ONOMATOPOEIA IN COMIC ENTITLED STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS

Onomatopoeia is a linguistic device that imitates or symbolizes sounds and plays a significant role in enhancing meaning and visualization in comic narratives. This study aims to analyze the use of onomatopoeia in the comic series Star Wars: Bounty Hunters episodes #1 to #5. The objectives of this research are to identify the types of onomatopoeia found in the comic and to explain their contextual meanings within the panels. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method. The data were collected through documentation and observation by identifying onomatopoeic expressions appearing in the comic. The classification of onomatopoeia is based on Bredin’s theory in Dofs (2008), which categorizes onomatopoeia into three types: direct onomatopoeia, associative onomatopoeia, and exemplary onomatopoeia. The findings reveal a total of 183 onomatopoeic data across the five episodes. Among these, direct onomatopoeia is the most frequently used type of 116 data (65%), followed by exemplary of 34 data (19%) and associative onomatopoeia of 33 data (16%). The dominance of direct onomatopoeia indicates that sound imitation is a crucial element in conveying action, intensity, and atmosphere in the comic. Furthermore, the analysis shows that while some onomatopoeic expressions correspond directly to dictionary meanings, others can only be interpreted through their contextual and visual representations in the comic panels. In conclusion, onomatopoeia plays an essential role in building narrative dynamics and visual impact in Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. The study highlights the importance of sound symbolism in comics and suggests that onomatopoeia contributes significantly to readers’ engagement and understanding of the story.