Language functions used by prophet Yusuf and Zulaikha in surah Yusuf of the Holy Qur'an: a cross-gender analysis

This study investigates language functions used by Prophet Yusuf and Zulaikha which in content of Surah Yusuf of The Holy Qur’an. The objectives of the study are to find the kinds of language function used by Prophet Yusuf and Zulaikha, and also to find the differences between male and female language.This study used descriptive qualitative approach. It is categorized as discourse analysis because this study focuses on analysis the talk in conversation. The data were collected from the utterances of Prophet Yusuf and Zulaikha and the data source ware taken from the translation of Surah Yusuf by Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan. The procedure of data collection were collecting the data related on Prophet Yusuf and Zulaikha’s utterances in the translation of Surah Yusuf, reading, identifying the data, then analyzing each their utterances. Having analyzing the data, the writer found in Prophet Yusuf’s utterances 2 expressive, 8 conative, 18 referential, 6 phatic, 2 metalingual, and there was not poetic function. While in Zulaikha’s utterances, the writer found 3 expressive, 2 conative, 3 referential, 1 metalingual, and there was not phatic and poetic function anymore. The differences between male and female language, the writer found Prophet Yusuf mostly used to speak forceful and gentler, and Zulaikha mostly used to speak emotionally.