2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549

RHETORIC STYLE IN ’S BACK TO DECEMBER

Ariya Jati Diponegoro University Indonesia [email protected]

Abstract This study is concerned with how a language of rhetoric is used in the lyric of Taylor Swift‘s Back to December. The study is led by a premise that the language of literature can be found in songs, and the study is carried out to support the premise. The study is intended to depict elements of the language of rhetoric in the lyric in order to designate the style of the lyric. The study takes the lyric as a text, so it voids the music to the lyric. The study applies a textual analysis to the lyric as its research method, and it adopts Chapman‘s concept of stylistic analysis to the lyric as its approach method. The textual analysis involves interpretation of the lyric‘s lines, and the stylistic analysis incorporates linguistic and literary description of the elements of the language of rhetoric. The analyses result in conditional expressions and figurative expressions, comprising imagery, symbol, personification, and irony. In brief, the study is expected to be supplementary to general readership in music and poetry: the lyric is stylistically appealing; it is not only musical, but it is also poetic.

Keywords: language of rhetoric, lyric, textual analysis, stylistic analysis, conditional expressions, figurative expressions

Introduction style typifies the lyric, but it has not been The lyric of Taylor Swift‘s Back to particularly described yet. Specifically this December was written in a language of study is led by insufficient discussions about rhetoric. The lyric is formed with words how the language of rhetoric is used in the which are meant to say more than how the lyric to express the regret. Reviewers share words are read. The words can be considered the opinion that the lyric is about the singer‘s colloquial because almost all of the words regret; however, they do not show how the are used daily. The colloquialism makes the regret is expressed rhetorically. Based on lyric apparently simple to understand. both situations, this study is intended to Regardless of the simplicity, the lyric determine the style of the lyric by describing actually contains hidden feeling which the how the individual message is written in the lyricist attempted to express when she wrote language of rhetoric in it. the lyric. Swift is said to have written the As its research method this study lyric to express how she regrets her breakup applies a textual analysis, in which it with her ex-boyfriend. The lyricist‘s regret involves interpretation of the lyric‘s lines. tells that the lyric has an emotional effect; or, Besides that, as its approach method this the lyric is written in the language of study adopts Chapman‘s concept of stylistic rhetoric. How Swift‘s regret is expressed analysis, in which it incorporates linguistic rhetorically becomes what this study is description and literary interpretation of primarily concerned with. conditional and figurative expressions as the Generally this study is led by a language of rhetoric in the lyric. Based on premise which states that there is an the two methods, the analysis of the lyric in individual message in a song lyric, and this this study comes in three stages: one, study approves the premise. How the linguistic description of the poetic elements; individual message is contained in the song two, literary interpretation of the elements; lyric constitutes the style of the lyric. The

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549 three, relation between the linguistic apologizes for her poor actions and their description and the literary interpretation. breakup‖ (2013). Then, Peacock, a The analysis shows that the singer‘s contributing writer at Roughstock, wrote that regret is stated in conditional expressions, in Swift ―comes far too late to the realization which she wishes she could return to the that she messed up and wishes that she could times when she and her boyfriend were still change things, but of course she can't‖ together; in addition, it shows that the regret (2010). Last but not least, Welly, a music is also stated in figurative expression, which blog writer at creativedisc, wrote that the comprises imagery, symbol, personification, lyric tells how somebody regretted what they and irony. This study is expected to be had done to her ex-boyfriend (2011). beneficial for any general reader, from which However, the reviews do not specifically she or he can discover elements of poetry in explain that Swift expressed her feeling the lyric; and, likewise, elements of music in through the lyric in conditional and it. The benefit is plausible because the lyric figurative expressions. So, this study is is both poetic and musical. carried out to explain the conditional and This study was started off with the figurative expressions. writer‘s proposition that Swift‘s Back to To explain the two types of December is a good source for the learning expressions which Swift uses to express her and teaching of English language and regret in Back to December, this study literature. The proposition is inferred from applies a textual analysis and adopts the premise which states that songs can be Chapman‘s concept of language of rhetoric used ―(t)o stimulate the real use of the in stylistics. The textual analysis is applied foreign language to express personal because this study is concerned with the lyric meanings‖ (Murphey, 81). In other words, and the lyric itself is a text which needs the lyric of the song can be used to examine interpreting to reveal the feeling of regret. English grammar and English poetry, and the The textual analysis is done by words in the lyric can be interpreted to ―understanding the process of interpretation describe what the lyricist meant to express. as the effect of a relation between a reader This study is expected to supplement general and a text‖ (Belsey, 163). Thus, the textual readers with conditional and figurative analysis in this study is carried out through a expressions. Both aspects of the learning and process of interpreting the lyric after it is teaching are discussed through this study: the read. discussion of the conditional expression Chapman‘s concept of language of belongs with English grammar, and that of rhetoric is adopted because this study is the figurative expression with English oriented as a stylistic analysis of poetry, and poetry. Thus, the aspects are taken out of the Chapman‘s concept itself is presented as an lyric, and that makes the proposition. introduction to literary stylistics. Chapman‘s The proposition, moreover, is concept states that ―(t)he study of rhetoric developed from reviews on the lyric. This rested on a special kind of attitude to study chose three reviews because of their language as a faculty through which the relevance and authorship to the aspects of recipient—reader or auditor—could be discussion about the lyric. The three reviews influenced in the manner desired by the mainly concern what Swift meant to express writer or orator‖ (73). Based on this concept, when she wrote the lyric, and they were the approach to the lyric is made by written by copyrighted writers. The reviews describing the expressions through which the were written by Reuben, Peacock, and Welly writer receives the effects which the lyricist respectively. Reuben, a staff writer at Trinity sent. In other words, the approach is Tripod, wrote that the lyric ―was written concerned with how to describe the lyricist‘s about , and the song feeling using the stylistic analysis of the

