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THE DEPICTION OF ISLAMIC PRINCESS
IN CHILDREN’S BOOKS: A TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Research Paper
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for Getting Bachelor Degree of Education
in English Department
by:
FATMA ROCHMALIA ORIZA
A320130002
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION
SCHOOL OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH SURAKARTA
2017
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THE DEPICTION OF ISLAMIC PRINCESS IN CHILDREN’S BOOKS: A
TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS
ABSTRACT
The research aims at analyzing the depiction of the Islamic princess books from
Dar! Mizan. It focuses on how the types of process, participant, and circumstance
reveal the characterization of the princess as well as the main female character in
relation to the narrative structure. This study is a descriptive qualitative one
applying transitivity analysis. The data for this study are in the forms of clauses
taken from the five stories. From the 205 clauses found, there are five types of
processes occurred i.e.: verbal (26,341%), mental (25,366%), relational
(24,390%), material (20,976%), and existential (2,927%). In addition, the process
initiated by the main female characters are Princess Majidina, Princess Muqita,
Princess Haqqiya, Princess Bashira, and Princess Raqiibina in relation to the
narrative structure, the most occurrence of process types are: in orientation is
relational process; in evaluation is verbal process; in complication is verbal
process; in resolution is mental process; and in re-orientation is mental process.
To sum up, the transitivity processes are to reveal that the princess in Islamic
princess books are represented as a doer that have many ideas, initiatives, good
attitude and positive activities.
Keyword: transitivity, Islamic princess, children’s book
ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis penggambaran tokoh utama Putri
dalam buku Islam yang diterbitkan oleh Dar! Mizan. Fokus penelitian ini pada
tipe-tipe proses, pelaku, dan keterangan yang menerangkan karakter dari tokoh
utama seorang Putri pada setiap unsur teks narasi. Metode analisis data yang
digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan mengaplikasikan analisis
transitivitas. Data yang digunakan pada penelitian ini merupakan klausa yang
dikumpulkan melalui metode dokumentasi dari lima buku cerita Putri Islam. Dari
205 klausa yang ditemukan, terdapat 5 tipe proses yang muncul, seperti: verbal
(26,341%), mental (25,366%), relational (24,390%), material (20,976%), dan
existential (2,927%). Selain itu, terdapat tipe proses yang dilakukan tokoh utama,
seperti Putri Majidina, Putri Muqita, Putri Haqqiya, Putri Bashira, dan Putri
Raqiibina pada unsur-unsur teks narasi, tipe proses dengan kemunculan terbanyak
pada tiap unsur yaitu: pada orientation yaitu proses relational; pada evaluation
yaitu proses verbal; pada complication yaitu proses verbal; pada resolution yaitu
proses mental, dan pada re-orientation yaitu proses mental. Lebih ringkasnya,
proses transitivitas merupakan proses untuk mengungkapkan bahwa tokoh utama
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dalam buku putri Islam digambarkan sebagai pelaku yang memiliki banyak ide,
inisiatif, perilaku yang baik dan aktivitas yang positif.
Kata Kunci: transitifiti, puteri Islam, buku anak
1. INTRODUCTION
Children’s books in Indonesia have long been part of Indonesian
publishing industry (Taryadi 1999). It gets its flourishing period especially
after reformasi. In addition to its entertaining features, children’s books are
often used as the media for education. Therefore, children’s books always
become the demand of parents, and educator in Indonesia.
Children’s books have various genres which refers to the kind or type of
literature that has a common set of characteristics such as fiction, science,
history, biography Lukens (2002:30-34).
In the genre of fiction, girls as main characters in children’s books are
numerous including those depicting princess which resemble with the
canonical western fairy tales. Many of those canonical fairy tales, especially
the ones popularized by Disney, are retold, translated and republished in
Indonesia. We can find the stories like Cinderella, Snow White or Rapunzel in
Indonesia children’s book. Unfortunately, the depiction of the main girl
character in those stories is usually shows their weaknesses.
Along with the booming of children books publishing, several Islamic
book publishers such as DAR! Mizan, Gema Insani Press (GIP), and Tiga
Serangkai also publish books for children with Islamic feature. One of the
book series is Islamic princess, with the purpose of presenting the different
character of girl especially Moslem girls.
