A Semantic-Pragmatic Analysis of Conversational Implicatures in Christina Perri’s Selected Songs
Keywords:
conversational implicature, pragmatics, semantics, song lyrics, Christina PerriAbstract
This study investigates conversational implicatures in selected songs by Christina Perri, namely A Thousand Years, Jar of Hearts, and Arms. The research aims to identify the types of conversational implicatures found in the lyrics and analyze how these implicatures contribute to the emotional and poetic meanings of the songs. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method using a semantic-pragmatic approach based on (Grice, 1975) theory of conversational implicature, (Levinson, 2000) classification of conversational implicatures, and (Saeed, 2016) theory of semantics. The data were collected from the lyrics of the selected songs and analyzed through semantic interpretation and contextual analysis. The findings revealed the presence of both generalized and particularized conversational implicatures throughout the selected lyrics. These implicatures contribute significantly to the emotional and poetic meanings of the songs by conveying themes of enduring love, heartbreak, vulnerability, hope, emotional security, and resilience. The findings also indicate that contextual interpretation plays an important role in understanding the implied meanings embedded in Christina Perri’s lyrics. This study contributes to pragmatic research by demonstrating how semantic and pragmatic perspectives can be integrated to reveal deeper meanings in contemporary song lyrics.
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