GLENS: Global English Insights Journal
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): GLENS, August 2026 (In Press)

Signifying Emotions: A Structural Analysis of Love in NIKI’S Nicole Album

Marshanda Chairunissa (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
Dedi Sulaeman (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
R. Myrna Nur Sakinah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Aug 2026

Abstract

Love is one of the most universal yet complex human emotions, often represented in song lyrics through symbolic and figurative language rather than direct statements. This study examines the representation of love in NIKI's Nicole album using Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic theory, focusing on the relationship between signifier and signified in constructing emotional meaning. Using a descriptive qualitative design, this study analyzes the official lyrics of all twelve songs through documentation, close reading, and semiotic interpretation. The findings reveal that love is represented through interconnected emotional dimensions, including longing, heartbreak, emotional dependency, nostalgia, vulnerability, hope, acceptance, and healing. Rather than being expressed directly, these meanings are constructed through symbolic words, phrases, and recurring imagery whose signifieds develop across the album's narrative progression. The study concludes that Saussure's semiotic theory provides a systematic framework for explaining how linguistic signs construct emotional meaning and represent love as a dynamic emotional journey throughout the album.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

GLENS

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

English Language Teaching (ELT), covering innovative teaching methods, curriculum development, classroom strategies, language assessment, digital learning, and pedagogical practices in English education. English Linguistics, focusing on studies of language structure, applied linguistics, ...