Figurative Language and Its Contextual Analysis in Mean Girls.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
AND ITS CONTEXTUALANALYSIS
IN MEAN GIRLS
By
Dewi Kim Oktavia Purwani
1201305063
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, in this great opportunity, I would like to send my gratitude to
The Almighty God due to His blessing and guidance I could complete this
undergraduate study. I would also sincerely pay my gratitude to I Wayan
Mulyawan, S.S., M.Hum. and Ni Ketut Alit Ida Setianingsih, S.S., M.Hum. as my
first and second supervisor who have given their time to guide me during the
accomplishment of this undergraduate study. They have given me a lot of advices,
corrections, and suggestions for this writing.
I would like to give my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati Beratha, M.A.
as the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Udayana University, I Gusti Ngurah Parthama,
S.S., M.Hum. as the Head of English Department, Faculty of Arts, Udayana
University, and my academic supervisor Putu Ayu Asty Senja Pratiwi, S.S., M.
Hum., and all of the lecturers of English Department, from where I have learnt
much.
Moreover, I would like to thank the librarians and all of the staffs of
Faculty of Arts, Udayana University for all of the references related to the topic of
this study, and helped me to finish this study.
My great appreciation also goes to my beloved parents and family who
have been giving me encouragement and much support in completing this study,
for all of the time, support, love, understanding, and finance since the very
beginning of my study. Afterwards, I would not forget all of my friends in English
ii
Department, Faculty of Arts, Udayana University, thank you for supporting and
helping me all of this time.
Finally, I do realize that this writing is far beyond perfect. Any suggestions,
correction in relation to the improvement of this writing are generally appreciated.
Denpasar, June 2016
Dewi Kim Oktavia Purwani
iii
ABSTRACT
This undergraduate study entitled “Figurative Language and Its Contextual
Analysis in the Movie Mean Girls” is focused on the use of figurative languages
in speech and intended to analyze the figurative language found in the movie
dialogue and its meaning based on the context of the situation of the conversation.
The purpose of this study is to identify what are the types of figurative languages
that can be found in the movie and also their meaning based on the context of
situation when the figurative languages were used in a conversation.
The data of this study was taken from the movie Mean Girl, through
identifying the dialogues made by the characters in the movie and marking the
time of the dialogues which are potential to be considered as figurative languages
according to the types of figurative languages by Larson (1998), Keraf (2002) and
Henry Guntur Tarigan (1986), which further analyzed using theory of context of
situation by Halliday (1989) to find out the real meaning of the figurative
language through the context.
Through the analysis, it shows that there are 28 figurative languages from
10 different types of figurative languages found in the movie, they are antithesis,
metaphor, simile, hyperbole, irony, paradox, sarcasm, euphemism, metonymy,
and synecdoche, with sarcasm as the mostly occurred type. Meanwhile, the
meaning of the figurative languages can be more understood and are varied based
on the different context of situation.
Keywords: figurative language, context of situation.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................ ii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................... v
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1
1.1 Background of the Study ............................................................. 1
1.2 Problems of the Study.................................................................. 3
1.3 Aims of Study .............................................................................. 3
1.4 Scope of Discussion..................................................................... 3
1.5 Research Methods........................................................................ 4
1.5.1 Data Source ..................................................................... 4
1.5.2 Methods and Techniques of Collecting Data .................. 4
1.5.3 Methods and Techniques of Analyzing Data .................. 5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURES, CONCEPTS, AND
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................... 7
2.1 Review of Literatures .................................................................. 7
2.2 Concepts ...................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Figurative Language ........................................................ 9
2.2.2 Context ............................................................................ 10
v
2.3 Theoretical Framework ................................................................ 11
2.3.1 Figurative Language Devices .......................................... 11
2.3.1.1 Based on Comparison ......................................... 12
2.3.1.2 Based on Opposition ........................................... 14
2.3.1.3 Based on Association .......................................... 17
2.3.1.4 Based on Repetition ............................................ 19
2.3.2 Context of Situation ........................................................ 20
CHAPTER III FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND ITS CONTEXTUAL
ANALYSIS IN MEAN GIRLS ................................................................. 22
3.1 Figurative Language and Its Contextual Analysis in Mean Girls 22
3.1.1 Antithesis ......................................................................... 22
3.1.2 Metaphor ......................................................................... 25
3.1.3 Simile .............................................................................. 36
3.1.4 Hyperbole ........................................................................ 45
3.1.5 Irony ................................................................................ 49
3.1.6 Paradox ............................................................................ 54
3.1.7 Sarcasm ........................................................................... 60
3.1.8 Euphemism ...................................................................... 71
3.1.9 Metonymy ....................................................................... 73
3.1.10 Synecdoche.................................................................... 75
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ................................................................ 79
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................... 81
vi
AND ITS CONTEXTUALANALYSIS
IN MEAN GIRLS
By
Dewi Kim Oktavia Purwani
1201305063
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
2016
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, in this great opportunity, I would like to send my gratitude to
The Almighty God due to His blessing and guidance I could complete this
undergraduate study. I would also sincerely pay my gratitude to I Wayan
Mulyawan, S.S., M.Hum. and Ni Ketut Alit Ida Setianingsih, S.S., M.Hum. as my
first and second supervisor who have given their time to guide me during the
accomplishment of this undergraduate study. They have given me a lot of advices,
corrections, and suggestions for this writing.
