015
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- James Dean
commit to user MOTTO Dream as if you'll live forever.
Live as if you'll die today.
- My parents
- My friends
- My self
commit to user DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Alhamdullillahhirobbil’ alamin. First of all I would like to thank to Allah SWT for the entire blessing, protection, and guidance in conducting this thesis.
This thesis will not be completed if there are no supports, assistances, and prayers from many people.
In this opportunity, I would like to thank to: 1.
Prof. Drs. Riyadi Santosa, M.Ed., Ph.D as the Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences for allowing this thesis to be completed successfully.
2. Drs. Agus Hari Wibowo, M.A., Ph.D as the Head of English Department for his permission in accomplishing this thesis.
3. Dr. Tri Wiratno, M.A as my thesis consultant and academic adviser for his guidance during my study until I can complete my thesis.
4. All the lecturers in English Department for the knowledge that is taught.
5. My parents, mumi and pupi, for the endless support, infinite prayers, and unlimited other things. Thank you for the roots to stand and wings to fly you gave me. I love you.
6. Alifa, Astrini, Anggun, Deli, and Mbak Desi for all the support after all this time. Since 2009 and counting, yeah?
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7. Amal and Pia, my highschool spazzing buddies, thank you for all the encouragement and all the spazzing we used to do.
8. All my friends and other people that cannot be mentioned here for their encouragement and motivation whether it ’s directly or indirectly.
Regardless of my effort in completing this thesis as good as possible, it is the fact that this thesis is still far from being perfect. Therefore I will be thankful for the future suggestion and advices given regarding this thesis.
Surakarta, June 2015 The Researcher Dewi Ruth Mei
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PRONOUNCEMENT
I pronounce that the thesis entitled “AN ANALYSIS OF READABILITY LEVEL OF SHORT STORIES WITH LESS THAN 300 WORDS TAKEN FROM O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE (A STUDY BASED ON A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS APPROACH)
” is originally conducted by the researcher. It is not plagiarism nor conducted by others. The things related to the other’s work are written in quotations and included within the bibliography.
If the thesis is proven as a plagiarism work, then I am ready to take the responsibility.
Surakarta, June 2015 The Researcher Dewi Ruth Mei
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title……….................................................................................. i The Approval of Consultant
……................................................ ii The Approval of the Board Examiners ........................................ iii Motto ........................................................................................... iv Dedication .................................................................................... v Acknowledgement........................................................................ vi Pronouncement ............................................................................ viii Table of Contents ........................................................................ ix List of Figures .............................................................................. xii List of Tables ............................................................................... xiii Abstract ........................................................................................ xiv
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION A. Research Background…………………………………… 1 B. Research Questions ……………………………………... 5 C. Research Objectives ……………………………………. 6 D. Research Benefits…………………………..…………… 6 E. Scope of the Study ………………………………..…….. 7 F. Research Methodology …………………………………. 7 G. Thesis Organization ……………………………………. 8 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW A. Short Story …………………………………..…………. 9
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Flash Fiction …………………………………………… 9
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Readability …………………………...……….……....... 10 1.
Concept of Readability ……………………....…. 11 2. Factors of Readability ………………………….. 11 D. Systemic Functional Linguistics …………......……….... 13 1.
Text and Context …………………......………… 13 2. Register …………………………………………. 15 3. Lexicogrammar ………………………………... 17 a.
Clause system ………………………...... 17 b. MOOD system and MOOD structure ….. 20 c. Thematic system ……………………..… 21 d. Transitivity …………………………..… 23 e. Group System…………………….…… 34 f. Technicality and Nominalization ……… 39 g.
Lexical Density …………………………. 39 E. Cohesion ……………………………………………… 40 1.
Grammatical Cohesion ……………………....… .40 2. Lexical Cohesion ……..…………………….…. 43 F. Text Structure ………………………………………..… 45 G.
Genre …………………………………………………… 46 1.
