An Analysis on the Use of Denotative and Connoative Meaning in the

Headlines of Waspada Daily Newspaper, Medan

Salliyanti

, Hariadi Susilo

and Muniarti Syihab

The Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Keywords: Analysis, Denotation, Connotation, Headline, Waspada.

Abstract: The objective of the research was to find out the use of denotative and connotative meaning in the headlines

of Waspada neswpaper, Medan. The research used the theory of structural semantics which was referred to

Abdul Chaer’s idea. The research problem was how about the use of denotative and connotative meaning.

The data were gathered by performing listening technique, followed by recoding one and analyzed by using

matching method which determiner obtained from the outside of the research object, and not from the part

of the related language. In this case, the basic technique was determiner sorting technique, followed by

descriptive qualitative approach. In the qualitative method, the whole data were analyzed by using

interpretation method in the form of description. Interpreting the objects was done in order to obtain the best

level of objectivity. In social science, the source of data was language, its sentences. The result of the

research showed that there was the use of denotative and connotative meaning in the headlines of Waspada

newspaper, Medan.

1 INTRODUCTION

One of the activities in using language for conveying

messages or communicating the meaning of those

messages is through a newspaper. There language

symbols in a newspaper which contain meaning used

for conveying information to its readers. Language

symbols or the sound marks of that language contain

meaning which is used to convey information to

readers. Language symbols or the sound marks of

that language can be in forms of words, phrases, and

clauses which have to be understood by readers in

receiving information from the news in a certain

newspaper.

Headlines and their contents are inseparable

parts of a newspaper. When it is viewed from its

practical perspective in receiving some information,

the important thing is how to understand the

meaning found in the headlines because the

objective of conveying information through a

newspaper lies on its headlines. A newspaper is the

most important source of information for the people.

People read newspapers everyday in order to know

the current situation. Without newspapers, people

will find somewhat difficulties in getting news,

knowledge, and current events. Let alone these days

there are a lot of important events on law, economy,

corruption, and terrorism. Therefore, without

newspapers people will be ignorant about current

news and events.

When one begins to read a newspaper, the

first he looks at is its headline on its upper part

whether the headline is attractive or not. If there is

something which attracts his attention and it is

probably directly related to his own matters, he will

read all of the news; but if he is not interested in the

news, he will read only the headline. In this

opportunity, the researchers analyzed the use of

denotative and connotative in the headlines of

Harian Waspada (Waspada Daily Newspaper),

Medan, which has not been studied by other people.

Waspada Daily Newspaper was established

on January 11, 1974. It was established by M. Said

and Ani Idrus. Today, the editor is Prabudi Said. Its

office is located on Jalan Letjen Suprapto or Jalan

Brigjen Katamso No. 1, Medan. The essence of

information conveyed in a newspaper in located on

its headline. Therefore, it is highly necessary to

understand the meaning. It is not uncommon that

after having read the headline of a newspaper,

readers are mistaken in responding to it since its title

is not in accordance with the content.

Salliyanti, ., Susilo, H. and Syihab, M.

An Analysis on the Use of Denotative and Connoative Meaning in the Headlines of Waspada Daily Newspaper, Medan.

DOI: 10.5220/0010068211211124

In Proceedings of the International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches (ICOSTEERR 2018) - Research in Industry 4.0, pages

1121-1124

ISBN: 978-989-758-449-7

1121

The research problem was how about the

use of denotative and connotative meaning in the

Headlines of Waspada Daily Newspaper. The

objective of the research was to describe the use of

denotative and connotative meaning in the Headlines

of Waspada Daily Newspaper.

2 METHOD

The research data were gathered by using listening

method, followed by recording technique. The

gathered data were analyzed by using matching

method which determiner was obtained from the

outside of the research object, and not from the part

of the related language. In this case, the basic

technique used in the research was determiner

sorting technique, followed by descriptive

qualitative approach. In the qualitative method, the

whole data were analyzed by using interpretation

method in the form of description. Understanding

the interpretation of the research object was done to

obtain the best level of objectivity. In social science,

the source of data is language, its sentence.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

3.1 The Use of Denotative Meaning

Datum 1. Sinabung Keluarkan Awan Panas

(Sinabung Excretes Hot Cloud)

(Waspada, January 13, 2018: A1)

The words in the headline above are a series of

words which has denotative meaning since they do

not undergo the change in meaning from the

original, objective meaning. The word, Sinabung is

the name of a mount. The word, keluarkan/excrete

means ‘moves from the inside of to the outside’

(KBBI, 1988: 413). The word, awan/cloud means

‘black water vapor floating in the air’ (KBBI,

1988:57). The word, panas/hot means ‘it feels as if it

were burned or close to fire’ (KBBI : 1988:641).