In those books the moslem princess are presented differently from the
Disney princess. This can be seen, for example from the outfit. In which
Islamic Princess wears modest gowns with veils. Moreover, the Islamic
Princess has more positive character. In the story of Gaun-Gaun Princess
Majidina, the main girl character named Majidina has strong character, such
as she builds an ordinary idea and gives her gowns to those who need them. In
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another story, Princess Zhahira dan Selendang Biru, the main girl character
has good manners such as like to help the less fortune people, she is
trustworthy and responsible princess.
The seemingly different presentation of a princess with Islamic
characters is an interesting site to study. This study, investigates the
characterization of the main female characters in those stories. By deploying
transitivity analysis. Transitivity is used to reveal the depiction of Islamic
Princess characterization considering that how participants are depicted in
texts can shape the way that we perceive them. In other words, our perception
can be shaped by the representation of transitivity in which a system of the
clause affects not only the verb serving as process but also participants and
circumstances and can help to promote certain discourses and certain
ideologies (Halliday, 2004).
Studies on the female characterization by using transitivity analysis have
been done by previous researchers. Suryatini (2014) in her study entitled
Analysis of English Transitivity Process with Reference to “The Witch of
Portobello” by Paulo Coelho analyze the process of transitivity in the story
and find out that the most frequent occurrence is Material Process (up to
46,2%), while Non-Material Process is up to 53,8%. of all process types in
the data. Another study is by Maity (2014) in her research entitled Damsels in
Distress: A Textual Analysis of Gender roles in Disney Princess Films. This
study, aiming to describe the gender identity and gender roles in Disney
movies and to see how identity is transformed through long term virtues and
ideals that are set forth by the Disney movies results in conclusion that Disney
movies for children are relatively unhealthy because of the identity of
characters that seems to be capable of suffering in silence. The character of
princess is also studied by Febriyanti in her research Penggambaran Tokoh
Putri (Princess) dalam Film Kartun Disney (Analisis Komparasi Era Klasik
VS Era Kontemporer). Her study investigated the depiction of Disney princess
by using qualitative and quantitative method analysis. This study shows that
any shifting of the princess character from the classical era to the
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contemporary era. In addition, this research also finds out the princess’s
characterization. Nguyen (2012) in her research entitled Transitivity Analysis
of “Heroic Mother” by Hoa Pham identifies and explains how the main
character’s personality is portrayed and represented through language used in
Hoa Pham’s “Heroic Mother”. The result is to show how linguistics analysis
together with observations about the next enables a better understanding of the
main character, known as a “heroic mother”. The last previous study is by
Anggraheni and Tyas (2014) entitled Constructing Women’s Identity Through
Javanese Folktale “How the Queen of the Sea Punished Greed”: A
Transitivity Analysis, which explicates how folktales contribute to construct
women’s identity through material and mental processes, and the participants.
Although having similar area of study i.e. on transitivity analysis in
literary work, this study is different from the previous studies. To the best of
author’s knowledge, the study focusing on the depiction of Islamic princess
has not been done. The previous researchers generally explore general fiction
or princess in general, while this study discusses Islamic princess. Hence, this
study on the depiction of Islamic princess in children’s books by using a
transitivity analysis is valuable to be conducted. This research contributes in
the area of children’s books, children’s literature as well as to encourage the
other linguistic researches in transitivity.
2. RESEARCH METHOD
This research belongs to descriptive qualitative method. The data for
this study are in the forms of clauses taken from 5 stories of Islamic Princess
published by a well-known national Islamic national publisher (DAR! Mizan)
that uses trustworthy editor namely Gaun-Gaun Princess Majidina, Princess
Haqqiya dan Guci Kesayangan Ratu, Princess Bashira dan Kuda
Kesayangan, Princess Muqita dan Cincin Kerajaan, and Princess Raqiibina
dan Teleskop Ajaib. In addition. The data validity is made by confirming the
data to a language expert.
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A transitivity analysis proposed by Halliday (1994:167) is used to
reveal the depiction of Islamic princess by scrutinizing the process initiated by
the characters, the typical process initiated by the main female character as
well as its relation to the narrative structure. Thus, transitivity analysis helps
understanding the characterization of Islamic princess which is perceived
based on its linguistic representation. The steps in analyzing the data include:
reading the stories, collecting the clauses in the stories, identifying and
classifying the types of participants, process, and circumstance, and
interpreting the analysis.
3. FINDING AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Finding
The analysis of the study answers the questions of this study
concerning of typical process initiated by all the characters, typical process
initiated by the main female character and the typical process in relation to
the narrative structure. In the end, the analysis will lead to the
understanding on the characterization of Islamic Princess based on
linguistic representation.
