Semantic Analysis of Polysemy and Metaphors in Neo Culture Technology Song Lyrics

Abstract

This study investigates the semantic phenomena of polysemy and metaphor in the English song lyrics of the South Korean group NCT. The research aims to identify the types of polysemy and metaphor used, as well as to interpret their meanings within the lyrical context. The data were taken from ten songs: Rains in Heaven, Beatbox, Fireflies, Regular, Highway to Heaven, Cherry Bomb, So Am I, Love Talk, On My Youth, and Make A Wish. The analysis was conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach, applying Asher’s (2011) theory of polysemy and Knowles and Moon’s (2006) classification of metaphor. The findings reveal a total of 194 semantic data points. Of these, 182 are cases of polysemy, consisting of 139 data of logical polysemy and 43 of accidental polysemy. Meanwhile, 12 data points are classified as metaphor, comprising 7 creative metaphors, 3 conventional metaphors, and 2 literary metaphors. The results indicate that polysemy, particularly the logical type, occurs more frequently than metaphor. This suggests that NCT’s lyrics tend to rely on contextually rich vocabulary with layered meanings. The metaphors found are predominantly creative, reflecting an intentional use aligned with the song themes. Overall, the study demonstrates that figurative and polysemous expressions significantly contribute to the poetic and expressive quality of NCT’s song lyrics.