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549 lyric. Needless to say, the analysis is taken to between reality (what is) and appearance explain how Swift‘s feeling is described in (what seems to be)‖ (113). the conditional and figurative expressions. The conditional expressions are Methodology referred to Swan‘s Practical English Usage. The research method of this study applies the Swan‘s book can be used as a guide in textual analysis of Swift‘s Back to English grammar because the book may December. The application of the analysis serve as an informative reference for many involves the interpretation of the words in problems in English. That makes the book the lyric to describe the lyricist‘s feeling. The usable to give suitable information about the interpretation is done literally: it involves the conditional expressions in English. interpretation of the figurative expressions in According to the book, there are three types the lyric. In this sense, the interpretation of conditional expressions in English: means how words of imagery, symbol, personification and/or irony designate the ‗first conditional‘ feeling. In addition, the approach method of if + present will + infinitive this study adopts Chapman‘s concept of If we play tennis I‘ll win. language of rhetoric in stylistics. The adoption involves the manner to the words in ‗second conditional‘ the lyric to describe the feeling. The manner if + past would + infinitive is performed idiomatically: it involves the If we played tennis I would win. interpretation of both the conditional and figurative expressions in the lyric. Thus, the ‗third conditional‘ stylistic analysis of the lyric incorporates the if + past perfect would have + past linguistic description of the conditional participle If we had played tennis I would have won. expressions and the literary interpretation of (Swan, 256) the figurative expressions. Both the research and the approach Furthermore, the figurative method form up the study method for the expressions are referred to Morner and stylistic analysis of the lyric. Accordingly, Rausch‘s NTC’s Dictionary of Literary the linguistic description needs to Terms. The dictionary is considered to give supplement the literary interpretation in operational definitions of literary terms; order to construct the stylistic analysis. Yet, consequently, for this study, it is suitable to the description and the interpretation need a define such literary terms as imagery, connector so that the two of them can relate symbol, personification, and irony. Firstly, to each other in order to complement the imagery is defined as ―(t)he making of analysis. Together, the description, the ‗pictures in words,‘ the pictorial quality of a interpretation and the connector become the literary work achieved through a collection components of the whole stylistic analysis. of images‖ (105). After that, symbol is With regard to the components, the stylistic defined as ―something concrete—an object, a analysis is divided into three stages: one, the place, a character, an action—that stands for linguistic description; two, the literary or suggests something abstract‖ (216). Then, interpretation; and three, the relation between personification is defined as ―a figure of the linguistic and the literary interpretation. speech in which human characteristics and sensibilities are attributed to animals, plants, Discussion inanimate objects, natural forces, or abstract The discussion of this study takes the lyric as ideas‖ (163). Finally, irony is defined as ―the the text to be analysed stylistically. The recognition of the incongruity, or difference, discussion, moreover, concerns the stages in the stylistic analysis of Swift‘s Back to

