Milestone Two: Linguistic Principles Analysis

2.1 ANALYSIS FROM SEMANTIC PERSPECTIVE

Looking at the connotations and denotations of each song, Motionless In White happens to be more indirect with their word choices. For example, the lyric “We want our pound of flesh and we slice thick”, is going towards how we are tired of not getting what we deserve. The words that they use have a negative connotation that is direct and to the point about being angry. This can be seen with the use “die” in the lyric “You won’t survive in your slaughterhouse // Die”, it being on its own makes it seem more personal. Yet when looking at P!nk’s song it seems to be more direct. And with her use of “die”, with it being in a line of the lyric “What if this song’s on the radio? // Then somebody’s gonna die”, it comes across more conversational and less like an actual threat to someone.

2.2 REGISTER LEVELS

When looking at the two, they both have an informal register, yet they come across differently. With P!nk it feels as though she is having a conversation with the listener. This can be seen in the being of the song with the lyrics: “I guess I just lost my husband / / I don’t know where he went / / So I’m gonna drink my money / / I’m not gonna pay his rent” (P!nk). Yet, when it comes to Motionless In White, it feels like they are having a conversation with someone they dislike and are not afraid to show it while talking. This can be seen within the beginning of the first verse “You made a deal with the devil in a bloodbath / /Now there’s a price on your head, seal the contract” (Motionless In White).