Therefore, it is obvious that the headline above has

denotative meaning because it is strengthened by the

word, panas/hot which is in accordance with its

literal or explicit meaning.

Datum 2. Seorang Polisi Tembak Kepala Sendiri (A

Police Officer Shoots his own Head)

(Waspada, April 19, 2018:A1)

Words in the headline above are a series of words

which have denotative meaning since they do not

undergo the change in meaning from their original,

objective meaning. The word, seorang/a person

means ‘a person’ (KBBI, 1988:629). The word,

polisi/police means ‘a government agency that has a

duty to keep public security and order or arrest those

who violate against law’ (KBBI, 1988:693). The

word, tembak/shoot means ‘release a bullet from a

gun’ (KBBI, 1988:921). The word, kepala/head

means ‘a part of the body above the shoulders of

man and of some animal species in which the brain

is located’ (KBBI, 1988:420). The word, sendiri/self

means ‘by oneself’ (KBBI, 1988:813). Therefore,

the headline above has denotative meaning because

it is strengthened by the word, kepala/head which is

in accordance with its literal or explicit meaning.

Datum 3. Kebakaran di Mardingding Empat Rumah

Hangus (Fire in Mardingding Four Houses were

Burnt)

(Waspada, April 19 2018: B12).

The words in the headline above are a series of

words which have denotative meaning since they do

not undergo the change in meaning from their

original, objective meaning. The word,

kebakaran/fire means ‘the event of something on

fire’ (KBBI, 1988:70). The phrase, di Mardinding/in

Mardinding means ‘an area in Karo Regency of

North Sumatera’. The word empat/four means ‘name

of numeral’ (KBBI, 1988:757). The word

hangus/burnt means ‘burnt completely’ (KBBI,

1988:296). Therefore, the headline above has

denotative meaning because it is strengthened by the

word, hangus/burnt which is in accordance with its

literal or explicit meaning.

Datum 4. Perempuan Indonesia Harus Lanjutkan

Perjuangan Kartini (Indonesian Women Have to

Continue Kartini’s Struggle)

(Waspada, April 22, 2018:A1)

The words in the headline above are a series of

words which have denotative meaning since they do

not undergo the change in meaning from their

original, objective meaning. The word,

perempuan/woman means ‘woman’ (KBBI,

1988:670). The word, Indonesia/Indonesia means

‘name of a country’. The word, harus/must means

‘obligatory, must (be obliged)’ (KBBI, 1988:300).

The word, lanjutkan/continue means ‘to connect or

to continue’ (KBBI, 1988:496). The word,

perjuangan/struggle means ‘to fight or struggle for

something’ (KBBI, 1988:367). The word,

Kartini/Kartini means the name of a person’.

Therefore, the headline above has denotative

meaning because it is strengthened by the word,

perjuangan/struggle.

ICOSTEERR 2018 - International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches

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3.2 The Use of Connotative Meaning

Datum 5. Sungai Peurelak Telan Korban (The

Peurelak River Swallows Victims)

(Waspada, December 31, 2017:A1)

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, telan/ swallow. The word,

telan/swallow has changed its meaning, and it has

been influenced by subjective (not objective) values.

The word, telan/swallow means ‘to put some food

into the throat’ (KBBI, 1988:917) which is

denotative. Therefore, the headline above has

connotative meaning since it is strengthened by the

word, telan/swallow which implicitly means ‘to

claim victims’.

Datum 6. Media Berperan Mendongkrak

Pembangunan Daerah (Media Plays Its Role in Jack

up Regional Development)

(Waspada, 9 May 9, 2018:A5)

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, mendongkrak/jack up. The

word, mendongkrak/jack up has changed its meaning

and has been influenced by subjective (not

objective) values. The word, mondongkrak/jack up

means ‘to support with a jack to lift up an

automobile’ KBBI, 1988:212) which is denotative.

