PHRASAL VERBS IN TAYLOR SWIFT’S 1989 SONG LYRICS AS AUTHENTIC MATERIALS FOR EFL VOCABULARY LEARNING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24002/lj.v3i2.13849Abstract
Song lyrics are widely recognized as authentic materials that expose EFL learners to natural language use. One linguistic feature that often challenges learners is phrasal verbs, which frequently appear in everyday communication yet are difficult to interpret due to their semantic complexity. This study aims to analyze phrasal verbs in the song lyrics of Taylor Swift's album 1989. Specifically, the study identifies various types of phrasal verbs and their meanings in context. Using content analysis, phrasal verbs found in four selected songs were identified and analyzed in terms of their syntactic characteristics and contextual meanings. The results show that phrasal verbs in the lyrics are used not only as grammatical constructions but also as expressive resources to represent emotional states, interpersonal conflict, and relational dynamics. These uses show that song lyrics can support learners in understanding phrasal verbs through meaningful contextual use. Therefore, the study highlights the pedagogical potential of popular song lyrics as authentic materials for facilitating EFL vocabulary learning, particularly in helping learners comprehend and use phrasal verbs more naturally.
Keywords: authentic materials, EFL, phrasal verbs, song lyrics, vocabulary learning
References
Abid Thyab, R. (2019). Phrasal verbs in English as a second/foreign language. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume, 10.
Adara, R. A. (2020). Enhancing EFL Learners’ Motivation through Songs. IJEE (Indonesian Journal of English Education), 7(2), 189–200.
Akbary, M., Shahriari, H., & Hosseini Fatemi, A. (2018). The value of song lyrics for teaching and learning English phrasal verbs: a corpus investigation of four music genres. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 12(4), 344–356.
Al Nasarat, S. A. (2018). The Dilemma of Learning Phrasal Verbs among EFL Learners. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 9(2), 118–125.
Budiono, S. Y. V., & Lodong, A. F. R. (2025). An Analysis of The Occurrence of Phrasal Verbs in Song Lyrics of Lana Del Rey. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 5(4), 6871–6885.
Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course (Second Ed.). Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
Celce-Murcia, M., Larsen-Freeman, D., & Williams, H. A. (1983). The grammar book: An ESL/EFL teacher’s course. Newbury House Rowley, MA.
De Roxas, J. A. V, Casipit, D. O., Reyes, M. M., Cruz, L. M. M. V. Dela, & Ravago, J. C. (2024). Popular English Songs as Motivational Resources and Instructional Aids for Grammar Education. Qubahan Academic Journal, 4(2), 324–341.
Duha, E. M. H. (2024). English Phrasal Verbs Used in The Album “Justice” by Justin Bieber. Research on English Language Education, 6(2), 66–77.
Fletcher, B. (2005). Register and Phrasal Verbs. MED Magazine, 33(4), 212–224.
Gafforova, D. (2025). The Benefits of Using Songs in Teaching English As A Foreign Language. International Journal Of Literature And Languages, 5(04), 31–33.
Harmer, J. (1991). The Practice of English Language Teaching. Longman. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=QQ1aAAAAMAAJ
Hidayati, H. (2017). Increasing Students’ Vocabulary by Using Song Lyric at The Second Grade of SMP Negeri 3 Tolitoli. Jurnal Madako Education, 4(2).
Jakpat. (2025). Music Concert Trends and Fan Behaviors in Indonesia: Survey Report.
Khalisa, H., Rahmadewi, A., Nasution, K. R., Rahmatulloh, R. F., & Susilo, A. (2024). Improving Vocabulary Achievement Through Lyric Song. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 12(1), 545–556.
Krashen, S. (2013). Second language acquisition: Theory, applications, and some conjectures. Mexico City: Cambridge University.
Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology (Second). Sage Publications Ltd.
Krippendorff, K. (2013). Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology (Third). Sage Publications Ltd.
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2015). Practical Research: Planning and Design (11st Ed.). Pearson Education Limited.
Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative Research Methods for The Social Sciences (Ninth Ed.). Pearson Higher Ed.
Maulana, E. S., Putraidi, K., & Hamjah, H. (2024). The Effect of Using Modern English Song Lyrics to The Vocabulary Mastery of Grade VIII. Tirai Edukasi: Jurnal Pendidikan, 7(2), 320–324.
McCarthy, M., & O’dell, F. (2017). English Vocabulary in Use Advanced (Third Edition). Cambridge University Press.
Mendrofa, S., & Yastanti, U. (2025). Exploring the Use Of Phrasal Verbs in Celine Dion’s Song Lyrics. JR-ELT (Journal of Research in English Language Teaching), 9(2), 218–230.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A methods Sourcebook (3rd). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Nation, I. S. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language (Vol. 10). Cambridge university press Cambridge.
Nivika, I., Kustantinah, I., & Karima, F. H. (2023). Phrasal verb in Coldplay’s album song A Head Full of Dreams. Journal of English Language Teaching and Literature (JELTL), 6(1), 40–49.
Patrick, J., & Fletcher, J. (2004). Differentiating types of verb particle constructions. Proceedings of the Australasian Language Technology Workshop 2004, 163–170.
Rahmania, A. F., Handayani, S., & Al Hakim, L. (2025). The Influence of English Song as Learning Media Towards Student Learning Motivation and Learning Achievement in Learning English. JEELL (Journal of English Education, Linguistics and Literature), 12(2), 1–11.
Schmidt, R. (1990). The Role of Consciousness in Second Language Learning Applied Linguistics. Oxford University Press, 11(2), 129.
Spring, R., & Takeda, J. (2024). Teaching Phrasal Verbs and Idiomatic Expressions Through Multimodal Flashcards. Journal of English Teaching through Movies and Media, 25(2), 40–53.
Syafrianto, S. M., Wardhani, E. M., Istiqomah, F. N., & Yanottama, F. (2023). Language Shifts in Javanese Naming System: A Case in Ngincep Village, Yogyakarta. Leksema: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 8(2), 177–188.
Tasnim, Z. (2022). Songs for EFL/ESL Class: How to Teach Listening Skill. MEXTESOL.
Thao, T. Q., & Bon, P. Van. (2023). English Majors’ Difficulties in Using Phrasal Verbs in Academic Writing. VNU Journal of Science: Education Research, 39(4).
Trigulova, T., & Fayzullayeva, M. (2024). Learning Phrasal Verbs Using Authentic Materials. Proceedings of International Conference on Scientific Research in Natural and Social Sciences, 141–144. https://econferenceseries.com/index.php/srnss/article/view/4312/4218
Tu, T. P. N., & Thao, T. Q. (2019). The use of phrasal verbs in English language research proposals by Vietnamese MA students. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 35(4).
Zamin, A. A. M., Adzmi, N. A. H., & Mohamad, M. (2020). Learning Vocabulary through Songs: A Study on the Role of Music in Teaching Verbs. Humanities & Social Science Reviews, 8(1), 550–557.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 LATTE: A Journal of Language, Culture, and Technology ISSN 3063-0754
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
