Khoirunnisa Herlistia Pravitasari, Almira Agwinanda, Dian Yuni Pamuji

Semantic Analysis of the Lyrics of "Gēchàng Zǔguó (歌唱祖国)" by Wang Xin

Introduction

Semantic analysis of the lyrics of "gēchàng zǔguó (歌唱祖国)" by wang xin. Explore the semantic meaning in "Gēchàng Zǔguó" lyrics by Wang Xin, uncovering how conceptual, connotative, and affective meanings convey Chinese national ideology, identity, and patriotism.

Abstract

National song lyrics have great potential as a linguistic medium in conveying ideology and shaping the collective spirit of society. Amid increasing attention to the role of language in the construction of National identity, it is important to examine how meaning in song lyrics works Semantically. This study analyses the Semantic meaning in the lyrics of the song "Gēchàng Zǔguó (歌唱祖国)" by Wang Xin using Leech's (1974) theoretical approach. This song was chosen because it contains the value of Nationalism and Chinese ideological symbols. The method used is Descriptive Qualitative with observation, recording and documentation techniques. The results show that Conceptual meaning dominates the song lyrics, especially through Geographical representation, State symbols, and the role of the people. In addition, the Connotative and Affective meanings also reinforce the spirit of nationality, love for the country, and historical pride. The song proves that lyrics can be a linguistic medium that conveys National ideology and identity.

Review

This study undertakes a timely and relevant semantic analysis of the lyrics of "Gēchàng Zǔguó (歌唱祖国)," addressing the significant role of national song lyrics as a linguistic medium for conveying ideology and shaping collective identity. The choice of song is well-justified due to its explicit embrace of nationalist and Chinese ideological symbols, making it an excellent case study. The application of Leech's (1974) theoretical approach provides a structured framework for investigating how semantic meaning operates within the lyrics. The abstract effectively highlights the dominance of conceptual meaning, particularly through geographical representation, state symbols, and the role of the people, further reinforced by connotative and affective meanings that foster national spirit, patriotism, and historical pride. While the abstract presents a clear aim and relevant theoretical framework, some aspects could benefit from further elaboration in the full paper. The methodological description, "Descriptive Qualitative with observation, recording and documentation techniques," is rather broad; greater specificity on *how* these techniques were applied to lyrics analysis (e.g., the specific analytical steps taken, coding procedures if any, or how 'observation' was employed in textual analysis) would enhance methodological transparency and replicability. Furthermore, while Leech's framework is mentioned and three types of meaning (Conceptual, Connotative, Affective) are identified in the results, a detailed discussion in the main text on how other aspects of Leech's broader theory were considered or why they were deemed less salient would strengthen the theoretical application. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the linguistic construction of national identity and ideology through song lyrics. Its focus on a culturally significant piece like "Gēchàng Zǔguó" makes it particularly pertinent for understanding the propagation of national narratives. The findings regarding the interplay of different semantic layers are compelling and contribute to our understanding of how such messages are encoded. Provided the full manuscript thoroughly addresses the methodological details and rigorously demonstrates the application of the chosen theoretical framework, this paper has strong potential to be a significant contribution to the fields of linguistics, cultural studies, and political communication. I recommend its publication after minor revisions to ensure these elements are fully elaborated.

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