การวิเคราะห์ความหมายภาษาไม่ตรงตัวในเนื้อหาบทเพลงโดยบรูโน่ มาร์ส Analysis of Non-Literal Meaning in Song Lyrics by Bruno Mars

การวิเคราะห์ความหมายภาษาไม่ตรงตัวในเนื้อหาบทเพลงโดยบรูโน่ มาร์ส Analysis of Non-Literal Meaning in Song Lyrics by Bruno Mars

การวิเคราะห์ความหมายภาษาไม่ตรงตัวในเนื้อหาบทเพลงโดยบรูโน่ มาร์ส Analysis of Non-literal meaning in Song Lyrics by Bruno Mars

ดร.ประดิษฐ์ นารีรักษ์1 Dr. Pradit Nareerak บทคัดย่อ การวิจัยครั้งนี้มีจุดมุ่งหมายเพื่อวิเคราะห์ความหมายภาษาไม่ตรงตัวในเนื้อหาบทเพลงโดยบรูโน่ มาร์ส โดย การศึกษาใช้การพรรณนาวิเคราะห์จากการศึกษาเนื้อหาของบทเพลง ผลการศึกษาพบว่าภาษาไม่ตรงความหมายถูก พบใน 17 บทเพลงจากทั้งหมด 21 บทเพลง และภาษาไม่ตรงความหมายที่พบมีทั้งหมด 36 ประโยค และชนิดที่ใช้ มากที่สุดในบทเพลงคือ นามมัยมี 11 ประโยค หรือ 30.55 เปอร์เซ็นต์ รองลงมาคือ อุปลักษณ์มี 10 ประโยค หรือ 27.78%. เปอร์เซ็นต์ อติพจน์พบเพียง 6 ประโยค หรือ 16.67 เปอร์เซ็นต์ อุปมาพบ 5 ประโยคหรือ13.89 เปอร์เซ็นต์ บุคลาธิษฐานพบ 3 ประโยค หรือ 8.57 เปอร์เซ็นต์ ส่วนอนุนามนัย มีเพียงUnivercity 1 ประโยค หรือ 2.86 เปอร์เซ็นต์ ส่วนปฏิพจน์ไม่มีปรากฏในเนื้อหาของบทเพลงใดๆ ค าส าคัญ: การวิเคราะห์, ความหมายภาษาไม่ตรงตัว, เนื้อหาบทเพลง, บรูโน่ มาร์ส Rajabhat Abstract

The purpose of the research was to analyzePhet non -literal meaning in the song Lyrics by Bruno Mars. The data were analyzed using descriptive contentConference analysis. The findings of the study revealed that non-literal meaning expressions were found in seventeen songs out of twenty one songs, and thirty six none-literal meaning expressions were used in the lyrics, and the most used kind of none-literal meaningKamphaeng in the albumNational was metonymy which has 11 sentences or was at 30.55%, followed by metaphor, which has 10 sentences or was at 27.78%. Hyperbole has 6 sentences or was 1st at 16.67%. Simile has 5 sentences or was at 13.89%. Personification has 3 sentences or was at 8.33%. Synecdoche has only 1 sentence or was at 2.78%. Only Paradox is not used inThe any songs. Keywords: Analysis, Non-literal meaning, Song Lyrics, Bruno Mars

Introduction

1 ผู้ช่วยศาสตราจารย์ประจ าสาขาวิชาภาษาอังกฤษ คณะมนุษยศาสตร์และสังคมศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏกาแพงเพชร

Language plays very important role to human life and it is very difficult to imagine life without the language. We use the language to communicate with each other in various forms such as speaking, writing, including body language. So studying the language is very important for human beings. The study of language meaning is important in linguistic branch. Parker and Riley (2010, p. 26) said that the study of meaning of words, phrases, and sentence is called Semantics. In Semantics, meaning can be divided into two parts: literal meaning and non-literal meaning. Literal meaning means the explanation of the exact words as stated in the dictionary. On the contrary, when the speaker speaks something, and intends to convey its meaning different from the meaning of the words he mentions, it is called non-literal meaning. Non-literal meaning is traditionally called figurative language or figurative meaning. Figurative language is a technique in writing in which the author temporarilyUnivercity interrupts the order, construction, or meaning of the writing for a particular effect. This provides a writer with the opportunity to write imaginatively, it also tests the imagination of the reader, forcing the reader to go below the surface of a literary work into deep, hidden meanings. In literary works such as novel, drama, prose,Rajabhat poem, short story, the writer often puts non-literary meaning so as to make his work sound elegant, run smooth, appeal to the readers and beautify the language. The use of non-literal meaning can also be found in song lyrics. Bruno Mars or Perter HernandezPhet released his first album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ in 2010, which many songs such as Just the Way YouConference are, Grenade and The lazy Song proved to be popular around the world. His second album ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ was released in 2012. Many songs such as Locked Out of Heaven and When I Was Your Man has become international popular. The songKamphaeng lyrics in BrunoNational Mars’s albums are interesting and not difficult to understand. A researcher chooses the song lyrics in his two albums - Doo-Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox as1st the object of the analysis because some of non-literal meanings were contained in the song lyrics and it is assumed that there are many interesting non-literal meanings in the lyrics whichThe are worthy to be analyzed semantically.

