A Semiotic Analysis of Seafarer's Character Values in Marlins English for Seafarer’s Textbook

Abstract

English is essentially important for maritime crews. International regulations mandate proficiency in English for shipboard activities, requiring seafarers to demonstrate sufficient language skills for their professional duties. "Marlins English for Seafarers" is a comprehensive guide covering four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The handbook includes texts, forms, structures, and reading materials, along with two accompanying CDs. This research examined the character values represented in "Marlins English for Seafarers" using semiotic analysis based on Peirce’s theory, focusing on icons, indices, and symbols. A descriptive qualitative approach was applied, analyzing illustrations in the textbook. The findings revealed that (1) the semiotic analysis highlighted that the textbook emphasized the character values of work ethics and cooperation, with percentages of 22.4% and 21.9%, respectively; (2) icons were used 49.6% of the time, while indices and symbols accounted for 17.8% and 32.6%, respectively. The implication of the research was the semiotic analysis approach could inspire educators to encourage critical thinking and reflection on the underlying messages and values embedded within maritime-related texts and resources. This fosters a deeper understanding of the ethical and professional dimensions of seafaring. The suggestion for future research would be to explore the impact of the textbook's representation of character values on seafarers' actual behavior and attitudes.