MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY HUỲNH HOÀI THƯƠNG A FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR STUDY ON TAYLOR SWIFT’S SONG LYRICS Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Assoc. NGUYỄN THỊ THU HIỀN BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC QUY NHƠN HUỲNH HOÀI THƯƠNG CÁC ĐẶC ĐIỂM NGÔN NGỮ TRONG LỜI BÀI HÁT CỦA TAYLOR SWIFT THEO QUAN ĐIỂM NGỮ PHÁP CHỨC NĂNG Ngành: Ngôn ngữ Anh Mã số: 8220201 Người hướng dẫn: PGS. NGUYỄN THỊ THU HIỀN i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I certify that this thesis with the title “A Functional Grammar Study on Taylor Swift's Song Lyrics” is entirely my own original work. In addition, I emphasize that this thesis has not been submitted for any purposes in any materials.
Any works of other authors consulted in this thesis are listed in the reference. Quy Nhon, 2023 HUỲNH HOÀI THƯƠNG ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this graduation thesis is the result of not just my own efforts but also the assistance I have received from various individuals and organizations, for which I would like to express my sincerest appreciation. First and foremost, I am profoundly thankful to my supervisor, Assoc. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien.
Her thoughtful guidance, feedback, and precious advice have been invaluable in shaping this research in spite of her huge workload. Without her immense knowledge, endless patience, and constant encouragement during the conducting of the process, this work would not have been completed. Secondly, I am deeply grateful to all lecturers from Quy Nhon University (QNU) for their whole-hearted contribution to sharpening my academic knowledge during the previous semesters. Thirdly, I would like to express my warmest thanks to the cooperation and support of the Department of Postgraduate Training and the Department of Foreign Languages of QNU.
Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my beloved family and friends, who have always believed in me and given me the strength to overcome all the troubles I encountered during the fulfillment of this research. Quy Nhon, 2023 iii ABSTRACT This thesis is carried out with an aim of investigating the three linguistic metafunctions present in the song lyrics of Taylor Swift, utilizing the framework of Systemic Functional Grammar developed by Halliday. The present study focuses on a thorough analysis of the three metafunctions inherent in language, namely the experiential metafunction, interpersonal metafunction, and textual metafunction of the language in song lyrics. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to serve the process of conducting this research.
The study examines a collection of twenty song lyrics by Taylor Swift, encompassing a range of theme elements. The findings achieved through the research relate to the three metafunctions that have been identified in the selected song lyrics by Taylor Swift. To be more precise, the data indicates that the relational process and material process predominate over other processes in experiential metafunction. This suggests that the language employed in Taylor Swift’s song lyrics serves to portray her experience of the outside world and to illustrate the interconnections among the characters in the stories.
In terms of the interpersonal metafunction, it is observed that declarative mood is utilized more frequently than imperative and interrogative moods in the clauses found in Taylor Swift’s song lyrics. This indicates that song lyrics primarily serve the purpose of conveying information rather than demanding action or asking for a response from the audience. Regarding textual metafunction, unmarked topical theme is the most frequently used theme type among the others. Hopefully, the findings of this study should help validate the results of previous studies on functional grammar and provide helpful information for educators and students interested in learning English.
iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. vi LIST OF TABLES.
vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. Aim and Objectives. Aim of the Study. Objectives of the Study.
Significance of the Study. Scope of the Study. Organization of the Study. 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.
An overview of SFG. The Three Metafunctions. Previous Related Studies in Song Lyrics. Discourse Analysis of Song Lyrics.
Functional Grammar Analysis of Song Lyrics. 25 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. Data Collection and Description. Validity and Reliability.
29 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. Experiential Metafunction in TSSL. Interpersonal Metafunction in TSSL. Mood System in TSSL.
Modality System in TSSL. Textual Metafunction in TSSL. 64 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS. Limitations and Suggestions for Further Researches.
78 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS SFG Systemic Functional Grammar SFL Systemic Functional Linguistics TSSL Taylor Swift's Song Lyrics vii LIST OF TABLES Table 2. Types of circumstances (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004, p. System of types of modality (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004, p. The frequency of modality in TSSL.
Occurrence of modal verbs in TSSL. Occurrence of modal adjuncts in TSSL. Occurrence of Unmarked and Marked Themes in TSSL. Occurrence of Interpersonal and Textual Themes in TSSL.
67 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4. Frequency of process type in TSSL. Occurrence of Circumstances in TSSL. Mood types in TSSL.
Rationale Language, as an integral aspect of human interaction, consistently attracts scholarly attention owing to its vital role in facilitating communication, enabling the exchange of ideas, and articulating emotions. Text, which emerges as an outcome of social interaction, is intrinsically linked to both spoken and written linguistic forms, encapsulating the multifaceted nature of human communication and capturing the subtle distinctions arising in diverse social contexts (Eggins, 2004, p. Within the domain of linguistic inquiry, Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) holds a prominent position, having been developed by distinguished linguists such as Halliday (1994), Bloor and Bloor (1995), and Eggins (1994). SFG focuses on examining the grammatical structures embedded in clauses and explores the various ways in which individuals utilize language in their social lives.
