A Deixis Analysis in Justin Bieber's Song Lyrics 'Baby

Authors

  • Rana Abdul Mubin Universitas Al-Qolam Malang
  • Mahfud Mahfudilah Syan Universitas Al-Qolam Malang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59024/bhinneka.v4i1.1970

Keywords:

Baby, Deixis, Justin Bieber, Pragmatics, Song Lyrics

Abstract

Song lyrics often serve as a medium through which songwriters express emotions and experiences, frequently relying on context-dependent expressions known as deixis to make their message more personal and relatable. This study aims to identify the types of deixis used in the lyrics of "Baby" by Justin Bieber and to examine how these expressions contribute to conveying the song's intended meaning. Using a qualitative descriptive approach grounded in pragmatic theory, the lyrics were read repeatedly, classified according to type, and analyzed based on their contextual function. The results show that three types of deixis were found in the lyrics: personal, spatial, and temporal deixis. Personal deixis appeared most frequently, with 69 occurrences, followed by spatial deixis with 16 occurrences and temporal deixis with 6 occurrences. The dominance of personal deixis indicates that the lyrics primarily focus on the relationship between the speaker and the addressee, reflecting the singer's personal experiences of love and heartbreak. These findings confirm that deixis plays an essential role in constructing meaning in song lyrics and offer a new empirical case for pragmatic studies on deixis in globally popular music.

References

Anggraeni, L., & Kareviati, E. (2025). Deixis analysis in Disney's song. Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 8(2), 286–291.

Audia, L., Chairiyani, I., & Agustin, I. (n.d.). An analysis of figurative language in "My World" album by Justin Bieber and its...

Aulina, Z. D., Amelia, E. R., Amanina Umar, I. A., Hasanah, D. U., & Rumandhani, A. E. (2023). A deixis analysis of song lyrics in Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo. Modality Journal: International Journal of Linguistics and Literature, 3(2), 99. https://doi.org/10.30983/mj.v3i2.6478

Cruse, A. (2006). A glossary of semantics and pragmatics. Edinburgh University Press.

Dwi, M., Ambarita, P., Hutahaean, D. T., & Sinaga, A. R. (2024). An analysis of deixis on the song lyrics of "Emails I Can't Send" by Sabrina Carpenter. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 4(5), 6047–6054.

Dylgjeri, A., & Kazazi, L. (2013). Deixis in modern linguistics and outside. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. https://doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2012.v2n4p87

Fadilah, S., & Resmini, S. (2021). A deixis analysis of a song lyrics entitled "Lover." Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 4(4), 628. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v4i4.p628-633

Harahap, F. S., Tanjungbalai, P., & Utara, S. (2024). An analysis of deixis in "Who I Am" song lyrics by Alan Walker, Putri Ariani and Peder Elias. EDUJ, 2(1), 86–92.

Hasanah, U. (n.d.). English language and letters department, Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang 2016.

Hidayah, A. (2021). A deixis analysis of song lyrics in Back to You by Selena Gomez. Surakarta English and Literature Journal, 2(2), 47. https://doi.org/10.52429/selju.v2i2.269

Ilma, F., & Sabat, Y. (2023). Deixis analysis of the song lyrics Shape of You by Ed Sheeran. [Jurnal], 6(4).

Indriani, N. S., Winda, A., & Widianingsih, S. (2023). A deixis analysis of song lyrics of Shania Yan "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You." JEPAL, 3(2), 86–95.

Junita Siska Nauli Saragih, & Bernieke Anggita Ristia Damanik. (2026). An analysis of lexical relations in the song "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi from a lexical semantics perspective. Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu Akademik, 3(3), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.61722/jmia.v3i3.9923

Keo, J. S. A., Simamora, A., Br. Siahaan, M., Panjaitand, C., Manik, R., & Herman, H. (2023). A discourse analysis on deixis used in "Night Changes" song by One Direction. Journal of English Language and Education, 8(1), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v8i1.331

Kurniati, N., & Haryudin, A. (2021). A deixis analysis of song lyrics in Hello by Adele. Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 4(3), 409–413.