Purposes of the study 1. To find out the types of non-literal words in the song lyrics by Bruno Mars. 2. To analyze the meaning of each non-literal meaning in the song lyrics by Bruno Mars.

Research Questions 1. How many types of non-literal words found in the song lyrics by Bruno Mars.? 2. What is the meaning of each non-literal word found the in song lyrics by Bruno Mars.?

Scope of the study The scope of the study is focused on analysis of non-literal meaning, namely Simile, Hyperbole, Personification, Metaphor, Metonymy, Synecdoche and Paradox found in the song lyrics of the two albums – Doo-Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars.

Methodology This research employs a qualitative method with an emphasis on analysis and interpretation of non-literal meaning found in the song lyrics by BrunoUnivercity Mars. The data were collected from written sources, such as textbooks, thesis, dictionaries and websites. The analysis process was done in analytical description and reported in narrative styles. Findings From the analysis of non-literal meaning of the lyricsRajabhat of 21 songs in the albums of Doo- Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars, it was found that non-literal meaning expressions appear in 17 songs as follows: Phet

Simile Conference Simile is a kind of non-literal meaning in which a comparison is expressed by the specific use of a word or phrase. In the album, five similes are totally found in four songs, namely Our First Time, Liquor Store Blues, Just The Way You Are, Gorilla: 1. Treat you like a princessKamphaeng (Our First time)National The princess1st is a beautiful, delicate, fragile girl who needs protection. In this passage, the singer compares his lover with a princess because she is beautiful and delicate, and he must protect herThe and treat her as much as he can. 2. you’re so delicious/like ice cream on a sunny day (Our First time) Ice cream is a frozen sweet food made from cream or milk and sugar (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2002, p. 707). The singer compares the girl who he is having intercourse with ice cream because the girl’s body and her smell, in his opinion, will be perfect and satisfy his desire. 3. I’m flying high like superman (Liquor Store Blues) The superman is a man with special power which a common man does not have. He sometimes can fly in the sky and protect the innocent people. In this song, the singer compares himself with a super man after he drank much liquor.

4. Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they’re not shining (Just The Way You Are) The singer compares the eyes of a girl whom he falls in love with the stars. When the star is shining at night, it looks very nice and beautiful. So in this passage, the singer means that the girl whom he falls in love is more beautiful than the shining of the star. 5. You and me baby making love like gorillas (Gorilla) The singer compares him and his girl making love like gorillas mating. Metaphor Metaphor is a kind of non-literal meaning in which a comparison is not explicitly stated, but instead is simply equated with what is stand for (Prasad, 2001, p. xiii). In this album, nine metaphors are totally found in six songs, namely Our First Time, Runaway Baby, The Other Side, Gorilla, Treasure, Natalie: Univercity 1. You’re my desire (Our First Time) Desire is a strong feeling of wanting to have or do something (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2006, p. 375). The singer compares a Rajabhatgirl who he is going to have sex with desire. So the expression means the girl is the one who can give him pleasure. 2. I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing (RunawayPhet Baby) The wolf is a fierce wild animal hunting its prey in groups. Even though the wolf sometimes looks nice and lovely, especially Conference its fur, it is fierce and dangerous. The singer compares him with a wolf in sheep’s clothing. So the literal meaning of this line means he is a dangerous man who intends to hunt for innocent girls. 3. I’m a rolling stoneKamphaeng (Runaway Baby)National The rolling stone means a person who moves often and never settles down in one place or with anyone.1st The singer compares him with a rolling stone. So the literal meaning of this line meansThe that the singer warns all girls who meet him or associate with him to get away from him because he will not truly love anyone and never settle down with any girls. 4. I’ll be the light to guide you (Runaway Baby) The light means brightness from the sun or from the light, which allows you to see things (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2002, p. 825). The singer compares him with the light. The literal meaning of this line means the singer will be a consultant or the one who helps his lover solve problems when she is in trouble. 5. I’m a monster (The Other Side)

