International Conference on Language Pedagogy

Vol. 03, pp 128-134, December 2023

ISSN: 2809-4808

Implicature Analysis Of Song Lyrics

In Wave To Earth’s Playlist

Fatiha Nadine Cantika 1), Nurul Fadhillah 2)

1,2)
SMAQ Darul Fattah 1, 3) Universitas Lampung 2
*Corresponding Author, email: [email protected]

Received: November, 14, 2023 Revised: December, 14, 2023 Accepted: December, 30,
2023

Abstract
The text discusses the concept of Implicature, which is the implied meaning of an utterance that goes
beyond what the speaker literally says by George Yule’s Theory (1996). The text aims to show how
implicature enriches the communication between humans and makes language more expressive and
interesting. The text provides an explanation of the various Implicatures, such as Conversational,
Conventional, and Scalar Implicature. This research using the descriptive qualitative method is
employed by understanding through out lyrics. The text also gives examples of how Conversational
implicature is used in wave to earth’s song lyrics, to analyze the Generalized Conversational Implicature
(7) and Particularized Conversational Implicature (2) which has been sorted in some playlist. Therefore,
the data was chosen from the wave to earth song playlist and various sources, including Google,
YouTube, and Spotify.

Keywords: Implicature, Conversational Implicature, Song Lyrics, wave to earth

Introduction
Communication between humans is certainly a common thing because it binds social ties, where
socializing is something that is very necessary for living creatures to continue interacting with each
other. From the past until now, communication can be delivered in any form without exception, in
written or unwritten form. Many of them use written media, such as poetry, song lyrics, and even
sentences in films. In fact, every country and culture has a language and accent that is different from
one another, this is a characteristic marker for each. Song lyrics are one application of indirect
communication from the author to the listener. For songwriters in this world, most of them pour their
hearts into the lyrics they write which contain deep messages so that people who are experiencing the
same situation feel the impact of listening to these songs. "What a speaker can infer, suggest, or indicate
is different from what the speaker actually says," according to George Yule (2006) and Griffiths (2006).
To learn more about implicature, the writer seek definitions from experts, that is to say, when someone
uses a word or a quote, they should not use the opposite or a more subtle version of the same word or
quote, such as when they use a figure of speech that is as if in the text to say that the other word or quote
is the one that best expresses the idea. Based on Grice (quoted in Brown and Yule, 1983, p. 31), one
way to interpret the term "implicature" is as what speakers of an utterance might infer or indicate as
distinct from what they literally say. Interpreting what people mean in a certain context and how that
environment influences what people say are both included in the study of implicature. The purpose of
implicature is to convey a meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of a word and to provide an
utterance an additional meaning that should be both explicit and implicit. Something that goes beyond
what is actually spoken by the speaker of an utterance is called an Implicature. Yule (1996) defines

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implicature as an extra meaning that words communicate. Yule (1996) claims that implicature is the
most basic kind of nonverbal communication statement. There exist three distinct forms of implicature:
Conventional implicature, Scalar implicature, and Conversational implicature.
1) Conversational Implicature Birner (1988) asserts that the cooperative principle is connected to
conversational implicature (Grice). The meaning of the statement is influenced by Conversational
Implicature, which is not contingent on truth. It indicates that the truth of the statement is unaffected by
whether the implicature is held or not. The term "Conversational Implicature" describes the assumption
or inference that a listener makes about the speaker's intended meaning based on how they apply the
conversational principle and its maxims to the speaker's real meaning. Generalized Conversational
Implicature and Particularized Conversational Implicature are the two categories of Conversational
Implicature.
A. Generalized conversational Implicature A Conversational Implicature that may be inferred
without referring to a specific context is known as a generalized conversational implicature. This
inference pertains to the implicit meaning that emerges naturally in any given circumstance. Therefore,
when we find an object, the indirect implications are not explained well so that we do not know the
meaning for sure, but according to what we imagine or understand in our respective minds.
B. Particularized conversational Implicature Particularized conversational Implicature happens
when a conversation takes place in a unique setting where it is anticipated that inferences would be
noticed locally. it means, If a statement has an implicature and an explanation of the implicature that
accompanies it, then the statement becomes clearer and more specific. Next, the goal of using
particularized conversational Implicature is usually to disobey the relevance, manner, quantity, and
quality maxims.
2) Conventional Implicature The conventional implication is independent of the context. Birner
(1988) states that Conventional Implicature is constantly tied to a certain verbal term, such as ‘therefore’,
‘but’, ‘yet’, ‘even’, and ‘however’ independent of context; it does not necessitate a computation
according to the circumstances and the maxims. Conventional implicatures are associated with certain
phrases that, when utilized, convey extra meanings. The specific context is not necessary to produce the
implicature in a typical implicature.
3) Scalar Implicature More specific information on a specific type of implicature that expresses
amount and terms arranged from highest to lowest value is called scalar implicature. A scalar implicature
occurs when a person employs a term from a group of words that expresses some sort of scale value.
Examples of this include the terms 'all', 'most', 'something', 'many', 'few', 'nothing', ‘some’, ‘sometimes’,
‘always’, ‘certain, ‘possible’, ‘probable’ and ‘often’. The fundamental idea behind scalar implicature is
that, if a form on a scale is claimed, any forms that are higher on the scale are implicated negatively.
Getting to know the implied meaning of 'implicature' is usually found in song lyrics, because the author
implies words which, when translated, will confuse us with complicated words, but these words seem
to hint at something else which turns out to be continuous with the figure of speech which is implied
meaning in it. With implicature, song lyrics become even more interesting with beautiful and unique
words to hum. It turns out that implicature lyrics are often found in song playlists from "wave to earth"
artists. they sing songs beautifully and the lyrics always convey the right atmosphere. Song is the most
popular things which are common to listen to in daily life also songs that have lyrics that adapt to the
listener's feelings and convey implied meanings that describe the listener's feelings are what listeners
like the most. This is because the songwriter also has the same feeling as the lyrics. As a result, almost
all songs that are true to the author's heart are very touching. They can imagine the song lyrics according
to what they feel, even though listeners get the same feeling from the song, they don't necessarily
interpret the lyrics the same as the writer, because many songs now use implied meanings from indirect
words or sentences that actually describe reality. Implicature is the most common in song lyrics or
conversation.