Kusumadewi, S., & Anggraeni, A. (2021). An analysis of deixis in Pamungkas' "One Only" song lyrics. [Jurnal], 3(4).

Lailiyah, M. A., Aisyah, S., & Prasetyo, Y. (2026). A deixis analysis in song lyrics of Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift. Journal of English Language and Education, 11(2), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i2.2168

Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.

Lisnawati, M., & Parmawati, A. (2023). A deixis study of song lyrics "At My Worst." [Jurnal], 6(2).

Natalia, Y. Y., & Santoso, I. (2021). Person deixis and spatial deixis of King Dangdut by Rhoma Irama songs. Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 3(3), 348. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v3i3.p348-353

Nazula, A., Prasetyo, Y., & Sabat, Y. (2026). A pragmatic analysis of deixis in song lyrics "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter. IJEAL, 6(1), 13–24.

Nurul Fauziyah, Rusmawaty, D., Susilo, Sunggingwati, D., & Kalukar, V. (2025). A deixis analysis in the song lyrics of Night Changes by One Direction. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 13(2), 4401–4408. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v13i2.7680

Risanty, C. A., Prasetyo, Y., Rio, H., & Aisyah, S. (2021). Deixis in the lyrics of "Happier" by Olivia Rodrigo. Journal of English Language and Education, 10.

Rokhmah, D. E. L., & Santoso, D. E. P. M. (2022). A deixis analysis of song lyrics in Jeremy Zucker's "You Were Good to Me" and "Comethru." ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 5(3), 447–452. https://doi.org/10.34050/elsjish.v5i3.21606

Sahusilawane, C., Aritonang, P., Oraile, O. P., & Lekawael, R. F. J. (2023). A pragmatic analysis of deixis and reference on Taylor Swift songs. Matai, 3(2), 103–111.

Saputra, S., & Apsari, Y. (2021). A deixis analysis of song lyrics in "I Want to Break Free" by Queen. Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 4(2), 244–249.

Setiawati, W., & Maryani, M. (2021). An analysis of figurative language in Taylor Swift's song lyrics. Project: Professional Journal of English Education, 1(3), 261. https://doi.org/10.22460/project.v1i3.p261-268

Simanjuntak, V. D. S., Napitupulu, E. R., Purba, C. N., & Thao, N. V. (n.d.). Deixis in the song lyrics of Hailee Steinfeld's "Half Written Story" album.

Waldan, B. M., Juanda, & Sari, R. P. (2025). A linguistic analysis of identity, emotion, and gender in best of five songs by Maroon 5. Apollo Project: Jurnal Ilmiah Program Studi Sastra Inggris, 14(2), 171–178. https://doi.org/10.34010/2q9tc735

Wibowo, J. (n.d.). Pragmatic analysis of the song lyric "Lonely" by Justin Bieber: A case study on implicature.

Wijaya, I. N. A., & Hadi, M. Z. P. (2024). Analysis of translation techniques in English version of Nadin Amizah's "Bertaut" song lyrics. JISHUM: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora, 2(4), 581–592. https://doi.org/10.57248/jishum.v2i4.433

Yusuf, M., & Afriana. (2026). Deixis in song lyrics: A pragmatic analysis of Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again" and "Roll Up." English Journal of Indragiri, 10(1), 296–313. https://doi.org/10.61672/eji.v10i1.3329

Downloads

Published

2026-01-31

How to Cite

Rana Abdul Mubin, & Mahfud Mahfudilah Syan. (2026). A Deixis Analysis in Justin Bieber’s Song Lyrics ’Baby. Bhinneka: Jurnal Bintang Pendidikan Dan Bahasa, 4(1), 381–391. https://doi.org/10.59024/bhinneka.v4i1.1970

Issue

Section

Articles