The monster is a large, strange, horrible, and frightening creature. Nobody wants to face it. The singer compares him with a monster. So the literal meaning of this line means the singer himself is not a good man. 6. I promise it’s a killer (Gorilla) The killer means someone or something kills or destroys something. The singer compares his action with a killer. The true meaning of this line is that the singer is the dominant one who is going to destroy her virgin (having sex). 7. Honey you’re my golden star The golden star is superiority. The singer compares his lover with a golden star. So the literal meaning of this line probably means she is the precious one who he loves the most. 8. You are my treasure (Treasure) Univercity Treasure is a very valuable thing that we like to keep and collect for our own. The singer compares his lover with treasure. So the literal meaning of this line means she is the precious one who he loves the most. 9. Little miss snake eyes ruined my life (Natalie) Rajabhat Snake eyes refers to the person with malicious intentions, even though he/she tries to hide the fact. The singer compares the girl’s eyesPhet with snake eyes. So the literal meaning of this line means she is the dangerous girl who has ill will intentionConference to ruin his life, even though she is beautiful.

Hyperbole Hyperbole is a kindKamphaeng of non-literalNational meaning that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create1st a strong emotional response. In the album, six hyperboles are totally found in five songs, namely Our First Time, Talking to The Moon, Just The Way You Are, Treasure: 1. Like ice creamThe on a sunny day/ Gonna eat you before you melt away (Our First Time) It is possible that the singer can eat his lover before she melt away, even though he compare his lover as ice cream because no one dare eat human fresh. So the literal meaning of this line means mean I will have sex with you as much as I am satisfied before you go away from me.

2. Cause every night/I’m talking to the moon (Talking to The Moon) It is impossible that the singer can talk to the moon every night, and the moon cannot understand human language.

3. We would live forever (The Other Side). It is impossible that the singer and his lover will live forever because nobody can escape death. We certainly will die one day. So the literal meaning of this line means the singer and his lover will live together till the end of life. 4. when you smile/The whole world stops and stares for a while (Just The Way You Are) It is impossible that the smile of the girl who the singer falls in love will have the world stops and stare at her because the beauty of each individual just stuns someone but not all. So the literal meaning of this line probably means her smile and beauty have the singer and the others fall in love with her. 5. Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day (Just The Way You Are) It is impossible that the singer can kiss the girl lips all day.Univercity Try to imagine kissing all day, what will happen? So the literal meaning of this line probably means the singer loves his lover very much and would like to kiss her beautiful lips. 6. You’re everything I see in my dream (Treasure) It is impossible that the singer will see onlyRajabhat his lover in his dream, he might dream of the other things. When people dream, they dream of many things. So the expression above is impossible. The literal meaning of thisPhet line probably means when the singer sleeps he often dreams of his lover. Conference Personification Personification consists in attributing human characteristics to something nonhuman or sometimes the characteristics of other living things to something inanimate. In this album, three personifications areKamphaeng totally foundNational in three songs, namely Mary You, Young Girl, and Moonshine: 1. I’ll go get1st a ring, let the choir bells sing like oooh (Marry You) The bell is depicted in this line as a human being. The bell has no mouth. It is certain thatThe it cannot sing like a human. The possible interpretation for this line might mean that ‘let the bells make a noise as a symbol of wedding’. 2. All these roads steer me wrong (Young Girl) The road is depicted as a human in this line. The road cannot steer human toward somewhere or something. Even though the word ‘steer’ means direct or control, it cannot control or direct human. When the man walks, he walks along the road. The road does not have the man walk. So the possible interpretation for this line might mean the singer cannot find the right roads and gets lost the way. 3. Moonshine, take us to the stars tonight/Take us to that special place (Moonshine)

Moonshine is inanimate and is depicted as a human in this line. It is impossible that the moonshine takes a human to the stars or to the special place because it has no hands and eyes as a human. So the possible expression for this line is that the singer drinks a lot of moonshine, and when he gets drunk he imagines that he could go to the stars and the special place. Synecdoche Synecdoche is a kind of non-literal meaning which mentions a part of something to suggest the whole. In this album, one synecdoche are totally found in one song, namely Show me: 1. Your eyes say I’m easy (Show me) Eye is regarded as a part of our body, but in this line, it refers to a woman whom a singer mentions. So the literal meaning in this line means you might think that I am an easy person. Metonymy Univercity In metonymy, instead of naming something, the poet substitutes something associated with it. In this album, ten metonymies were found. In this album, eleven metonymies are totally found in seven songs namely, The Lazy Song, Mary You, Count ON Me, Young Girls, Locked Out Of Heaven, Gorilla, Moonshine. Rajabhat 1. Black, black, black and blue, beat me ‘til I’m numb (Grenade) Black and blue in this line is not colors,Phet but it means torment, suffering or unhappiness in a singer’s heart. So the literal meaning of this line meansConference you can torment me or make me unhappy until I’m numb. 2. Click to MTV so they can teach me how to dugie/‘Cause in my castle I’m the freaking man (The Lazy Song) The castle in this Kamphaengline is not a largeNational building, but it is just a private room of the singer. So the literal meaning1st of this line means the singer can do everything as his friends do in my own private room. 3. Or is it theseThe dancing juices? (Mary You) The dancing juices do not refer to common drinking juices, but it is a kind of alcohol or it is the juice that makes ones get up and dance. 4. If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea/I’ll sail the world to find you (Count On Me) The world in this line is not the planet; it is the surface of sea, lake, or river. So the literal meaning of this line means the singer would move across the surface of sea, lake or river to find his lover if she got stuck in the middle of the sea. 5. You’ll be the death of me (Young Girls)

