LEECH’S SEVEN TYPES OF MEANING IN ERIC BENET’S SONG HURRICANE:
A SEMANTICS ANALYSIS
Eva Nur Mazidah
120710209
English Department
Faculty of Humanities
The popularity of a song may come from the creative music and lyrics. Sometimes people do not understand how to get the meaning of the lyrics and let it flow. One of the ways to understand it is that through semantic analysis. In this paper, the writer would like to analyze Hurricane by Eric Benet by using Leech’s Seven Types of Meaning. The aim is to understand how music lyric can also be identified by semantic theory. The result of this paper show how Leech’s Seven Types of Meaning-- consist of conceptual, connotative, stylistic, affective, reflected, collocative and thematic meaning-- is worthy in gaining meaning of lyrics of song.
1. Introduction
The popularity of a song may come from the creative music and lyrics. People are interested in listening to a song because it brings certain message within its lyrics. Song writers express their feelings, experiences, thoughts, moreover his dreams through lyrics. Hornby (2000) has stated that a song itself may come from a poem that is a piece of creative writing expressing one’s deep feelings or noble thoughts in beautiful language sometimes written with the intention of communicating an experience. When people find that the lyrics denote to what they feel and experience, a song--which also conveys beauty and aesthetics-- will be liked then. Basically, people would try to find the similarities between lyrics found in songs and life experiences. Thus, there is a bound between the listeners and the song lyrics.
Leech (1974) has noted that "Language, as communication tool, has minimally five functions in society namely by means of information, expression, direction, aesthetics, and phatics," and so do song lyrics. In music world, one of important thing in the first place is to communicate the ideas and share to other people. Since song writers have their style of writing songs, the obvious difference is the language they use. Besides that, this difference will affect how the meaning of their songs is regarded.
In this paper, the writer would like to apply Geoffrey Leech’s Seven Types of Meaning in analyzing song lyrics. Through this semantics approach, it is hoped that people will be eased to know the meaning of a song by using seven types of meaning. These types of meaning analyze texts from seven distinct points of views. Leech believes that these types which have significant understanding are divided into seven distinct types namely conceptual, connotative, stylistic, affective, reflected, collocative and thematic meaning. Conceptual meaning or sense has logical, cognitive or denotative content. It connects words to things directly. Connotative meaning narrates what is corresponded by virtue or what language refers to. It signifies that other meaning may exist in the mind of language users. Stylistic meaning is what is communicated by the social circumstances of language use. Affective meaning is what is corresponded by the emotion, feeling, and attitude of the speakers (the song writers). Reflective meaning is what is shown through association with other sense of the same expression e.g. the use of slang or taboo words. Collocative meaning is what is communicated through association with words occurring in other words. Thematic meaning is what is shown through messages organized in order and emphasis.
The song lyrics used in this paper belongs to Eric Benet’s song so-called Hurricane. Some people may not know who he is since he is not as famous as Ricky Martin, Chris Daughtry, etc. The main reason why the writer chooses Eric Benet is because he has uniqueness in his Hurricane song lyrics that he tends to use nature associations in expressing his ideas within the song. Thus, by using Leech’s seven types of meaning, the writer would like to address the explanation into several parts namely the theory used-Leech’s seven types of meaning, Eric Benet’s profile and song-Hurricane, identification table of Leech’s types of meaning in Hurricane, description and explanation of Hurricane seen by Leech’s types of meaning and conclusion.
2. Leech's Semantic Seven's Types of Meaning
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. Meaning is so vague, insubstantial and elusive that it is impossible to come to any clear, concrete or tangible conclusions about it. According to Leech’s theory (2003) "Intended meaning is what is in the mind of the speaker when he is framing his messages and interpreted meaning is what is conveyed in the mind of the listener what he receives the messages." Thus, somehow meaning of language still can e traced the meaning. In this study, the writer uses descriptive qualitative analysis method y using Leech's Semantic Seven's Types of Meaning.
Leech has concluded that "Conceptual meaning or sense has logical, cognitive or denotative content. It connects words to things directly". Connotative meaning narrates what is corresponded by virtue or what language refers to. It signifies that other meaning may exist in the mind of language users. It is integrated to the essential function of language away that others type of meaning are not. It is also complex and sophisticated organization and cross-related to similar organization on the syntactic and phonological levels of language (Leech, 1974:11). In interpreting sentence, conceptual meaning uses configuration of abstract symbols (semantic representation) that differ meaning with other possible meanings to make sure that the meaning is still in the same context.
Conceptual meaning or sense has logical, cognitive or denotative content. It connects words to things directly. Connotative meaning has a large extent-in this case, ‘reference’ overlaps with conceptual meaning. Connotation deals with ‘real world’ experience. It has unstable meaning depending on culture, historical period and individual experience. Thus, connotative has open-ended meaning (Leech, 1974).
