Linguistics and Literature Journal

A WOMAN’S OPPRESSION IN THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA MOVIE

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

This thesis examines the oppression and resistance of a woman in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) movie, using Virginia Woolf's feminist theory from A Room of One's Own (2021). This study focuses on two main issues: how oppression is depicted in the movie, and how the female main character resists the oppression. The method used in this study is qualitative, with the movie as the main source of data. The findings show that the main character, Andrea Sachs, experiences oppression through financial dependence and restrictions on her personal boundaries. Additionally, this study highlights her resistance, achieved through gaining financial independence and claiming her personal space. These acts of resistance reflect Woolf's idea that women need both money and personal space to be free. This study is expected to provide a better understanding of women's struggles in everyday life and contribute to literary studies on feminism, gender, identity, power, and equality.

Keywords: feminist, women’s oppression, women’s resistance

EXPRESSIVE ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS IN TAYLOR SWIFT’S COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY 2022

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

This study analyzes the types and functions of expressive illocutionary acts found in Taylor Swift’s 2022 commencement speech atNew York University. The research applied Searle’s (1979) speech act theory as the main framework and used a qualitativedescriptive method. The data were collected from Swift’s speech transcript and analyzed based on the classification of expressive acts and their felicity conditions. The findings revealed that there are 42 expressive illocutionary acts representing 9 types of expressive acts, namely thanking, apologizing, congratulating, praising, complaining, protesting, boasting, lamenting, and welcoming. Among these, praising appears as the most dominant function, followed by complaining. The dominance of praising motivates the audienceand strengthens emotional connection, as well expresses admiration. On the other hand, complaining and lamenting acts are used strategically to express vulnerability and authenticity, which made the speech more relatable and persuasive to the audience. The research findings indicate that Taylor Swift employs expressive illocutionary acts to maintain a balance between emotion, humor, and authority in her message, which can help her to build solidarity with the audience, deliver inspiration, and emphasize the values of resilience and self-acceptance. Furthermore, this study can enhance the understanding of how expressive acts are used in publicspeaking and provide useful insights for further studies in pragmatics and speech analysis.

Keywords: commencement speech, expressive illocutionary acts, pragmatics, qualitative study, speech act theory, Taylor Swift

ADDRESS TERMS IN DIPLOMATIC INTERACTION: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF TRUMP-ZELENSKYY CONFRONTATION

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

This study examined the use of address terms in high-stakes diplomatic interaction, focusing on the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025. The research was important because address terms in diplomacy are not only markers of etiquette but also strategies that shape perceptions of authority, politeness, and legitimacy. The purpose of the study was to analyze how address terms shifted between formal and confrontational segments of the interaction and to explore the implications of these shifts for understanding power dynamics in political communication. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing discourse analysis of transcripts and recordings from the event. Data were segmented into formal introductions and confrontational exchanges, coded according to the type of address term used, and interpreted through the lens of sociolinguistic variation. The findings revealed that formal address terms dominated the opening exchanges, reflecting ritualized respect and protocol. However, during confrontational moments, speakers increasingly employed direct pronouns and informal references, though formal titles did not disappear entirely. Instead, alternation between formal and direct address was observed, indicating strategic language use under rhetorical pressure. The study concluded that address terms in diplomatic contexts functioned as dynamic rhetorical tools rather than static markers of formality. This demonstrated that shifts in address terms were not merely linguistic preferences but deliberate strategies employed to negotiate authority, face, and legitimacy in international diplomacy.

Keywords: address terms, diplomatic interaction, sociolinguistics, political communication, variation theory

WORD ORDER IN BOGOR DIALECT SUNDANESE: A STUDY OF SYNTACTIC TYPOLOGY

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

This study aims to examine in depth the word order in Sundanese in Bogor dialect, focusing on sentence structure patterns commonly used by native speakers in various communication contexts. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative. The translation results will be analysed to see the typology of the Bogor dialect Sundanese language in word order. The results of data analysis will be presented in the form of conclusions to answer what and how the typology of Sundanese language of Bogor dialect in word order. From the results of data and analysis, it is found that the Bogor dialect Sundanese language follows the most dominant S + V + O pattern, especially in ordinary declarative sentences. Negative sentences have the pattern S + NEG + V + O. Command sentences have the pattern V + O. Interrogative sentences have the pattern Question word + Rel + V + O. Passive sentences have the pattern O - Asp - Passive V - Agent. Aspectual declarative sentences have the pattern S - Asp - V – O.