Therefore, the headline above has connotative

meaning since it is strengthened by the word,

mendongkrak/jack up which implicitly means ‘to

accelerate or accomplish something to finish it

soon’.

Datum 7. 5111 Tenaga Honorer Pemkab Bener

Meriah Dirumahkan (5,111 Part Time Employees of

Pemkab Bener Meriah to Stay Home)

(Waspada, December 31, 2017:A1).

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, dirumahkan/asked to stay

home). The word, dirumahkan has changed its

meaning and has been influenced by subjective (not

objective) values. The word, dirumahkan means ‘to

ask someone to stay in his house’ (KBBI, 1988:758).

Therefore, the headline above has connotative

meaning since it is strengthened by the word,

dirumahkan which implicitly means ‘laid off’.

Datum 8. Parpol Tetap Menggoreng (Political

Parties Still Frying)

(Waspada, January 3, 2018:A1).

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, menggoreng/to fry. The word,

memggoreng/to fry has changed its meaning and has

been influenced by subjective (not objective) values.

The word, menggoreng/to fry means ‘to cook

something with oil until dry on a frying pan’ (KBBI,

1988:283) which is denotative. Therefore, the

headline above has connotative meaning since it is

strengthened by the word, menggoreng which

implicitly means ‘to heat up the political

atmosphere’.

Datum 9. KPK Cari Informasi Baru Kasus Suap

Anggota DPRD Sumut (KPK Searches New

Information about Feeding by Hand of DPRD

Sumut Members)

(Waspada, April 19, 2018: A1).

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, suap/feeding by hand. The

word, suap/feeding by hand has changed its meaning

and has been influenced by subjective (not

objective) values. The word, suap/feeding by hand

means ‘rice put into a mouth during eating’ (KBBI,

1988:861). Therefore, the headline above has

connotative meaning since it is strengthened by the

word, suap which implicitly means ‘bribe’.

Datum 10. Popkot Medan Wadah Lahirkan Atlet

(Popkot Medan as Gives Birth to Athletes)

(Waspada, May 9, 2018:B5).

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, lahirkan/giving birth. The

word, lahirkan/giving birth has changed its meaning

and has been influenced by subjective (not

objective) values. The word, lahirkan/giving birth

means ‘excreting a baby from womb’ (KBBI,

1988:486) which is denotative. Therefore, the

headline above has connotative meaning since it is

strengthened by the word, lahirkan which implicitly

means ‘creating’ or yielding’.

Datum 11. Longsor Dan Banjir Lumpuhkan Akses

Transportasi (Landslide and Flood Paralyzes Access

to Transportation)

(Waspada, April 25, 2018: B12)

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, lumpuhkan/to make someone

unable to move his body. The word, lumpuhkan has

changed its meaning and has been influenced by

subjective (not objective) values. The word,

lumpuhkan means ‘to weaken and to make the body

dysfunctional’ (KBBI, 1988:536). Therefore, the

headline above has connotative meaning since it is

strengthened by the word, lumpuhkan which

implicitly means ‘disturb or hamper’

An Analysis on the Use of Denotative and Connoative Meaning in the Headlines of Waspada Daily Newspaper, Medan

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Datum 12. Gelapkan Sepeda Motor Teman Untuk

Beli Sabu (Darkening Friend’s Motor Cycle Buying

Narcotics)

(Waspada, March 19, 2018 :A5).

In the headline above there is one word which has

connotative meaning, gelapkan/(to) darken. The

word, gelapkan/(to) darken has changed its meaning

and has been influenced by subjective (not

objective) values. The word, gelapkan/(to) darken

means ‘to make something dark or no light’ (KBBI,

1988:262). Therefore, the headline above has

connotative meaning since it is strengthened by the

word, gelapkan which implicitly means ‘to

embezzle’ or steal’.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Based on the result of the analysis, it could be

concluded that

a. There was the use of denotative (objective)

meaning in the Headlines of Waspada

Daily Newspaper;

b. There was the use of connotative meaning

in the Headlines of Waspada Daily

Newspaper such as the words, telan,

mendongkrak, dirumahkan, menggoreng,

suap, lahirkan, lumpuhkan, and gelapkan.

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