Stylistic meaning is what is communicated by the social circumstances of language use (Leech, 1974). We decode it from text through our recognition of different dimensions and levels of usage in the same language.
The main dimension of stylistic variation in recent account of English style
A (relatively Permanent Features of Style)
INDIVIDUALITY (the language of Mr. X, of Mrs. Y or Ms Z, etc.)
DIALECT(the dialect of a geographical region or of a social class)
TIME (the language of the 18th century, etc.)
B
DISCOURSE
(a)MEDIUM(speech, writing, etc)
(b)PARTICIPATION(monologue, dialogue, etc.)
C (Relatively Temporary Features of Style)
PROVINCE (language of the law, of science, of advertising, etc.)
STATUS (polite, colloquial, slang, etc.)
MODALITY (language of Memoranda, lectures, jokes, etc.)
SINGULARITY (the syle of Dickens, of Hemingway, etc.)
Affective meaning is what is corresponded by the emotion, feeling, and attitude of the speakers (the song writers) (Leech, 1974). Affective meaning has largely a parasitic because it relies upon the mediation of other categories’ of meaning—conceptual, connotative or stylistics meaning.
Reflected meaning is what is shown through association with other sense of the same expression e.g. the use of slang or taboo words (Leech, 1974).
Collocative meaning is what is communicated through association with words occurring in other words (Leech, 1974). Collocative meaning is simply an idiosyncratic property of individual words e.g. Pretty and handsome share common ground in the meaning ‘good-looking but may be distinguished by the large nouns where they are likely to co-occur or collocate.
Thematic meaning is what is shown through messages organized in order and emphasis (Leech, 1974). Thematic meaning is mainly matter of choice between alternative grammatical construction.
3. Eric Benet’s Profile and Songs
Eric Benet
In 1994, Benét was signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in 1996. Individual songs from the album were successful, including the top-ten R&B hit Spiritual Thang and Let's Stay Together, which appeared on the soundtrack of the film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999. Its first single, Georgy Porgy featuring Faith Evans received significant airplay, but the second single, Spend My Life With You featuring Tamia, became a smash hit. Spend My Life With You rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day in the Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male.
Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD. He contributed vocals to the post-Katrina charity single, Heart of America along with Michael McDonald, Wynonna Judd, and Terry Dexter. He has also lent his vocals to many jazz albums for such artists as Wayman Tisdale, George Duke, Chris Botti, Jeff Lorber, Boney James, etc.
Hurricane--his long-gestating third album six years after his second, A Day in the Life -- was released on June 21, 2005 in the
His fourth album Love & Life was released on September 9, 2008. The first single You're The Only One is his first top twenty hit in two years.
4. Identification Table of Leech’s in Hurricane
1 Standing here in disarray
2 A calm serenity
3 The winds of change can devastate
4 And it took this much for me
5 With nowhere to run and no reason left to hide
6 Gonna hold on
7 All the walls around are broken down
8 Now I can hear the rising sun
9 Surrounded by everything I want
10 But nothing that I need
11 I was blinded by the absurdity
12 Losing all identity
13 Sometimes what you fear the most is what you need
14 To find that road
15 Right around that curve a lesson learned
16 Now that I have the eyes to see
17 A hurricane, a hurricane
18 Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
19 A hurricane, a hurricane
20 Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again
21 Sometimes I cried, the tears wouldn't fall
22 And sometimes I tried to break those walls
23 And feel your love
24 But I came alive
25 When I finally found my way
| Conseptual Meaning | Line1-25 |
| Connotative Meaning | Line 1, 2, 7, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 |
| Stylistic Meaning | Line 5, 6, 12 |
| Affective meaning | Line 4, 5, 11, 13, 23, 24, 25 |
| Reflected Meaning | Line 5, 7, 23 |
| Collocative Meaning | Line 8, 15, 17- 20 |
| Thematic Meaning | Line 4, 9, 10, 13-14, 16, 17- 20, 21- 23, 24-25 |
5. Description and Explanation about Hurricane
5.1 Conseptual Meaning
· Standing here in disarray, A calm serenity (line 1-2)
Stand: to be in particular condition or situation (1491: 2005)
Here: in, at or this position or place (728: 2005)
Disarray: a state confusion and lack of organization in a situation or a place (432: 2005)
Calm: not excited, nervous or upset, a quite and peaceful time or situation (212: 2005)
Serenity: calm and peaceful (1385: 2005)
So that conceptually means that the singer was in the condition of confusion which brought him to serenity.