In contrast to traditional grammar, which primarily emphasizes the rules governing proper language usage, functional grammar encompasses both spoken and written linguistic expressions and highlights the functional aspects of language. Consequently, SFG provides a thorough and nuanced approach for understanding the complexities of language use across different social situations, which is crucial for a master's thesis aiming to explore language from a refined and accessible angle. Hargreaves et al. (2005) argue that songs are a fundamental means of communication, offering a platform for individuals to express their thoughts, intentions, and meanings, thereby emphasizing the importance of songs in promoting human connection and understanding.
Song lyrics, created by composers, seek to entertain listeners, convey messages, and communicate 2 emotions, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, highlighting the versatile nature of song lyrics and their roles in both artistic expression and personal communication. By carefully choosing words, song lyrics reveal the composer's purpose in delivering specific messages, often reflecting the subject's emotions and attitudes. As such, the analysis of song lyrics can provide valuable insights into the relationship between language, emotion, and meaning, making it an essential focus within the context of academic research into linguistic and communicative properties. Taylor Alison Swift, known by the name Taylor Swift, is a well-known American singer-songwriter.
She was born on December 13, 1989. In 2010, at the age of 20, Taylor Swift became the youngest artist in history to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 2011, Swift was named Billboard's Woman of the Year. She has also been named the American Music Awards Artist of the Year and the Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, among many other accolades.
As of this writing, she is also the best-selling musician, with 200 million records sold. Swift has achieved 111 Guinness World Records and has been honored with the Recording Artist of the Year award on three occasions by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. She holds the record for being the female touring act that has generated the most revenue, and she is also the first person in the music industry to amass a net worth of at least one billion dollars primarily from her music-related earnings. Swift is a philanthropist advocating for artists' rights and women's empowerment.
She has gotten credit and critical acclaim for her skillful narrative songwriting, typically inspired by her life experiences. Numerous approaches utilizing diverse frameworks and perspectives have been utilized in the study of song lyrics. In recent years, interest in SFG has increased. Within this area of investigation, an enormous amount of 3 research has been carried out in an attempt to explore the language from the perspectives of metafunction: the ideational, the interpersonal, and the textual.
Many linguists in the world have made numerous contributions from various academic aspects. For example, Purwandari, Septyana Atik, et al. (2022) analyzed the song lyrics of the Energy of Asia Music Album from the Perspective of SFG. Another research was conducted by Sari et al.
(2019), concentrating on Interpersonal Meaning. The study aimed to describe the Mood Element which is used in the lyrics of Adele's album 21. Kamaliah (2021) examined the interpersonal meaning of Mood choices on song lyrics in the Folklore album of Taylor Swift. Also, Rahayu (2017) conducted a study on the analysis of Theme in Selected Taylor Swift's Song Lyrics.
The analysis of song lyrics has also been undertaken by several scholars in Vietnam. For example, Ngan (2018) reviewed attitude resources in English and Vietnamese love song lyrics. Besides, Nhu (2022) analyzed the metaphor of love in Taylor Swift’s songs. Trong (2022) discovered the experiential meanings in song lyrics composed by Chester Bennington.
Among diverse research on linguistic features tested with song lyrics, there seem to be few studies using SFG to analyze the linguistic features in song lyrics. Considering the significant role of songs in communication, the diverse functions of song lyrics, the various research methods employed in studying song lyrics, and the limited use of SFG in lyric analysis, it is apparent that further research in this area is necessary. In response to this need, and with the aim of deepening our understanding of the relationship between language, meaning, and artistic expression, I have decided to pursue a master's thesis in this field. By applying SFG to examine the linguistic aspects of Taylor Swift's lyrics, this research aims to emphasize the importance of this approach in analyzing song lyrics as a unique form of communication.
To achieve these goals and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in linguistic analysis, I 4 have chosen to conduct a thesis titled “A Functional Grammar Study on Taylor Swift's Song Lyrics. Aim and Objectives 1. Aim of the Study The aim of this thesis is to investigate the linguistic features in Taylor Swift's song lyrics (TSSL) using SFG developed by Halliday (1994) as an analytical framework. More specifically, these linguistic features would be identified from the analysis of experiential, interpersonal, and textual features.
Objectives of the Study In order to attain the aim of the study, the study is to focus on the following objectives: - To identify the experiential features utilized in TSSL from the perspective of SFG. - To analyze the interpersonal features employed in TSSL from the perspective of SFG. - To explore the textual features used in TSSL from the perspective of SFG. Research Questions These three questions are answered upon completion of the thesis: 1.
What experiential features are expressed in TSSL? 2. What interpersonal features are realized in TSSL? 3. What textual features are presented in TSSL? 1. Significance of the Study The completion of this thesis provides not only theoretical but also practical benefits.
Theoretically, the outcomes of this study are helpful for future research on three metafunctions within the SFG concept. The study is also expected to have possible contributions to the body of knowledge of functional grammar by bringing about insights into three metafunctions in 5 song lyrics.