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549

December. Therefore, the discussion comes Swift seems to understand what it means if in three stages. she finds the chain on her ex-boyfriend‘s door. When the conditional expression in . The linguistic description line is interpreted, the expression may tell The linguistic description explains that the lyricist will understand if one day how the conditional expressions in the lyric she comes to him and he refuses to open his are used to express the lyricist‘s regret. The door for her, so it may express her feeling of conditional expressions have three types of being unwelcome anymore; and, how she structures. One conditional expression in the regrets her misdeed. lyric can be found in the chorus parts of the The description of the conditionals song, or in the second, the fourth, and the expressions denotes that Swift feels regretful sixth verse of the lyric. The conditional because now she cannot do anything to get expression is quoted in the following line: her ex-boyfriend back to her. The description ―Wishing I'd realized what I had when you is made in the three types of conditional were mine‖. The expression in the line is expressions, and the three of them share one categorized as a third conditional expression, common situation: the lyricist‘s feeling of and it may tell how Swift wishes that she had regret. One conditional expression tells about realized what she had when her ex-boyfriend their breakup, another about the lyricist‘s was still hers. When the conditional fault, and the other about her misdeed. So, expression in the line is interpreted, the the linguistic description denotes the regret expression may tell that the lyricist did not in the first, second, and third conditional really realize how her ex-boyfriend ever expression. meant to her, so it may express her feeling of losing her ex-boyfriend; and, how she regrets 2. The literary interpretation their breakup. Another conditional The literary interpretation explains expression can be found in the interlude part how the figurative expressions in the lyric of the song, or in the fifth verse of the lyric. are used to express the lyricist‘s regret. The The conditional expression is quoted in the figurative expressions comprise imagery, following line: ―If we loved again (I swear) symbol, personification, and irony. The I‘d love you right‖. The expression in the imagery is realized through a series of words line is categorized as a second conditional which creates pictorial quality in Swift‘s expression, and it may tell how Swift says ―I Back to December. One series of words of swear‖ to show that she seriously means that imagery in the lyric can be shown in the she would love him decently if they could following line: ―I haven‘t‘ seen them in a love each other again. When the conditional while‖. The words in the line present an expression in the line is interpreted, the image of absent family members which the expression may tell that the lyricist may lyricist mentions in the previous line: ―… tell realize that she will not be able to love him me how‘s your family‖. The words of decently because they cannot love each other imagery involve the lyricist‘s vision to create again, and it may express her feeling of a picture of the family members as concrete being restrained from loving him; and, how objects. The picture implicitly represents the she regrets her fault. The other conditional lyricist‘s feeling: she regrets their breakup at expression in the lyric can be found also in the moment when she is face to face with her the interlude part of the song, or in the fifth ex-boyfriend; she might not intentionally verse of the lyric. The conditional expression want to ask the question. She might simply is quoted in the following line: ―So if the try to make a conversation with him, chain is in your door I understand‖. The recalling how she ever met his family. expression in the line is categorized as a first Another series of words of imagery in the conditional expression, and it may tell how lyric can be shown in the following line: ―I

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549 watched you laughing from the passenger‘s froze. The adjective phrase ‗dark days‘ can side‖. The words in the line present on image also be designated as another symbol. The of the ex-boyfriend‘s laughter. The words of phrase can represent gloominess: their imagery involve the lyricist‘s vision and relationship seemed to be unable to continue hearing to create a picture of the ex- because of the complication. The word boyfriend as a concrete object. The picture ‗December‘ in the lyric can be designated the implicitly represents the lyricist‘s feeling of other word of symbol. The word can losing him. She seems to regret what she did represent the month when they started their to him in the past, and she might want to tell relationship, but then they lost it afterward. that she still remembers him although he is In other words, she regrets the loss; and that not around her at present. The other series of makes her want to have the relationship back words of imagery in the lyric can be shown again. in the following line: ―I miss your tan skin, The personification is realized your sweet smile‖. The words present an through attribution of human capacity to image of the absent ex-boyfriend. The words inhuman beings. The following line contains involve the lyricist‘s perception to create a an expression of personification: ―And then picture of the ex-boyfriend as abstract object. the cold came and the dark days‖. In the line, The picture implicitly represents the the structure of ‗the cold came‘ is lyricist‘s missing him. She seems to regret linguistically a clause; and, it figuratively things which made him only a memory for exemplifies an expression of personification. her, so she must want his physical presence The cold (weather), which is a natural force, instead. is attributed with the ability to arrive, and the The symbol is realized through the attribution makes the cold weather seems representation of a concrete object for an alive. The following line contains an abstract one. In the lyric, the word ‗roses‘ is expression of personification, too: ―When a symbol because the word can represent fear crept into my mind‖. In the line, the Swift‘s ex-boyfriend‘s love for her. structure of ‗fear crept‘ is linguistically a Structurally, the word ‗roses‘ in the first clause; and, it figuratively exemplifies verse is placed in the same position as the another expression of personification. The word ‗love‘ in the third verse. Apparently the fear, which is a feeling, is attributed with the concrete object ‗roses‘ stand for the abstract ability to crawl, and the attribution makes the object ‗love‘. fear seems alive as well. The irony is realized through Verse 1: dissimilarity between what is expected to You gave me roses and I left them there happen and what actually happens. The to die following line contains the words of irony: Verse 3: ―It turns out freedom ain‘t nothing but You gave me all your love/ And all I missing you‖. In the line an irony of situation gave you was goodbye befalls on Swift: she thought that by leaving