Death in this line does not mean that the girl will be the death of the singer. But it probably means the girl is the one who destroys him because she does not love him but she just needs something from him. 6. But swimming in your world is something spiritual (Locked Out Of Heaven) The term ‘world’ in this line means love - love for the beautiful girl. So the literal meaning of this line might mean falling in love with the girl makes the singer feel happy and deeply impressed. 7. Cause your sex takes me to paradise (Locked Out Of Heaven) The term means happiness or delight. So the literal meaning of this passage might means ‘making love with you makes me feel happy and delighted’. 8. Open up your gates cause I can’t wait to see the light (Locked OutUnivercity Of Heaven) The term ‘gate’ in this line does not mean door, and the word ‘light’ does not refer to the brightness from the sun or from a light, whereas the former refers to the girl’s heart, and the latter means happiness. So the literal meaning of this passage might mean ‘please open your heart because I really want to see happiness of love’.Rajabhat 9. You got your legs up in the sky/With the devil in your eyes (Gorilla) The term ‘devil’ refers to lust.Phet So the literal meaning of this line means her legs are probably wrapped around his neck and her eyes Conferenceare full of lust. 10. It’s something incredible, there’s sex in your chemicals (Moonshine) The term ‘sex’ in this line does not mean sexual intercourse, and the word ‘chemicals’ does not mean a kind of substance used in chemistry, but the former refers to happiness or pleasure, and theKamphaeng latter meansNational alcohol. So the literal meaning of this line means ‘there is something 1stincredible, the taste of alcohol gives me pleasure’. 11. Just let your fire set me free (Moonshine) TheThe term ‘fire’ in this line is not flames or heat, but it refers to alcohol. So the literal meaning of this line means ‘let the power of alcohol set me free’.

Conclusion An analysis of non-literal meaning of the song Lyrics by Bruno Mars was found that there are many kinds of non-literal meaning expressions used in the songs. Even though the meaning of the non-literal expression is not easy to be interpreted, it makes the listeners interested in the songs and more impressive. Moreover, it makes the songs more valuable and worthy to listen to.

The albums of Doo-Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox consist of 21 songs, but non-literal meaning expressions were only found in sixteen songs. Thirty five none-literal meaning expressions were found in the lyrics, and the most used kind of none-literal meaning was metonymy, which has 11 sentences or was at 30.55%, followed by metaphor, which has 10 sentences or was at 27.78%. Hyperbole has 6 sentences or was at 16.67%. Simile has 5 sentences or was at 13.89%. Personification has 3 sentences or was at 8.33%. Synecdoche has only 1 sentence or was at 2.78%. Only Paradox is not used in any songs. Suggestion An analysis of non-literal meaning in song lyrics is one of the best ways to help the readers increase English vocabulary and knowledge about the hidden deep meaning containing in the songs. In addition, from an analysis of Non-literal meaning of the song Lyrics by Bruno Mars, a researcher suggests that the further research of non-literal meaning in theUnivercity other albums of song lyric by any bands or singers or the other genres of literature such as poetry, plays or prose should be conducted. Bibliography Bruno Mars (n.d.). Bruno Mars: Biography. Retrieved OctoberRajabhat 11, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/bruno-mars-17162400?page=2. Phet Cann, Ronnie. (1993). Formal Semantics: An introduction. New York: Cambridge university Conference Macmillan English Dictionary. (2006) Malaysia.Macmillan:

Katz, Jerrold J. (2003). Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics. Elsevier.Kamphaeng National Leech, G.N. (1981). Semantics1st . Hardsworth: Penguin. Parker, Frank and Kathryn Riley. (2010). Linguistics for Non- LinguisticsThe. United States of America: Pearson. Prasad, Birjadish. (1999). A Background to The study of English Literature. Chennai: Macmillan. Wikipedia (2013). Bruno Mars. Retrieved October 11, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Mars.