A STUDY OF LEXICAL DENSITY AND READABILITY IN READER’S DIGEST MAGAZINE

ABSTRACT

Sari, Andara Ninggar. 160511100014. A Study of Lexical Density and Readability in Reader’s Digest Magazine. Thesis. English Study Program, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, University of Trunojoyo. Madura. Advisor: Dr. Rosyida Ekawati, S.S., M.A.

This study concerns with the use of lexical density and readability in the magazine. The aims of this study are (1) to explain the lexical density and readability in the Reader’s Digest Magazine (2) to find the genre of each article which has a high density in the Reader’s Digest Magazine (3) to explain the relation between lexical density and readability of articles in Reader’s Digest Magazine. The source of data of this research is the lexical items and grammatical items in Reader’s Digest Magazine.
This study used quantitative method. In collecting data, the writer used the document method. Since the data is in the form of text. In analyzing the data, the writer used lexical density theory by Ure (1971) and readability theory by Flesch (1948) to find whether the magazine is appropriate to read or not.
The result of the lexical density shows there are health article with density around 61, 34%, animal kingdom article with density around 61,56%, languages article with density around 58, 83%, parenting article with density around 54, 68%, and travel article with density around 64, 05%. Furthermore, the result of the readability shows there are health and animal kingdom article which appropriated with the reader who has grades 10 – 12, language and parenting article which appropriated with the reader who has grades 8 – 9, and travel article which appropriated with undergraduate students.

Keywords: Lexical Density, Readability, Reader’s Digest Magazine.