3.1.1 Typical process initiated by all the characters
a. Types of Process
By using transitivity under the framework of Halliday’s
SFL, the writer finds 205 clauses. The distribution table of
processes that characterize the text can be seen as follow:
Table a.1. Process Types of Narrative Text in Islamic Princess
series
Process Types Frequency of
Occurrence Percentage (%)
Material 43 20,976%
Mental 52 25,366%
Relational 50 24,390%
Verbal 54 26,341%
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Behavioral 0 0%
Existential 6 2,927%
Meteorological 0 0%
Total 205 100%
b. Types of Participant
Based on the analysis, the writer finds 205 participants in
this text. The result of participants by transitivity analysis can be
seen in the table as follow:
Table b.1. Participants of Narrative Text in Islamic Princess Series
Participants Frequency of
Occurrence Percentage (%)
Actor 43 20,976%
Senser 52 25,366%%
Carrier 41 20%
Token 9 4,390%
Sayer 54 26,341%
Behaver 0 0%
Existential 6 2,927%
Subject 0 0%
Total 205 100%
c. Types of Circumstance
From seven types of circumstances, the writer finds 5 types
of circumstance appearing in Islamic Princess Series. Those are
circumstance of place, manner, role, cause, and time. The table of
circumstance distribution can be seen as follow:
Table c.1: Circumstances of Islamic Princess Series
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Circumstance Frequency of
Occurrence Percentage (%)
Time 17 26,5625%
Place 22 34,375%
Manner 20 31,25%
Cause 2 3,125%
Accompaniment 1 1,5625%
Matter 1 1,5625%
Role 1 1,5625%
Total 64 100%
3.1.2 The typical process initiated by the main female character
In the data, the typical process initiated by the main female
character are totally 76 processes. The orders from the dominant
occurrence to the least are as follow: mental process (up to 28,947%),
verbal process (26,316%), relational process (23,684%), material
process (18,421%), and existential process (2,632%).
3.1.3 The typical process in relation to the narrative structure
Referring to generic structure of narrative (Gerot & Wignell,
1994:204), the typical processes initiated by the main female character
in relation to the narrative structure are as follow:
a. Orientation; a part of the narrative structure which sets the scene
and introduces the participants.
In the data, the total process occurred is 21 occurrences. The
processes are dominated by the process types of relational
(42,857%) and mental (23,809%).
The detail occurrence of the typical process initiated by the
main female character in orientation shows the dominant
occurrence of relational process. It shows the correlation between
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the function of relational process as a process which shows
possession, self-identity; and process of being something and the
function of orientation to introduce the scene and the characters.
By using relational process, the author introduces the name of the
main female character and the setting in which the main female
character lives.
b. Evaluation: a stepping back to evaluate the plight
In this generic structure of narrative text the total types of
process occurred is 12 occurrences which are dominated by verbal
process (33,333%) and mental process (25%).
In evaluation, the process initiated by the main female
character is more various which comprises the verbal, material,
mental, and though least in occurrence, relational process. This
could indicate more involvement and the more active role of the
main female character in the story plot.
c. Complication: a crisis arises
In this part of narrative text, the total types of process
occurred is 22 occurrences with the most dominant process types
are verbal process (42,857%) and mental process (33,333%).
In complication, the types of process initiated by the main
female character is more or less similar to those in evaluation
comprising the verbal, mental, material and occurrence, relational
process. However, the dominant of verbal process indicates that in
this part of the narrative structure, the main female characters
actively interact verbally with other characters in the stories,
expressing her thought. In addition, the frequent mental process
occurred also indicates that the main female character is also
mentally active.
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d. Resolution: the crisis is resolved, for better or for worse.
In resolution, the types of processes have a total occurrence is
19 occurrences and the most are dominated by mental process
(33,333%) and verbal process (33,333%).
Similar to complication, in resolution, the types of process
initiated by the main female character include the verbal, mental,
material and occurrence, relational process. The dominant of verbal
process and the frequent mental process indicates that in this part
of the narrative structure, the main female characters is active both
verbally and mentally.
e. Re-orientation: optional
Total types of process in this narrative structure is 4
occurrences which has the dominant of process types of mental
process (50%) and material process (25%).
As this narrative structure is optional, it is not necessarily
occurs in every narrative text. In the data, there are four out of five
story books which contain reorientation, and the types of mental,
material and relational process used in reorientation function as a
restatement.