· The winds of change can devastate (line 3)
Wind: air that moves quickly as a result of natural forces (1747:2005)
Change: an event or a series of events that has started to happen will cause important. Changes or results (1748:2005)
Devastate: to completely destroy a place or an area to make sb feel very shocked and upset (417:2005)
So that, conceptually there was changing influenced by wind that broke the writer’s heart.
· And it took this much for me (line 4)
Take this much for: to consider sb/sth to be sb/sth especially when one’s wrong (1563:2005)
Conceptually means that the changing made him consider his deed.
· With nowhere to run and no reason left to hide, Gonna hold on (line 5-6)
With : despite (175:2005)
Nowhere : not in or to any place (1040:2005)
Run : to move, especially quickly in a particular direction (1332:2005)
Reason : a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth (1258:2005)
Left : to remain be used (875:2005)
Hide: to keep sth secret especially your feelings (731:2005)
Gonna : going to
Hold on: to continue to hold sb/sth to survive in a different/ dangerous situation (471:2005)
Conceptually means that the writer had no place to go and he had no idea about what happened but he still had to survive in the condition.
· All the walls around are broken down (line 7)
Wall: sth that forms a barrier a stops from making progress. (1714:2005)
Around: on every side; surrounding sb/sth (70:2005)
Broken down: in a very bad condition (188:2005)
All barriers that surrounded him were demolished or gone
· Now I can hear the rising sun (line 8)
Hear : to listen or pay attention to sb/sth (720:2005)
The rising sun : the moving upwards, appears above the horizon (1312:2005)
Conceptually means that the writer could see the new thing coming—enlightenment.
· Surrounded by everything I want, But nothing that I need (line 9-10)
Surrounded by: to be all around sth/sb (154:2005)
Everything: all things, the situation now that most important thing (524:2005)
Want: to have a desire or a wish for sth (1716:2005)
Nothing: a single thing (1038:2005)
Need: to require sth/sb because they are essential / very important / not just because you’d like to have them (1019:2005)
So that conceptually means the writer was apparently fulfilled by everything he wanted to have but none of them was what he needed.
· I was blinded by the absurdity, Losing all identity (line 11-12)
Blinded: to make sb no longer able to think clearly/ behave in a sensible way (151:2005)
Absurdity: completely ridiculous; not logical or sensible (6:2005)
Losing: no longer have or maintain; to fail to get or understand sth (917:2005)
Identity: who or what sb/sth is; state of exact likeness or sameness (616:2005)
S o that conceptually means the writer was disturbed by uncertainty or ridiculous logic that he found nothing about himself.
· Sometimes what you fear the most is what you need, To find that road (line 13-14)
Sometimes: occasionally rather than all of the time (1458:2005)
Fear: to be frightened of sth/sb; or frightened of doing sth (561:2005)
Need: to require sth/sb because they are essential / very important / not just because you’d like to have them (1019:2005)
Find: to discover sth/sb to to get sth/sb (575:2005)
Road: the way to achieve sth (1314:2005)
Conceptually means the addressee’s fear was important for her to find out the way out.
· Right around that curve a lesson learned (line 15)
Right around: exactly (1308:2005)
Curve: to make/ move sth move in the shape of a curve (377:2005)
Lesson: an experience esp. an unpleasant one (881:2005)
Learned: developed by training or experiences (844:2005)
Conceptually means that the fear was exactly what turned out the lesson of life-experience.
· Now that I have the eyes to see(line 16)
Eyes: the ability to see; part of body we see with (1373:2005)
Conceptually means that because of the fear curving a lesson the writer learnt, the writer could see the clarity about something again.
· A hurricane, a hurricane, Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain (line 17-18)
Hurricane:a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western
Only: nothing except (1060:2005)
Way: a particular aspect of sth (1725:2005)
Wash away: to remove; to carry sb/sth away to other place (1719:2005)
Pain: the feeling when you’ve been hurt (1092:2005)
Conceptually means that there was a violent storm (big problem/temptation) which became the way out. It could remove the hurt feeling.
· A hurricane, a hurricane Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again (line 19-20)
Thing: a fact; an event; situation (1593:2005)
Bring back: to return sb/sth; to make sb remember sth (185:2005)
Again: one more time (28:2005)
Conceptually means that the storm could return “you”/the addressee to the writer.
· Sometimes I cried, the tears wouldn't fall (line 21)
Cried: to produce tears from eyes because of unhappiness or hurt; to shout loudly (371:2005)
Tears: a drop of liquid that comes out of your eyes when you cry (1575:2005)
Fall: to drop down (550:2005)
Conceptually means the writer would like to cry but he could not shed his tears-held up.
· And sometimes I tried to break those walls(line 22)
Wall: sth that forms a barrier (1714)
Conceptually means sometimes the writer attempted to lose all that separated him.