him and living her life by herself, she would Accordingly, what happened to the experience what freedom would be like. Yet, roses represents what happened to his love. what she did only gave her the experience of Besides that, the following line contains missing him. Thus, it is ironic how the words of symbol: ―And then the cold came lyricist wanted the breakup but then she and the dark days‖. The noun phrase ‗the regrets it. cold‘ can be designated as another symbol in the lyric. The phrase can represent the 3. The relation between the two complication which befell on Swift‘s and her The linguistic description designates ex-boyfriend‘s relationship: their relationship the first, second, and third conditional became complicated as the relationship

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549 expressions to convey Swift‘s regret. Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Furthermore, the literary interpretation Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2005. designates the imagery, symbol, Print. personification, and irony to convey the Swift, Taylor. ―Back to December‖. regret. Thus, in this study the linguistic directlyrics. 1 July 2015. Web. description supplements the literary Welly. ―Single of The Day: Taylor Swift – interpretation in order to describe the regret. Back To December‖. Creativedisc. 20 In other words, the relation between the two January 2011. is supplementary to each other. 4 February 2016. Web.

Conclusion Swift‘s regret in Back to December is Appendix rhetorically expressed. The rhetoric has been Back To December specifically overlooked; however, this study Taylor Swift figures out that her regret is expressed with 1 [Verse] the first, second, and third conditional I‘m so glad you made time to see expressions as well as with the imagery, me symbol, personification, and irony. The How‘s life, tell me how‘s your textual analysis of the lyric in stylistics family denotes that the linguistic description is I haven‘t seen them in a while mutually related to the literary interpretation. You‘ve been good, busier than The relation, in all, indicates that the lyric is ever not only musical, but it is also poetic. Small talk, work and the weather Your guard is up and I know why References Because the last time you saw me Belsey, Catherine. (2005). ―Textual Analysis Is still burning in the back of your as A Research Method‖. Research mind Methods for English Studies. Gabriele You gave me roses and I left Griffin. Ed. Edinburgh: Edinburgh them there to die University Press. Chapman, Raymond. (1973). Linguistics and 2 [Chorus] Literature. London: Edward Arnold Ltd. So this is me swallowing my Griffin, Gabriele. (2005). Research Methods pride for English Studies. Edinburgh: Standing in front of you saying Edinburgh University Press. I'm sorry for that night Morner, Kathleen, and Ralph Rausch. And I go back to December all (1991). NTC’s Dictionary of Literary the time. Terms. Illinois: NTC Publishing Group. It turns out freedom ain‘t nothing Murphey, Tim. (1992). Music and Song. but missing you Oxford: Oxford University Press. Wishing I'd realized what I had Peacock, Bobby. (2010). ―Taylor Swift - when you were mine "Back To December‖ Single‖. I go back to December turn Roughstock. 16 November 2010. 4 around and make it all right February 2016 I go back to December all the Reuben, Savahna. ―Taylor Swift reveals time. hidden messages within her song lyrics‖. Trinity Tripod. 11 February 2013. 4 February 3 [Verse] 2016. Web. These days I haven‘t been sleeping Staying up late playing back

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2nd English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Electronic ISSN: 2579-7263 Proceedings – (ELLiC Proceedings Vol. 2, 2018) CD-ROM ISSN: 2579-7549

myself leaving But this is me swallowing my When your birthday passed and I pride didn‘t call Standing in front of you saying Then I think about summer I'm sorry for that night All the beautiful times And I go back to December I watched you laughing from the It turns out freedom ain't nothing passenger side but missing you And realized I loved you in the Wishing I'd realized what I had fall when you were mine And then the cold came and the I'd go back to December turn dark days around and make it all right When fear crept into my mind I'd go back to December turn You gave me all your love around and change my own mind And all I gave you was goodbye I go back to December all the time 4 [Chorus] All the time So this is me swallowing my Adapted from pride http://www.directlyrics.com/taylor-swift- Standing in front of you saying back-to-december-lyrics.html I‘m sorry for that night And I go back to December all the time. It turns out freedom ain‘t nothing but missing you Wishing I realized what I had when you were mine I go back to December turn around and change my own mind I go back to December all the time.

5 [Interlude] I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile. So good to me, so right And how you held me in your arms that September night The first time you ever saw me cry Maybe this is wishful thinking Probably mindless dreaming If we loved again I swear I‘d love you right I‘d go back in time and change it but I can‘t So if the chain is in your door I understand

6 [Chorus]

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