Keywords: Bogor dialect, Sundanese language, syntactic typology, word order

MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS OF VERBAL AND VISUAL ELEMENTS IN THE DAY YOU BEGIN

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

This study examined the verbal and visual elements in the children’s picture book The Day You Begin (2018) by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López, and explored how these intermodal connections conveyed the theme of diversity. A qualitative design was employed, utilising 14 data units, each comprising one verbal excerpt and its corresponding illustration, purposively selected from 28 narrative pages. The data were gathered through reading, identifying pages that portrayed diversity, selecting units, transcribing verbal texts, describing illustrations, and pairing them for analysis. The analysis drew on Halliday and Matthiessen’s (2014) Systemic Functional Linguistics, Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) Visual Grammar, and Painter et al.’s (2013) theory of intermodal coupling. Through data condensation, display, and conclusion drawing, the study examined ideational, interpersonal, and textual meanings. The findings showed that verbal and visual elements consistently expressed ideas of difference, belonging, and identity. Their intermodal couplings were largely convergent, reinforcing the theme of diversity. The study concluded that the integration of verbal and visual meanings represented experiences of diversity and identity through metafunctional realizations, while their convergent couplings emphasized empathy, inclusion, and acceptance of differences.

Keywords: intermodal coupling, multimodal analysis, picture book, verbal-visual elements

WOMEN'S LANGUAGE ANALYSIS IN THE WISH MOVIE

2025-12-31T08:12:05+07:00

The representation of gender in animated films significantly affects people's perceptions of the construction of linguistic identity. This study examines the features of women's language in the Wish movie (2023) through a sociolinguistic analysis framework based on Lakoff's theory of women's language and Creswell's qualitative methodology. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a literature research design, analyzing the dialogue of Asha's female protagonist through objective sampling and thematic content analysis. These findings identified seven linguistic features that manifested in the protagonist's speech: lexical hedges appeared 32 times, intensifiers 12 times, tagged questions 6 times, superpolite forms 4 times, empty adjectives and hypercorrected grammar 2 times each. The analysis reveals the multidimensional function of these features, which simultaneously reflect the persistence of traditional gender norms and support the empowerment of protagonists through strategic contextual implementation. Lexical hedging serves as a politeness strategy rather than simply a marker of uncertainty, while tag questions serve a rhetorical purpose that challenges patriarchal authority. Intensifiers reinforce the emotional urgency for community advocacy and a very polite form of negotiating social hierarchies while maintaining agency. This research shows that contemporary Disney animation presents an ambivalence between the reproduction of patriarchal ideology and progressive attempts to construct complex and empowered female characters, which contribute new insights into gender-language relations in popular media representation.

Keywords: female language features, gender representation, sociolinguistic analysis

ANXIETY PORTRAYED IN THE NOVEL GROWN BY TIFFANY D. JACKSON

2025-12-31T08:12:06+07:00

The study entitled “Anxiety Portrayed in the Novel Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson” was conducted to examine the issue of anxiety of the main character. The study aims to describe the anxiety of the main character and how she overcomes it. The object of this study is the novel Grown (2020) by Tiffany D. Jackson. The study is analyzed based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory, which includes anxiety (1933) and defence mechanisms (1964). The study is conducted using a qualitative method in which the data were taken from the narratives of the novel. The results depicted three anxieties: realistic anxiety, moral anxiety, and neurotic anxiety, and how the main character overcomes the anxiety through six types of defence mechanisms: repression, denial, projection, displacement, reaction formation, and sublimation.

Keywords: anxiety, defense Mechanisms, Psychoanalysis

CONTRASTIVE AND ERROR ANALYSIS OF INDONESIAN INFLUENCE ON ENGLISH ACADEMIC WRITING

2025-12-31T08:12:06+07:00

This study investigates the influence of the Indonesian language on English academic writing among Indonesian university students by integrating contrastive and error analysis approaches. Data were collected from 30 student essays and analyzed to identify grammatical, lexical, and rhetorical errors caused by first language (L1) interference. The results revealed that grammatical and syntactic errors were most frequent, including tense misuse, omission of plural markers, and article errors, followed by lexical transfer through literal translation and discourse-level issues such as indirect argumentation and poor coherence. These patterns reflect the structural and rhetorical contrasts between Indonesian and English. The findings suggest that students’ writing difficulties are rooted in both linguistic and cultural transfer, emphasizing the need for contrastive-based instruction and genre-oriented writing pedagogy. By understanding how Indonesian linguistic features shape English writing performance, educators can design more effective strategies to enhance students’ academic literacy and cross-linguistic awareness.