Methods
3.1 Data Collecting In this instance, the researcher understands the lyrics and applies the descriptive
qualitative method. According to Gay (2012), qualitative research involves the collection, analysis, and
interpretation of detailed narrative and visual evidence in order to obtain a deeper understanding of a
specific phenomenon, With using listening and reading techniques, also when the writer takes the data
there is no number. The writer examines the meaning of the lyrics using data from each lyric in the
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previously selected wave to earth playlist. After that, they will go through several stages. First, the writer
examines each lyric by listening to it; secondly, the writer notes down and looks for the unique meaning
of each sentence, sometimes several lyrics in one, because they have meanings that correlate with each
other; and third, the writer made a summary of the search and divided it according to the order of the
songs. Finally, the research is complete. 3.2 Data Source The data was chosen from the wave to
earth song playlist and various sources, including Google, YouTube, and Spotify. We can search for
everything we want to locate on the application, from wave to earth songs. Thus, the author wants to
give the information of data from multiple albums, but only from one to two tracks. Additionally, the
researcher looked for ten cited articles that related to the theory or article's methodology..

Result and Discussion

Based on George Yule's theory, the researcher analyses the conversational implicature that is present in
song lyrics that have a distinct meaning that the researcher discovered in the wave to earth playlist.
Result

The data Song Lyrics Particularized Generalized

Data 1 3 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Seasons” ● While the leaves withered away
● And grew again you have gone
far away
● I'll be pushing up daisies

Data 2 1 lyric that will be discuss : ✔

“Seasons” ● I'll give you all my life my
seasons
Data 3 2 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Light” ● We're gonna fly up into the blue
sky
● And we held the moon in our
arms
Data 4 3 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Light” ● You're always shining
● You are my sea, you are my
sunshine
● The star, the moon
Data 5 4 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Bonfire” ● All the leaves have been fallen
off
● The branches are small
● Burn the sky, clouds become
ash
● Fireflies becomes a star
Data 6 2 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Homesick” ● In this cold place
● Where the snow hasn't
melted yet

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 Data 7 2 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Homesick” ● My freezing breath frozen
memories
● Oh where my house has
gone, I lost my bearings
Data 8 2 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔
“Ocean floor” ● I can't see any shape right now
● Oh, am I in the dark?

Data 9 3 lyrics that will be discuss : ✔

“Ocean floor” ● I'll be a single whale
● On the ocean floor

Discussion

Data 1: “seasons”
I can't be your love
'Cause I'm afraid I'll ruin your life
While the leaves withered away
And grew again you have gone far away
I'll be pushing up daisies
And bring all the chances to here

Analysis:
First data, we can find in this lyric that states 'While the leaves withered away And grew
again you have gone far away' the author describes this lyric as a parallel between changes in seasons
or how long time has passed, from the part of lyric 'while the leaves withered away' namely 'starting
from the moment when we were at the bottom, then 'And grew again' namely 'and now we are each
other in the best version' symbolizes how now things have changed, 'you have gone far away'
however, people The one he loves has gone away from him.

Secondly, the expression 'pushing up daisies' is an implied meaning using a metaphor for being
buried in a grave, according to Oxford Languages.

Data 2: “seasons”
but I'll pray for you all the time
If I could be by your side
I'll give you all my life my seasons
By your side I'll be your seasons, hmm
My love

Analysis:
In this data, we can know from ‘I'll give you all my life my seasons’, the man still really cares
about the person he loves and hopes to be together. If given the opportunity, he is willing to give
everything. We can interpret the use of the word ‘seasons’ as the implied meaning of changing seasons,
describing changes and journeys in relationships also himself.