I would like to give my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati Beratha, M.A.
as the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Udayana University, I Gusti Ngurah Parthama,
S.S., M.Hum. as the Head of English Department, Faculty of Arts, Udayana
University, and my academic supervisor Putu Ayu Asty Senja Pratiwi, S.S., M.
Hum., and all of the lecturers of English Department, from where I have learnt
much.
Moreover, I would like to thank the librarians and all of the staffs of
Faculty of Arts, Udayana University for all of the references related to the topic of
this study, and helped me to finish this study.
My great appreciation also goes to my beloved parents and family who
have been giving me encouragement and much support in completing this study,
for all of the time, support, love, understanding, and finance since the very
beginning of my study. Afterwards, I would not forget all of my friends in English
ii
Department, Faculty of Arts, Udayana University, thank you for supporting and
helping me all of this time.
Finally, I do realize that this writing is far beyond perfect. Any suggestions,
correction in relation to the improvement of this writing are generally appreciated.
Denpasar, June 2016
Dewi Kim Oktavia Purwani
iii
ABSTRACT
This undergraduate study entitled “Figurative Language and Its Contextual
Analysis in the Movie Mean Girls” is focused on the use of figurative languages
in speech and intended to analyze the figurative language found in the movie
dialogue and its meaning based on the context of the situation of the conversation.
The purpose of this study is to identify what are the types of figurative languages
that can be found in the movie and also their meaning based on the context of
situation when the figurative languages were used in a conversation.
The data of this study was taken from the movie Mean Girl, through
identifying the dialogues made by the characters in the movie and marking the
time of the dialogues which are potential to be considered as figurative languages
according to the types of figurative languages by Larson (1998), Keraf (2002) and
Henry Guntur Tarigan (1986), which further analyzed using theory of context of
situation by Halliday (1989) to find out the real meaning of the figurative
language through the context.
Through the analysis, it shows that there are 28 figurative languages from
10 different types of figurative languages found in the movie, they are antithesis,
metaphor, simile, hyperbole, irony, paradox, sarcasm, euphemism, metonymy,
and synecdoche, with sarcasm as the mostly occurred type. Meanwhile, the
meaning of the figurative languages can be more understood and are varied based
on the different context of situation.
Keywords: figurative language, context of situation.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................ ii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................... v
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1
1.1 Background of the Study ............................................................. 1
1.2 Problems of the Study.................................................................. 3
1.3 Aims of Study .............................................................................. 3
1.4 Scope of Discussion..................................................................... 3
1.5 Research Methods........................................................................ 4
1.5.1 Data Source ..................................................................... 4
1.5.2 Methods and Techniques of Collecting Data .................. 4
1.5.3 Methods and Techniques of Analyzing Data .................. 5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURES, CONCEPTS, AND
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................... 7
2.1 Review of Literatures .................................................................. 7
2.2 Concepts ...................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Figurative Language ........................................................ 9
2.2.2 Context ............................................................................ 10
v
2.3 Theoretical Framework ................................................................ 11
2.3.1 Figurative Language Devices .......................................... 11
2.3.1.1 Based on Comparison ......................................... 12
2.3.1.2 Based on Opposition ........................................... 14
2.3.1.3 Based on Association .......................................... 17
2.3.1.4 Based on Repetition ............................................ 19
2.3.2 Context of Situation ........................................................ 20
CHAPTER III FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND ITS CONTEXTUAL
ANALYSIS IN MEAN GIRLS ................................................................. 22
3.1 Figurative Language and Its Contextual Analysis in Mean Girls 22
3.1.1 Antithesis ......................................................................... 22
3.1.2 Metaphor ......................................................................... 25
3.1.3 Simile .............................................................................. 36
3.1.4 Hyperbole ........................................................................ 45
3.1.5 Irony ................................................................................ 49
3.1.6 Paradox ............................................................................ 54
3.1.7 Sarcasm ........................................................................... 60
3.1.8 Euphemism ...................................................................... 71
3.1.9 Metonymy ....................................................................... 73
3.1.10 Synecdoche.................................................................... 75
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ................................................................ 79
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................... 81
vi