· And feel your love(line 23)
Feel: to become aware of sth even though you can not see it, hear it, etc. (563:2005)
Love: a strong feeling of deep affection for sb/sth (913:2005)
Conceptually means he wanted to feel the love from the addressee.
· But I came alive(line 24)
Came alive: to become revived (297:2005)
Conceptually means that the writer felt alive-revived or spirit-again.
· When I finally found my way (line 25)
Finally: after a long time (574:2005)
Conceptually means that after a long time he got what he wanted-the right way.
This song lyric actually told about the condition of someone who had a problem with his spouse. He expressed his feeling by associating relationship and weather, that these two had distinct meaning but were combined through it its contrast and conflict.
5.2 Connotative Meaning
· Standing here in disarray, A calm serenity
These told about condition in which the writer felt so messed up by problems. These words represented mind-war (personal conflict).
· The winds of change can devastate
The phrase told about the changing condition of someone’s life that the wave was described by winds.
· A hurricane, a hurricane
Here it means a big change hampered one’s life—it is quiet contrast with its denotative meaning. In this lyric, it has positive meaning.
· And sometimes I tried to break those walls
Here, it means that walls were shell of something that separated and made gap.
5.3 Stylistic Meaning
· Gonna hold on
Gonna means Going-to (will). It is usually used by Afro-American and refers to informal language.
· Surrounded by everything I want
This phrase was reduced from “I was surrounded y everything I want.” The writer deleted subject and to be and changed it into hanging-phrase.
· Losing all identity
This phrase is the continuation of previous sentence I was blinded by the absurdity. The sentence should be I was blinded by absurdity so that I lose all identity. In Afro American Vernacular English, Patrick (2006) had written that construction of Black English was often included copula verb ‘be’ in making their sentence.
5.4 Affected Meaning
· I was blinded by the absurdity
Means the writer’ mind was being blurred by ridiculous logic or an uncertainty.
· Sometimes what you fear the most is what you need
Means the thing the addressee felt afraid or avoided was important for her.
· But I came alive, When I finally found my way
Means the writer felt revived again when in the end he found the end which brought him to something better.
5.5 Reflected Meaning
· Standing here in disarray
Means that the writer’s condition was so messed up but it was not physical condition, instead his mental condition. The meaning was reflected by using disarray to describe the condition.
· A hurricane, a hurricane
It is usually used for a strong violent wind in western
5.6 Collocative Meaning
· A hurricane, a hurricane
The meaning of this word is a disaster. The sense of disastrous was swapped by describing the messy condition could bring back one to what he wanted.
5.7 Thematic Meaning
· The winds of change can devastate
It shows the changing was emphasized to have ruined the life of the writer. The important view was the winds of change.
· Surrounded by everything I want, But nothing that I need
It shows that the emphasis was on the situation in which the writer was fulfilled but he felt emptiness because of he did not need them.
· A hurricane, a hurricane, Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
The function of making this nominal sentence was to indicate the priority about the subject and in this sentence the most pointed one is A Hurricane.
Meaning may not be completed only by one sentence. When words were combined with other words in certain context, they may have distinct meanings. In this song, there were some sense-borrowing e.g. Hurricane which had negative meaning but it was used in positive meaning. Most of the sentences in this song referred to nature which symbolizing one’s heart.
6. Conclusion
Meaning of Hurricane by Eric Benet can be analyzed by Leech’s Seven Types of Meaning. They are conceptual, connotative, stylistic, affective, reflected, collocative and thematic meaning. By using this Leech’s theory, the writer has found what the song writer wants. The song tells about the writer’s feeling after he loses his love. He finds himself in uncertainty, regretful and spiritless. He expresses his feeling and hope through Hurricane which is hoped to wash away his pain and sadness and bring his love back again.
In analyzing the meaning, the writer found classification of meaning interpreted from the song. Conceptual meaning which is decoded by listener of this song finds some illogical hanging phrases and sentence. Through connotative meaning, the song writer shows some connotative words to represent meanings. The song writer uses African American Vernacular Language in his lyrics and it is analyzed by using Stylistic type of meaning. Affective meanings are also found in some verses which tell the song writer expression and feeling. Collocative meaning is to express feeling in words that he sings. Thematic meaning is organized message pointed in the song that some points are important to understand.
Leech’s theory of Seven Types of Meaning helps to understand what the lyrics beneath is. This theory is not only to analyze daily conversation but also to analyze other meaning of sentence. The result is that the theory is applicable in analyzing music lyric.
REFERENCES
Eric Benet Biography and Career. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2009, from http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Benet,_Eric/Discography/album/P194750/R742261/
Hornby A.S. (2000). Oxford Advances Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. Sixth Edition.
Leech, G. (1974). Semantics.
Patric, Peter. L. (13 Sept 2006). African American English. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://private www.essex.ac.uk/-patrick p/AAVE.html
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