Table 2: Data findings of types of swearing and reasons for swearing
No
Types of Swearing Reasons for Swearing
T o
ta l
P er
ce n
ta g
e
Psychological Motives
Social Motives
Linguistic Motives
1 Dysphemistic Swearing
16
16 25.39
2 Abusive Swearing
4
4 6.34
3 Idiomatic Swearing
13
13 20.64
4 Emphatic Swearing
11 11
22 34.93
5 Cathartic Swearing
8
8 12.70
Total 8
44 11
63
100 Percentage
12.70 69.84
17.46
100
It can be seen in Table 2 that the most frequently used type of swearing which employed by the main characters is emphatic swearing, in which it appears twenty-
two times 34.93. Vincent employs this type seventeen times and Butch employs it four times. It becomes the most frequently used type of swearing since both main
characters tend to use swearing within conversations in order to emphasis their statements to the listeners. Moreover, the main characters frequently employ this type
since it is considered as mild swearing and not really provoking the listeners while hear it.
The second frequently used type is dysphemistic swearing, in which it appears sixteen times 25.39. Vincent employs this type twelve times and Butch employs it
four times. As the second most frequent types, dysphemistic swearing is frequently employed by the characters since it is definitely effective in order to illustrate
something bad to the hearer.
The third frequently used type is idiomatic swearing, in which it appears fourteen times 22.23. Vincent employs this type ten times and four times are
employed by Butch. Since idiomatic swearing is considered as meaningless swearing, in which the meaning of utterances cannot be interpreted and subconsciously uttered
by the characters while in high tensions, both of the characters employ it regularly. The fourth frequently used type is cathartic swearing which appear eight times
12.70. Vincent employs this type seven times and Butch employs it only once. The reason why Vincent employs cathartic swearing more than Butch is because
Vincent’s background as criminal, which makes him uttering swearwords whenever he feels stress out caused by certain incident.
The last is abusive swearing which appears only four times 6.34. Vincent employs this type only once and Butch employs it three times. Although this type is
the strongest type in order to provoke the listeners, Vincent only employs once since the use of abusive swearing needs critical conditions caused by some people.
Meanwhile, in this movie, Vincent seems to manage all of obstacles without being provoked, except in one case when he is being mocked by Jules and Paul about Mia’s
background. On the other hand, Butch employs this type three times since he needs to employ abusive swearing when he is being threatened by Marsellus.
In addition, Table 2 above also shows the reasons why the main speakers utter swearwords in the movie. There are three reasons for swearing which becomes the
motive for the main speakers in order to utter swearing, namely psychology motives,
