An Analysis of Figurative Language in Taylor Swift’s Songs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30812/humanitatis.v11i2.4818Keywords:
Figurative Language, Song, Taylor SwiftAbstract
The study aimed to explore the figurative language used in Taylor Swift’s songs, with an emphasis on identifying the various types of figurative language employed. The descriptive qualitative research method was used to identify and analyze the figurative language present in the songs of Taylor Swift. This approach involved a detailed examination of the lyrics, focusing on categorizing and interpreting various forms of figurative language. Utilizing a theory developed by Greg Johnson and Thomas Roscoe Arp, in collecting the data, the researcher used a non-participation technique. The songs of Taylor Swift served as the object of this investigation. The findings of this study indicated that 18 data of figurative language were identified and categorized. The researchers discovered that simile was the most prevalent form of figurative language. Figurative language was found in several of Taylor Swift’s songs, including "Red" from the Red album, "Shake It Off" from the 1989 album, "Back to December," "Mean," and "Enchanted" from the Speak Now album, "Cruel Summer" and "Daylight" from the Lover album, "Blank Space" and "Style" from the 1989 album, and "Slut" from the Midnights album.
References
Agustina, A. E., & Mustikawati, Y. (2023). Analysis of Figurative Language in Song Lyrics “Make It Right” and “Permission to Dance” by BTS. ELITERATE: Journal of English Linguistics and Literature Studies, 2(2), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.26858/eliterate.v2i2
Ambalegin, A., & Arianto, T. (2020). Figures of Speech Reflecting Loathing. Jurnal BASIS (Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris), 7(2), 423–434. https://doi.org/10.33884/basisupb.v7i2.2487
Ardhyanti, S. V., & Supriyatiningsih, S. (2020). Figurative Language Analysis in Celine Dion’s Song Lyrics Falling Into You Album. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 3(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v3i1.p11-19
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE.
Harya, T. D. (2017). An Analysis of Figurative Languages Used in Coelho’s Novel Entitled “Alchemist”. Premise: Journal of English Education and Applied Linguistics, 5(2), 46–63. https://doi.org/10.24127/pj.v5i2.815
Johnson, G., & Arp, T. (2017, January 1). Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense (13th edition). Cengage Learning.
Loveana, N. F., Hawa, F., & Wahyuni, S. (2021). The Analysis of Figurative Language Used in Meghan Trainor’s Album “Title”. Proceeding of English Teaching, Literature and Linguistics (Eternal) Conference, 1(1), 418–426. https://conference.upgris.ac.id/index.php/etll/article/view/2739
Milana, H., & Ardi, H. (2021). An Analysis of Figurative Language in The Song Lyrics by Saif Adam. English Language and Literature, 9(2), 325. https://doi.org/10.24036/ell.v9i3.111364
Munte, M., & Afriana, A. (2023). Hyperbole Expression in “Cinderella” 2021 Selected Soundtrack Songs. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 11(2), 1202–1220. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v11i2.3880
Nursolihat, S., & Kareviati, E. (2020). An Analysis of Figurative Language Used in the Lyric of “A Whole New World” by Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education, 3(4), 477–482. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v3i4.p477-482
Putri, A. A., Molla, N. L., & Jamaludin, S. (2022). An Analysis of Figurative Language and Imagery Used in Dua Lipa’s Song “Levitating”. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 5(6), 1156–1165. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v5i6.p1156-1165
Sudaryanto, S. (2015). Metode dan Aneka Teknik Analisis Bahasa. Sanata Dharma University Press.
Swarniti, N. W. (2022). Analysis of Figurative Language in “Easy On Me” Song Lyric. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 8(1), 13–18. https://doi.org/10.55637/jr.8.1.4708.13-18
Syafitri, D., & Marlinton, M. (2018). An Analysis of Figurative Language Used in Edgar Allan Poe’s Poems. Linguistic, English Education and Art (LEEA) Journal, 2(1), 43–59. https://doi.org/10.31539/leea.v2i1.453
Yulianda, N., & Sunra, L. (2022). An Analysis of Figurative Languages Used in William Shakespeare’s Sonnets. ELITERATE: Journal of English Linguistics and Literature Studies, 1(3), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.26858/eliterate.v1i3
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Angelina Sandjaja, Afriana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
