ABSTRACT
This research belongs to a qualitative research applying descriptive method. This research analyzed the readability level of short stories with less than 300 words using Systemic Functional Linguistics approach. It aims to find out the readability level of each text. It is also intended to know whether the word count limitation brings significant difference in the readability level.
The data of the research are the performance in the frame of Systemic Functional Linguistics including complexity of clause and groups, technicality and nominalization, lexical density, cohesion, and text structure. The source of data are short stories under 300 words entitled “Ad Infinitum” by Mark Leyner; “Her Number” by Antonya Nelson; “Vista di Mare” by Stuart Dybek; and “Witness” by John Edgar Wideman. This research was conducted through Systemic Functional Linguistic approach. The data were taken by using total sampling which belongs to purposive sampling method.
This research was conducted by analyzing the source of data based on the complexity of clause and groups, technicality and nominalization, lexical density, cohesion, and text structure. Then the data descriptions were interpreted and used to determine the readability level of each text.
The result of the analysis found out that all of the texts employ less technicalities and nominalizations, low lexical density, have cohesive logical relation, and use appropriate genre belongs to story genre. The difference found in the complexity of clause and groups with Text I has the same amount of simplex and complex clause, Text II and Text IV dominated by simplex clause, and Text III dominated by complex clause. Considering all this aspects, it indicates that all texts have high readability level with Text II possessing the highest readability level among all.
In conclusion, despite the 300 words limitation, the writers are able to successfully deliver their story to the readers. It is recommended to the next research to explore more elements in SFL as a background of their research especially regarding readability.