3.2 Discussion
The result of the analysis has demonstrated that the characteristic of
the main female character of Islamic Princess book series can be perceived
by transitivity analysis. The analysis reveals the depiction the
characteristic of main female characters as more active than other female
characters, shown in the way the main female characters have their own
ideas, show their initiatives, and are able to express feelings. It can be seen
for example in the clause uttered by the main female character of Princess
Majidina after her friend asked about what would Majidina do to her
beautiful dresses, then Majidina replied that she would give her beautiful
dresses to people who need it “I (Princess Majidina) want to give some to
those”. In this utterance the clause contains a mental process which shows
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Princess Majidina who has an idea to give something to others and this
proves that she is a mentally active character. Another example can be
seen in the clause uttered by Princess Raqiibina in Princess Raqiibina and
Teleskop Ajaib when Princess Raqiibina watched to the space and saw an
object like a fire ball toward to the earth, so Princess Raqiibina took a
“then, she told her father” in which the clause contains a verbal process
initiated by the princess and it proves that Princess Raqiibina has initiative
to tell her father. It also indicates that Princess Raqiibina is mentally
active.
Moreover, the typical processes initiated by the main female character
shows how the main female character is portrayed in a good or positive
way, meaning that the main female character is depicted in non-traditional
portrayal of a girl. This is shown by the depiction of the princesses as
being assertive and having initiative. In other words, they are depicted as
being able to express their thought and have the chance to realize their
ideas. In addition, the princesses are also depicted as smart, kind,
beautiful, helpful and wise. This seems different from canonical Princess
stories from western countries. Most of those Princess stories, especially
those that are adopted by Disney belong to traditional portrayal of a
princess as weak, passive but beautiful girl. It can be seen for example in
the story of Cinderella which tells about a beautiful girl who is weak and
passive, needs helpers to solve her problem. Similarly, in Snow White, the
main female character lives sadly because of the cruelty of the wicked
queen, feeling sorrowful and waiting for the helper. The depiction of the
princess in Islamic Princess series are more positive and therefore
interesting and are useful for teaching character building to children
readers.
In general the stories in Islamic Princess shows the appropriateness
with the narrative features are stated by Gerot & Wignell (1994) such as
the sentences use past tense, there are some temporal conjunction and
temporal circumstance, and the stories focus on individualized
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participants. Also, there are parts of narrative text that suitable with Gerot
& Wignell (1994) i.e. the orientation, evaluation, complication, resolution
and reorientation.
4. CONCLUSION
This research has answered the formulated research questions covering
how the types of process, participant, and circumstance reveal the
characterization of the princess as well as the main female characterization in
relation to the narrative structure of the stories.
From 5 stories of Islamic princess, there are 205 clauses found,
containing material process (43 occurrences), mental process (52
occurrences), relational process (50 occurrences), verbal process (54
occurrences), and existential process (6 occurrences). In addition, there are
found types of participants i.e. actor (43 occurrences), senser (52 occurrences),
carrier (41 occurrences), token (9 occurrences), sayer (54 occurrences), and
existential (6 occurrences). Besides, in regard to circumstance, the writer finds
five types of circumstance. Those are circumstance of time 17 times,
circumstance of place 22 times, circumstance of manner 20 times,
circumstance of cause two times, circumstance of accompaniment one time,
circumstance of matter one time, and circumstance of role one time.
In addition to the process initiated by all characters, there are typical
processes initiated by the main female characters i.e. mental (22 occurrences),
verbal (20 occurrences), relational (18 occurrences), material (14 occurrences)
and existential (2 occurrences).
In relation to the generic structure of narrative text, the typical
processes initiated by the main female character can be said appropriate.
Furthermore, it support other elements of the narrative generic structure as
what is stated by Gerot & Wignell (1994). The dominant types of process are
occurred i.e. first, in orientation: relational process (9 occurrences) and mental
process (5 occurrences). Second, in evaluation: verbal process (4 occurrences)
and mental process (3 occurrences). Third, in complication: verbal process (9
12
occurrences) and mental process (7 occurrences). Fourth, in resolution: mental
process (5 occurrences) and verbal process (5 occurrences). Fifth, in re-
orientation: mental process (2 occurrences) and material process (1
occurrence).
To sum up, the transitivity analysis on Islamic princess series can reveal
how the Islamic princesses are depicted in the stories. This depiction
represents the characterization of the main female character, the Islamic
princess, as a kind hearted, wise, and smart girl who is active as well as has
initiatives and good attitude. This positive depiction of the Islamic girl is a
valuable source of teaching character education for children readers.
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