Keywords: academic writing, contrastive analysis, error analysis, Indonesian interference

WORKING MEMORY, SYNTA, AND ATTENTION: PSYCHOLINGUISTICS INSIGH INTO COGNITIVE LOAD DURING SENTENCE PROCESSING

2025-12-31T08:12:06+07:00

This study investigates how cognitive load affects learners’ sentence processing during English learning, focusing on junior high school students in Medan, Indonesia. Using a qualitative descriptive design within a psycholinguistic framework, data were collected through classroom observations, sentence-based comprehension tasks, and semi-structured interviews with twelve eighth-grade students. The findings revealed that students experienced notable cognitive strain when processing long or syntactically complex English sentences, often manifested through hesitation, rereading, and verbal confusion. Three key aspects emerged: working memory limitation, syntactic complexity awareness, and attention management. Learners with limited working memory struggled to maintain meaning across lengthy sentences, while those with higher syntactic awareness managed complexity more effectively through chunking or focusing on key structures. Attention fluctuations were also observed, influencing comprehension consistency. The study concludes that sentence processing in EFL contexts is shaped by the interaction of cognitive capacity, grammatical understanding, and attentional control. Pedagogically, the findings suggest that English teachers should design learning tasks that minimize unnecessary cognitive load while fostering metacognitive awareness and self-regulation in sentence comprehension.

Keywords: attention management, cognitive load, EFL learners, psycholinguistics, sentence processing, working memory, syntactic awareness

PATANI MALAY PHATIC EXPRESSION

2025-12-31T08:12:06+07:00

This study examines the significance of phatic expressions in Patani Malay speech as part of communicative practices that reflect the social and cultural identity of its speakers. This research aims to describe the variations of phatic forms and their pragmatic functions in daily interactions, particularly how particles such as ka, dok, la, weh, po, keh, and deh are utilized to maintain conversational harmony and mark interpersonal closeness. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method with data collection techniques comprising in-depth interviews with Patani Malay people. The obtained speech data were analyzed syntactically and pragmatically to uncover patterns of phatic usage within natural communication contexts. The results indicate that phatic expressions in the Patani Malay dialect exhibit variations in form, encompassing single particles, short phrases, and brief clauses that function flexibly to soften utterances, convey light emotions, and maintain social relationships. These findings further reveal that phatic particles play a crucial role in mitigating Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs), refining speech, and ensuring that conversations proceed cooperatively. This study concludes that the use of phatics serves as a linguistic strategy that affirms the values of politeness, solidarity, and the cultural identity of the Patani community.

Keywords: interpersonal communication, Patani Malay dialect, phatic expressions, politeness strategies, pragmatic functions

LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH REFLECTION: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO HOW STUDENTS PERCEIVE AND CORRECT THEIR LINGUISTICS ERRORS

2025-12-31T08:12:06+07:00

This study explores how Indonesian university students perceive and correct their linguistic errors through reflective learning, using narrative inquiry as the central methodological approach. While linguistic errors are commonly examined through structural or quantitative perspectives, less attention has been given to how learners themselves interpret these errors and construct meaning from them. Through in-depth narrative interviews and reflective journals, this research illuminates the emotional, cognitive, and experiential dimensions that shape students’ engagement with their mistakes. The findings reveal three major themes: the development of error awareness, the interplay between emotional responses and cognitive processing, and the adoption of reflective strategies such as self-monitoring, contrastive thinking, and contextual experimentation. These narratives demonstrate that reflection transforms errors from mere deviations into valuable learning resources that promote metacognitive growth, resilience, and autonomy. By highlighting the personal stories behind error correction, the study contributes to a more humanistic understanding of language learning and underscores the need for reflective pedagogy in higher education EFL contexts.

