A STUDY OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN CHILDREN’S SONGS LYRICS FROM COCOMELON

Abstract

Abstract—This study aims (1) to examine the types of figurative language frequently found in 25 children’ s songs from the CoComelon channel, and ( 2) to explore possible explanations for the observed patterns in figurative language use . Using purposive sampling and a quantitative approach, 77 instances of figurative language were identified and classified into nine categories according to Kennedy and Gioia (2007), along with three additional categories proposed by Leigh (1994). The findings, arranged from the most to the least frequent, show that Repetition ( 31. 16%) and End Rhyme ( 29. 87%) were the dominant devi ces, followed by Onomatopoeia (22.07%) , Hyperbole (5.19%) , and Apostrophe (3.89%). The least frequent types, namely Simile, Metaphor, and Personification, were found with equal frequency (2.59% each), while Paradox, Metonymy, Synecdoche, and Understatement were not identified ( 0% ) . The observed patterns suggest that CoComelon songs rely heavily on simple, sound- based devices that support young children’s language development, memorization, and cognitive processing. Overall, the predominance of these forms indicates that figurative language in children’s music plays a significant role in enhancing linguistic, conceptual, and emotional learning.