Service Genre ………………………………..… 46 2. Factual Genre …………..……………………… 47 3. Story Genre ……………………….…………… 50
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A. Type of Research……………………………………..… 52 B. Data and Source of Data ………………………...……... 52 C. Sample and Technique of Sampling …….…………..…. 52 D. Technique of Collecting Data…………...……………… 53 E. Research Procedure ………………………….………… 54
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CHAPTER IV: DATA ANALYSIS A. Data Description…………………………….…...……... 56 1. Data Description of Text 1…………………...… 56 2. Data Description of Text 2…………….……...… 62 3. Data Description of Text 3 …………………..… 66 4. Data Description of Text 4 ………..…………… 72 B. Data Interpretation...…………………………….……… 75 1. Data Interpretation of Text 1 …….…………..… 75 2. Data Interpretation of Text 2 …………………… 79 3. Data Interpretation of Text 3 ………….……….. 83 4. Data Interpretation of Text 4 ……….………..… 87 C. Discussion ………………………………..………….… 91 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION A. Conclusion ……………………………….………..…… 99 B. Recommendation ……………………………………… 100 Bibliography Appendices
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LIST OF FIGURES2.1 MOOD System ….…………………………………..…… 20
2.2 Interpersonal Interaction in a Clause …………………..… 22
2.3 Types of Participants and Process in English …………..… 24
2.4 The Structure of Nominal Group …………..……………… 35
2.5 The Classification of Verbal Group …..……………..…… 37
2.6 Factual Genre …………………….……………………..… 49
2.7 Story Genre ……………………………………………..… 51
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LIST OF TABLES4.3.1 Complexity of Clause of Text III ……………………….. 66
4.4.4 Complexity of Adverbial Group of Text IV ……............… 72
4.4.3 Complexity of Verbal Group of Text IV ………….……… 72
4.4.2 Complexity of Nominal Group of Text IV ……………...… 71
4.4.1 Complexity of Clause of Text IV ……………………….… 71
4.3.5 Text Structure of Text III …………………………….…... 69
4.3.4 Complexity of Adverbial Group of Text III ……………… 67
4.3.3 Complexity of Verbal Group of Text III …………….…… 67
4.3.2 Complexity of Nominal Group of Text III ……….………. 66
4.2.5 Text Structure of Text II …………………………………… 62
4.1.1 Complexity of Clause of Text I ……………..………….… 57
4.2.4 Complexity of Adverbial Group of Text II ………………... 64
4.2.3 Complexity of Verbal Group of Text II ………..…………. 63
4.2.2 Complexity of Nominal Group of Text II ……………….. 62
4.2.1 Complexity of Clause of Text II …………………………. 62
4.1.5 Text Structure of Text I ……………………………….….. 60
4.1.4 Complexity of Adverbial Group of Text I …..…………… 58
4.1.3 Complexity of Verbal Group of Text I …………...……… 58
4.1.2 Complexity of Nominal Group of Text I …………….…… 57
4.4.5 Text Structure of Text IV ……………………………….… 73
AN ANALYSIS OF READABILITY LEVEL OF SHORT STORIES
WITH LESS THAN 300 WORDS TAKEN FROM O, THE OPRAH
MAGAZINE(A STUDY BASED ON A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL
LINGUISTICS APPROACH)
1 Dewi Ruth Mei
2 Dr. Tri Wiratno, M.A
ABSTRACT
This research belongs to a qualitative research applying descriptive method. This research analyzed the readability level of short stories with less than 300 words using Systemic Functional Linguistics approach. It aims to find out the readability level of each text. It is also intended to know whether the word count limitation brings significant difference in the readability level.
The data of the research are the performance in the frame of Systemic Functional Linguistics including complexity of clause and groups, technicality and nominalization, lexical density, cohesion, and text structure. The source of data are short stories under 300 words entitled
“Ad Infinitum” by Mark Leyner; “Her Number” by Antonya Nelson; “Vista di Mare” by Stuart Dybek; and “Witness” by John Edgar Wideman. This research was conducted through Systemic Functional Linguistic approach. The data were taken by using total sampling which belongs to purposive sampling method.
This research was conducted by analyzing the source of data based on the complexity of clause and groups, technicality and nominalization, lexical density, cohesion, and text structure. Then the data descriptions were interpreted and used to determine the readability level of each text.
The result of the analysis found out that all of the texts employ less technicalities and nominalizations, low lexical density, have cohesive logical relation, and use appropriate genre belongs to story genre. The difference found in the complexity of clause and groups with Text I has the same amount of simplex and complex clause, Text II and Text IV dominated by simplex clause, and Text III dominated by complex clause. Considering all this aspects, it indicates that all texts have high readability level with Text II possessing the highest readability level among all.
In conclusion, despite the 300 words limitation, the writers are able to successfully deliver their story to the readers. It is recommended to the next research to explore more elements in SFL as a background of their research especially regarding readability.
1 2 Student Name (C0309024) commit to user Thesis Consultant