Keywords: EFL learners, learner awareness, linguistic errors, metacognition, Narrative inquiry, reflective learning

DEIXIS EXPRESSION BY MAGDALENA HOELLER IN TED TALKS CHANNEL

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This study investigates the types and functions of deixis used in the TED Talk “Why Love is Harder in a Second Language (2025)”. The research aims to identify and interpret the deictic expressions based on Levinson’s (1983) classification, which includes five types of deixis: person, spatial, temporal, social, and discourse deixis. Using a descriptive-qualitative method, the researchers analyzed the transcript of the speech and identified sentences containing deictic elements. The results reveal that all five types of deixis are present in the speech with varying frequencies. Person deixis appears most dominantly through the speaker’s use of I, you, and we, which serve to build rapport, establish participant roles, and create an inclusive atmosphere. Spatial deixis is used metaphorically rather than physically to guide the audience through conceptual and emotional spaces within the narrative. Temporal deixis organizes the sequence of events and highlights contrasts between past and present experiences. Social deixis indexes interpersonal relationships and cultural identities, while discourse deixis contributes to textual cohesion by referring to earlier or upcoming parts of the speech. Overall, the findings demonstrate that deixis plays an essential role in shaping meaning, constructing narrative flow, and supporting intercultural communication in speech. This study suggests that further research explore deixis in various digital communication contexts to better understand how reference and orientation operate in contemporary discourse.

Keywords: interpretation of deixis, Speech, TED conference, type of deixis

TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES OF LAURA IN DANNY AND MICHAEL PHILIPPOU’S BRING HER BACK (2025)

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This study analyzes Laura’s traumatic experiences in Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back (2025) using Herman’s trauma typology and Caruth’s psychoanalytic theory of belatedness. The research aims to explain how Laura’s psychological instability, fragmented memories, and sensory distortions reflect different forms of trauma while illustrating the psychoanalytic dynamics of repetition and delayed understanding. Employing a qualitative descriptive method, the analysis focuses on scenes depicting intrusive flashbacks, dissociation, hypervigilance, and emotional breakdowns. The findings indicate that Laura’s blindness intensifies her traumatic perception by forcing her to rely on auditory and tactile impressions, which deepen the fragmentation of her memory. Her recurring hallucinations of her daughter, emotional volatility, and persistent self-blame align with contemporary trauma studies emphasizing the disrupted relationship between memory, identity, and psychological pain. The film also suggests the beginning of recovery as Laura gradually confronts avoided memories and regains emotional clarity. Overall, Bring Her Back presents a multidimensional portrayal of trauma by revealing how unresolved experiences shape one’s memory, identity, and perception of reality.

Keywords: identity, memory, psychoanalysis, trauma

AN AN ANALYSIS OF REALITY, NEUROTIC, AND MORAL ANXIETY IN DON’T BREATHE FILM

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This article analyzes the depiction of anxiety in the Don’t Breathe, focusing on the types of anxiety experienced by the characters, Rocky and Alex. Using Calvin Hall's theory of anxiety (1954), the research identifies three key forms of anxiety portrayed in the film: reality anxiety, neurotic anxiety, and moral anxiety. Reality anxiety manifests through the characters' fear of real external dangers, such as getting caught or physical harm. Neurotic anxiety reflects their internal conflicts and fears about losing control over instincts and impulses. Moral anxiety reveals their feelings of guilt and shame related to the ethical implications of their actions. Employing a qualitative approach, this article examines how these anxieties shape the characters' decisions and behaviours in a high-pressure, life-threatening situation. The film's use of setting, cinematography, and narrative techniques intensifies the portrayal of anxiety, immersing viewers in the characters' psychological struggles. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how psychological theories of anxiety can be applied in film studies to explore complex character experiences and enrich narrative meaning.

Keywords: anxiety, Don’t Breathe, moral anxiety, neurotic anxiety, reality anxiety

THE MAIN CHARACTER’S RESPONSE TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN INVICTUS MOVIE

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This article examines how the main character, Nelson Mandela, responds to racial discrimination in Invictus (2009), directed by Clint Eastwood. The research focuses on Mandela’s strategies in addressing the deep racial divisions in post-apartheid South Africa. Using John Paul Lederach’s theory of reconciliation, the analysis highlights four key responses shown by Mandela: truth, forgiveness, justice, and peace. These responses are expressed through dialogue, symbolic actions, and leadership decisions in the film. The findings reveal that Mandela’s commitment to reconciliation helped transform rugby, a sport once seen as a symbol of racial division, into a unifying tool for the nation. His responses demonstrate that racial discrimination can be resisted not only through political struggle but also through moral leadership and inclusive vision. This article aims to give readers a deeper understanding of how film portrays responses to racial discrimination and to provide a useful reference for further studies in literature and film analysis.