Data 3 : “light”
We're gonna fly up into the blue sky
So slowly
And we held the moon in our arms
You always had me
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Analysis:
The third data which explains some row lyrics. First, 'We're gonna fly up into the blue sky'
which means not really they will fly to the sky but they want to catch their dream with a journey that is
quite far and fun to do together. also 'And we held the moon in our arms' that want to hold the moon
but the real situation is the man invites them to get what they want together and 'moon' is the object they
have longed for because it brings them into good things. Whatever happens, they will always overcome
it together.

Data 4 : “light”
You're always shining
I've seen a wonderful sight
With a bright glow
You are my sea, you are my sunshine
The star, the moon

Analysis:
'You're always shining' in here describes that this woman is always very charming in the eyes
of the man so that it makes the man feel that what he sees is very beautiful. In 'You are my sea, you
are my sunshine' lyric, it explains that the man considers his lover to be something very beautiful or
'sea' describes that the man has a very wide heart for the woman and 'sunshine' also 'The star , the
moon' the man sees his woman as the sun and moon, his lover seems to be a figure who lights up his
life as he goes about his days.

Data 5 : “Bonfire”
All the leaves have been fallen off
The branches are small
Burn the sky, clouds become ash
Fireflies becomes a star

Analysis:
In the lyric verses they are related to each other because starting from 'All the leaves have
fallen off, The branches are small' here there is a time where everything has been lost and only the
remains of everything that has gone through its destruction are visible, they are being burned. then causes
smoke to cover the sky which turns the clouds into gray which means everything fades and this depicts
sadness and the destruction of something, in the lyric 'Burn the sky, clouds become ash'. And in the
lyric 'Fireflies become a star' where the situation was already dark after the destruction occurred,
making the fireflies illuminate it so much that it was so bright in the dark.

Data 6: “Homesick”
In this cold place
Where the snow hasn't melted yet
Leaves that resemble the cold are growing

Analysis:
The verses of this song also contain particularized conversational implicature, unlike most other
lyrics because the first lyric tells 'In this cold place' and is immediately explained by the lyric 'Where
the snow hasn't melted yet' which means, if the current situation coincides in the weather and the place
are actually not really cold but the place where the conditions are not as they want and everything is still
the same as before and is not developing as it should, that's why they are told that 'the snow hasn't
melted yet'.

Data 7: “Homesick”
My freezing breath frozen memories
Oh where my house has gone, I lost my bearings
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Yeah I'm lost in my dreams
I'm lost in my dreams

Analysis:
Just like before, in the lyric 'My freezing breath frozen memories' it is explained again that
what is meant is the memories that still linger in his mind, never changing. And the 'my house' listed is
not really a house building but someone where he takes refuge and is comfortable with, who
accompanies his days but that person is gone.

Data 8 : “Ocean Floor”

I can't see any shape right now
Oh, am I in the dark?
Oh, am I in the dark?
Feels like I am just out of reach

Analysis:
In this lyric, it is included in one of the particularized conversational implicatures in this song
because the second lyric, 'Oh, am I in the dark?' explains the first lyric, 'I can't see any shape right
now' if he is in the dark and can't see anything. It says that here, but it actually means that he is in an
empty place, there is no one beside him, not even things that can help him.
Data 9 : “Ocean Floor”
If I could be anything
I'll be a single whale
On the ocean floor

Analysis:
'a single whale' is meant by someone who wants to be alone and feel lonely on the 'ocean
floor', because the 'ocean floor' is a quiet place and is not disturbed by anyone.
It turns out that, in most of the data that has been collected, more generalized conversational
implicatures emerge. This is because a song is a subject whose lyrics make us think about what we think,
which does not need to be explained specifically from the lyrics that appear. Even if we understand the
particularized conversational implicature in the lyrics of Wave to Earth, they are still somewhat
ambiguous for the explanation given. as in one of the verses of the songs "Homesick" and "Ocean floor"
which have been analysed.

Conclusion
Thus, from what has been explained, implicature is an utterance that has its own meaning in it, by
not talking about it directly but using words or even sentence structures that do not talk about the actual
meaning in an implied way. After reading the explanation of the article, it is certain that many people
already understand it, even though they have to imagine a little about what is implied in it, even in the
song Wave to Earth, it turns out that there are many kinds of implicature sentences that describe the
hearts of the people who listen to it. In the wave to earth's playlist that was explained previously there
is Conversational Implicature data that researchers have found using George Yule's theory consists of 9
data, which are divided into: Generalized Conversational Implicature (7) and Particularized
Conversational Implicature (2).

References
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Lyrics By Brandi Carlile. Indonesian Journal of Education, Social Sciences and
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Entitled “Hichki 2018”. Jurnal Penelitian Mahasiswa Indonesia.
Grice, P. (1975). Logic and Conversation. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
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Hidayah, N. (2021). Implicatures Found In Various Selected English Song Lyrics And The
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