Denotative and Connotative Meaning on Honne’s Selected Songs Lyric for Literature Teaching

Abstract

In literary work, denotative and connotative meaning will always side by side. Palmer defined that denotative meaning is the original or literal meaning of a word based on the dictionary. Connotation is part of word meaning which has an implicit meaning. This study aimed to identify denotative and connotative meaning found in Honne‘s selected songs lyric, to explain denotation and connotation in language, and to elaborate the contribution of the study to the literature teaching. The research design of this study was qualitative research. For collecting the data, the researcher analyzed Honne’s selected songs such as location unknown, crying over you, Day one, I might, me & you, and 306. The researcher found that not all song lyrics contained both connotative and denotative meaning. In “Day One” song, the researcher found five words.    In song entitled “Location Unknown”, it found seven both words and group words. In song, “Crying Over You” the researcher found nine words and group words. The song entitled “I might”; it found four words. In song entitled “Me & You”, it found six both words and group words. And in “306” song, the researcher found five words. Honne’s songs mostly use denotative meaning than the connotative one. It is suitable to Palmer’s theory the lyrics meaning can easily find in real-world experience. The denotative and connotative meaning realized in Honne’s selected song lyrics can be used as the reference or alternative source learning to literature teaching. The researcher suggests that the students should learn more about meaning of words. It is not only denotative and connotative meaning but it can be broader. This study is also expected to give worthy contribution for the teacher to teach literature studies by using songs as media.