SONG

A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence.

 

1.   Social function of song

People sing songs for the the following purpose:

• To entertain
• To express feeling
• To deliver message/moral lesson/social criticism

 

2.   Parts of song

A complete song consists of parts which together make a good song. The following is the brief explanation about the common parts of songs:

·       Intro: The instrumental music at the beginning of a song

·       Verses: The parts of the lyrics which contains the story of the song

·       Chorus/Refrain: The climax of the song which is usually repeated

·       Bridge: The section which provides relief from repetition of the verses

·       Outro/coda: The last section of a song, usually without lyrics, just instument.

 

3.   Language features of songs

 

Count on Me

Song by: Bruno Mars

 

[Verse 1: Bruno Mars]

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea

I'll sail the world to find

If you ever find yourself lost in the dark

and you can't see I'll be the light to guide you

 

[Pre-Chorus: Bruno Mars]

Find out what we're made of

When we are called to help our friends in need

 

[Chorus: Bruno Mars]

You can count on me like 1, 2, 3

I'll be there

And I know when I need it

I can count on you like 4, 3, 2

And you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

 

Perhatikan bahwa pada lagu “Count on me” terdapat kata, phrasa atau kalimat yang memiliki makna yang lebih luas dan mendalam (makna konotatif) dari makna yang sebenarnya (makna denotatif) karena lagu biasanya diciptakan dengan menambahkan sejumlah figurative language atau dalam Bahasa Indonesia dikenal sebagai majas yang digunakan agar lagu memiliki keindahan yang dapat dinikmati untuk menghibur, mengekspresikan perasaan dan mengajarkan nilai moral.

Penggunaan figurative language dalam lagu dan bagaimana memahami maknanya akan sangat berpengaruh pada saat kita akan menafsirkan makna lagu secara utuh dan kontekstual. Tidak jarang pembaca atau penyanyi gagal menafsirkan makna lagu dikarenakan mereka gagal mengidentifikasi figurative language.

 

The following are the language features of songs

 

a.      Imagery.

Imagery describes about feelings and emotions. Sebuah lagu biasanya berusaha menggambarkan perasaan yang dirasakan si penulis.

b.     Rhythm.

Ritme disini digunakan untuk menciptakan mood. Misalnya, apabila kita sedang bersedih dan mendengarkan lagu dengan ritme slow, maka kita akan terbawa suasana dengan lagu tersebut. So, rhythm creates mood!

c.      Figurative Language

·       Metaphor, comparing two things that are not alike to suggest that they actually have something in common.

Sekilas memang kedua hal yang dibandingkan tidak berkaitan, tetapi sebenarnya ada kesamaan antara dua hal tersebut.

e.g. “Time is a thief” or “Her hair was silk”.

·       Simile, compares two things using “like” or “as’’.

Suatu hal digambarkan dengan hal yang mirip dengan menggunakan kata ‘like’ atau ‘as’

e.g. “My love is like a red rose”.

·       Hyperbole, a dramatic language. Big exaggeration, usually with humor.

Suatu hal digambarkan secara berlebihan, terkadang menggelitik karena terlalu berlebihan.

e.g. “That math homework took me 8 million years to finish”.

·       Personification, an object appear like a person.

Objek (bukan manusia) memiliki kemampuan seperti manusia.

e.g. “The wind whisper” or “The snowflakes danced in the wind”.

·       Alliteration, the repetation of the same beginning sound in a series of words. Perulangan bunyi suara yang terdapat di awal setiap kata.

e.g. “Peter Parker pick a pack of pants punctually”

 Hortatory Exposition

 

A hortatory exposition is a type of spoken or written text that is intended to explain the listeners or readers that something should or should not happen or be done. In other words, the main function of Hortatory Exposition text is to persuade the readers or listener that something should or should not be the case.  To strengthen the explanation, the speaker or writer needs some arguments as the fundamental reasons for the given idea. In other words, this kind of text can be called argumentation. Hortatory exposition text can be found in scientific books, journals, magazines, newspaper articles, academic speeches or lectures, research reports, etc. Hortatory expositions are popular among science, the academic community, and educated people. It means that the text asserts something to the readers by giving supporting statements and evidence to convince it. To make the persuasion stronger, the speaker or writer gives some arguments as the fundamental reasons why something is the case.

The characteristics of hortatory exposition contain:

 

 Purpose

 To persuade the reader or listener that something should or should not be the case.

Generic structure

1. Thesis.  It presents the announcement of an issue of concern.
2.  Arguments. It presents the reasons for concern, leading to the recommendation.
3.  Recommendation. It presents the statement of what ought or ought not to happen.

Example of hortatory exposition text:

Watch Your Kid while Watching TV

Television becomes one of the most important devices, which takes place in almost all houses. It can unite all members of the family as well as separate them. However, is it important to know what your kids are watching? The answer is, of course, absolutely "Yes" and that should be done by all parents. Television can expose things you have tried to protect the children from, especially violence, pornography, consumerism, and so on.

Recently, a study demonstrates that spending too much time watching TV during the day or at bedtime often causes bed-time disruption, stress, and short sleep duration.

Another research finds that there is a significant relationship between the amount of time spent for watching television during adolescence and early adulthood, and the possibility of being aggressive.

Meanwhile, many studies have identified a relationship between kids who watch TV a lot and being inactive and overweight. Considering some facts mentioned above, protect your children with the following tips:

• Limit television viewing to one-two hours each day
• Do not allow your children to have a TV set in their own bedrooms
• Review the rating of TV shows which your children watch
• Watch television with your children and discuss what is happening in the show

The Importance of Reading

 

 

Thesis:

            I personally think that reading is a very important activity in our life. Why do I say

 Argument I: 

Firstly, by reading we can get a lot of knowledge about many things in the world such as Science, technology, sports, arts, culture, etc written in either books, magazine, newspaper, etc.

Argument II:

Secondly, by reading we can get a lot of news and information about something happening in any part of the world which can we see directly.

Argument III:

Another reason, reading can give us pleasure too. When we are tired, we read books, novels, comics, newspapers, or magazines on the entertainment column such as comedy, short story, quiz, etc. To make us relaxed. 

Argument IV:

            The last, reading can also take us to other parts of the world. By reading a book about Irian Jaya we may feel we’re really sitting in the jungles not at home in our rooms.

 Recommendation:

            From the facts above, it’s obvious that everyone needs to read to get knowledge, information and also entertainment. Or in summary, we can say reading is truly important in our life.

Language Features of Hortatory Exposition

 Common grammatical patterns in hortatory exposition include:

 

        Abstract nouns, e.g. culture, etc.

        Action verbs, e.g. value, etc.

        Temporal connectives, e.g. first, second, etc.

        Modal auxiliaries: Should, ought to, had better

1.   Abstract Noun

An abstract noun is a word which names something that you cannot see, hear, touch, smell, or taste. It is the opposite of a concrete noun.

Examples: consideration, parenthood, belief, etc.

  

2.   Action Verb

An action verb expresses something that a person, animal, or object can do. For example: watch, talk, explode, reach, etc.

3.   Temporal Connective 

We will refer to a temporal connective as an expression which relates an event to a point or an interval in time.

For example: firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc.

 

4.   Modal Auxiliaries

Here's a list of the modal verbs in English:

Can	Could	may	Might	will
would	Must	shall	Should	ought to