Meaning in Selected Poetries by Usman Awang

Semantics is a field of linguistics that studies the meaning of the various language medium usages. The argument over meaning encompasses the entire aim that the author wants to convey. Whether the meaning is related to situation or the age that certain arts were produced. The restriction in the producing of arts during the colonization period made the authors controlled in the process of selecting words. The function of the literary works as the medium that called forth the courage and spirit among Malaya people was because of the meaning of the arts which were produced not only based on the literal contents but also the out of sight meanings. The concealed meanings of Usman Awang that he wanted to convey through his arts will be discussed in this article. The explanations of meaning are not only restricted in lexical forms, but it also includes the contextual meanings. As a result, Usman Awang’s poetries were not only based on lexical meanings but also it implied the contextual meanings that he wanted to convey indirectly. The article will include 4 poetries produced by Usman Awang such as Anjing Itu, Ayah Belum Pulang (Kisah Setelah Mogok) Keranda152, and Pak Utih.