FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES ANALYSIS FOUND IN WAVE TO EARTH SELECTED SONGS

This study analyzes the types of figurative language and the meanings conveyed in selected song lyrics by Wave to Earth by applying Knickerbocker and Reninger’s (1963) classification of figurative language and Leech’s (1981) theory of meaning. The objectives of this research are to identify the types of figurative language used in the selected lyrics and to explain the meanings expressed through those figurative expressions. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method, with song lyrics serving as the primary data. The data consist of fifteen English songs released between 2019 and 2024, taken from two albums, two extended plays, and two singles by Wave to Earth. Based on the findings, ten types of figurative language were identified, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, symbolism, irony, metonymy, paradox, synecdoche, and understatement. Metaphor emerged as the most dominant type, indicating the band’s tendency to convey emotions and abstract ideas through implicit comparisons. In terms of meaning, only three types were found: connotative, affective, and conceptual meaning, with connotative meaning appearing most frequently. This dominance suggests that the lyrics emphasize emotional nuance and personal interpretation rather than literal meaning. Overall, the analysis shows that figurative language plays a crucial role in shaping the emotional depth and aesthetic quality of Wave to Earth’s song lyrics, allowing listeners to engage with the songs on both emotional and interpretative levels.