CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Analysis
Chapman and Kipfer 1995: xix state that Semantics is one of the major theoretical fields of linguistic study. According to Wikipedia the free
Encyclopedia, internet research, Semantics is the study of meaning in communication. The word derives from Greek
η α ός semantikos,
significant, from η α ω semaino, to signify, to indicate and that from
α sema, sign, and mark, token. In Linguistics, it is concerned as the study of interpretation of signs as used by agents or communities within particular
circumstances and contexts. It has related meanings in several other fields. Semanticists differ on what constitutes meaning in an expression. The total
of a word’s meaning can be divided into two aspects, though the boundaries between them are indistinct.
Furthermore, Chapman and Kipfer 1995: xix states that the first aspect is denotation. This refers to any of the simple, more or less consciously recognized
and objectively deducible senses of the word, the sort of meaning that would appear as a dictionary definition. A word’s connotations, however, are harder to
determine. Connotations embrace all emotive and cognitive associations that a word brings to mind beyond its simple dictionary meaning. Because the
connotations of most words are in principle infinite, it is a testament to the cultural integrity of a society that so many are held in common. Even within a
single language community, slang tends to vary widely across the social, ethnic, economic, and geographic strata. Slang may fall into disuse over time; sometimes,
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however, it grows more and more common until it becomes the dominant way of saying something, at which time it usually comes to be regarded as mainstream,
acceptable language, although in the case of taboo words there may be no expression that is considered mainstream or acceptable. Numerous slang terms
pass into informal mainstream speech, and sometimes into formal speech, though this may involve a change in meaning or usage.
Moreover, slang words are also formed exactly as standard words are formed. Affixations, back formations, compounding, words blends, functional
conversions, clips, and acronyms, which are believed as the way to form. Standard words can also be used to form the slang words. And it makes slang treated as a
standard language, even though it is not considered as standard language, yet. Slang today is almost as large as the English language. Slang is no more than
improper English. It is the English language; just distorted a little to mean something else, I personally do not feel that slang is such a bad thing. It can be
seen that people are being lazy and using the improper words that they were taught but sometime it is just a self-expression.
Some people use certain slang are just raised in surrounding, on radio, television, newspapers, magazines, lyrics of music, books, etc. There are some
examples of slang in lyrics of songs: a.
Down hea, we for real, not just words and a rap.—Disturbing The Peace Can’t Be Stopped
Hea = here b.
This hottie got a bad. –Sir Mixalot Sprung on the Cat, 1992 Hottie = an attractive girl
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c. I’m stacking chips every time the phone ring.—King T feat Dr. Dre
Money Chips = money
d. Took the fame cause they ain’t give it us, now we excite.—Eve
Philly, Philly Ain’t = is notam notare nothave notwas notdid notdoes not do
not. According to Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia, internet research,
rapping also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming is the rhythmic spoken delivery of rhymes, wordplay, and poetry, one of the elements of
hip hop music and culture. The use of the word to describe quick speech or repartee long predates the musical form,
meaning originally to hit. The word had been used in British English since the 16th century, and specifically meaning to
say since the 18th. It was part of the African American dialect of English in the 1960s meaning to converse, and very soon after that in its present usage as a
term denoting the musical style. Marshall Bruce Mathers III known as Slim Shady and his primary stage
name Eminem, it is one of the highest-selling rappers of all time. Eminem is having sold eighty million albums worldwide. Eminem is an Academy Award and
Grammy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor. Curtain Call: the Hits is a 2005 compilation album by the rapper Eminem. It was released
on December 6, 2005 under Dr. Dres Aftermath Entertainment.
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In this case, I wish to find out the meaning of each slang words used especially in lyrics of songs found in Eminem’s album Curtain Call, an analysis
of frequency or use may be carried out more about the use of slang.
1.2 Problem of the Analysis
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