Keywords: film analysis, Invictus, Nelson Mandela, racial discrimination, reconciliation

DELINEATING BRITISH INDUSTRY REVOLUTION IN ENOLA HOLMES: THE CASE OF MISSING MARQUESS NOVEL BY NANCY SPRINGER

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This study aims to delineate the representation of the British Industrial Revolution in Nancy Springer’s novel “Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess”. The research is conducted through a qualitative approach using socio-historical criticism as its theoretical framework. The Industrial Revolution, which brought massive economic, social, and political changes to Britain during the 18th and 19thcenturies, serves as a background context that shapes the narrative elements within the novel. The novel is not merely a detective story for young readers, but a literary text that embeds significant representations of industrial modernity through its characters, setting, symbols, and conflicts. The primary data of this research consist of narrative excerpts and quotations from the novel that reflect conditions such asurban expansion, technological advancement, gender oppression, and class division. The analysis focuses on how these elements areconstructed and symbolized through industrial images like trains, factories, newspapers, and coded messages and how they relate to the broader historical realities of Victorian England. The character of Enola Holmes, in particular, becomes a symbolic figure of female resistance who challenges gender roles and asserts independence in a society marked by patriarchal and industrial structures. The findings of the study indicate that Nancy Springer’s novel offers a subtle yet powerful critique of the social inequalities and ideological tensions of the Industrial Era. Enola’s journey through industrial London represents more than a personal quest; it mirrors the largerstruggles of individuals especially women and the lower class against societal systems that sought to define, confine, and control them. This research contributes to the field of literary studies by highlighting how children's fiction can function as a vehicle for socio-political commentary and historical reflection.

Keywords: class, Enola Holmes, gender roles, industrial Revolution, socio-historical criticism,

symbolism, Victorian society

LEWIS CAPALDI’S SOMEONE YOU LOVED: A READER RESPONSE ANALYSIS OF THE LYRIC

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This research analyzes Lewis Capaldi’s song Someone You Loved using Reader-Response Theory. The study focuses on how listeners give meaning to the song lyrics based on their personal feelings and experiences. Reader-Response Theory, especially Louise Rosenblatt’s transactional approach, explains that meaning is not fixed in the text but created through interaction between the text and the reader. The researcher used a qualitative descriptive method and collected data through a Google Form questionnaire based on seven reader-response strategies from Beach and Marshall (1991): describing, engaging, conceiving, explaining, connecting, interpreting, and judging. Twenty respondents from different countries shared their emotional and personal reactions after listening to the song. The findings show that most listeners interpreted the song as a story about love, loss, and emotional healing. Each listener’s background and experience influenced how they understood the song’s message. This study proves that song lyrics can be studied as modern literature and that listeners play an active role in creating meaning from popular music.

Keywords: Lewis Capaldi, reader-response theory, Someone You Loved, song lyrics, qualitative research

THE UNTRANSLATABILITY OF JOKES IN TREVOR NOAH’S SON OF PATRICIA

2025-12-31T08:12:07+07:00

This study investigates cases of untranslatability and the translation strategies applied in Trevor Noah’s stand-up comedy special Son of Patricia. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study analyzes jokes that are considered difficult to translate directly from English into Indonesian. The classification of untranslatability is based on Peter Newmark’s theory, while the translation strategies are examined using Vinay and Darbelnet’s framework. The analysis focuses on identifying lexical and cultural untranslatability present in the selected data. The findings reveal that untranslatability should not be viewed as a constraint in translation but rather as an opportunity for translators to exercise creativity and problem-solving skills. Many jokes that pose translation challenges can be effectively rendered by selecting the most appropriate equivalents in the target language through the use of suitable translation strategies. The strategies most frequently employed include modulation, equivalence, adaptation, and borrowing. All of these play a crucial role in preserving the humorous effect and the intended meaning of the source text. This study emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness and strategic competence in translating humor, particularly in entertainment texts rich in linguistic and cultural nuances. The research contributes to the field of applied linguistics and translation studies by demonstrating that appropriate translation strategies can bridge language and cultural gaps while maintaining the quality and impact of the original content.

Keywords: stand-up comedy, translation strategies, untranslatability