Functional Syntactic Analysis of Nominal Phrases in Song Lyrics of NIKI’s Nicole Album

Abstract

Functional syntax realizes the systems of language and the functional role of the unit from the structure based on the situational context of the text. This study aimed to identify the typical systems of functional role elements of nominal phrases realized in the twelve songs from Nicole's album by NIKI and interpret the potential meaning from the dominant pattern. The analysis was done by using the simple linear method with a descriptive explanation. The study showed there are 173 nominal phrases with three classifications. First, the functional structure with typical types; 1) determiner – headword structure with 86 data, 2) determiner – modifier – headword structure with 23 data, and 3) determiner – headword – qualifier structure with 22 data. Second, the systems of the functional element of the nominal phrase filled by the grammatical class category with typical systems; 1) article as determiner with 73 data, 2) possessive pronoun as determiner with 52 data, and 3) prepositional phrase as qualifier with 30 data. Last, the system of functional element structure filled by its grammatical class category with typical systems; 1) article–headword structure with 35 data, 2) possessive pronoun–headword structure with 32 data, and 3) article–headword–prepositional phrase structure with 11 data. This classification shows the simplicity of patterns and word choices in song lyrics from Nicole's album by NIKI to make the listeners to understand and recall easily the themes and the song lyrics.