The Linguistic Construction of Meaning in Niki’s “La La Lost You” through Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics

Abstract

This study explores the linguistic construction of meaning in NIKI’s song “La La Lost You” 
by applying Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) theory, particularly focusing on 
the three metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal, and textual. As a lyrical text that expresses 
loss, longing, and emotional vulnerability, “La La Lost You” offers rich data for analyzing how 
language conveys both personal emotion and social meaning. The purpose of this research is 
to identify how NIKI’s linguistic choices represent experiences, establish emotional 
relationships with the listener, and organize ideas cohesively through the metafunctional 
framework. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach, using textual analysis of the 
song lyrics to examine transitivity structures, mood and modality patterns, and thematic 
organization. The findings reveal that mental and relational processes dominate the ideational 
metafunction, emphasizing the singer’s inner feelings and perceptions. The interpersonal 
metafunction highlights the use of declarative moods and personal pronouns, which create an 
intimate and confessional tone between the singer and the audience. The textual metafunction 
demonstrates cohesive thematic progression, contributing to the emotional flow of the lyrics. 
Overall, this study illustrates how the three metafunctions interact to construct emotional depth 
and coherence, revealing the linguistic strategies through which NIKI communicates personal 
loss and emotional resonance in “La La Lost You”.