Referring Expression and the Representation of Indonesia’s Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidate 2024 through International Online Media

Abstract

The 2024 Presidential Election in Indonesia has received widespread attention from various international online media. This study is an analysis of the referring expression in articles taken from nine international online media during the Indonesian Presidential campaign 2024. This study focuses on how language through referring expressions represents its’ referent; Indonesia’s President and vice president candidate 2024. Employing qualitative method, primary data is taken from 17 articles from nine international online media who were active in covering the Indonesian presidential election during November 2023 – 10 February 2024. Data is analyzed using referential identity method where the focus of the study is determined by the referent. It also employs Saussures’ theory; signifier and signified. Referent and referring expression theories are adapted from Kreidler (2020) and Huford and Heasly (2007). The analysis revealed there are 58 referring expressions used in the articles. Language operates as a symbol that represents meaning. It is evident in this study that referring expressions can represent between a word phrase and an entity in the external world.