Part of a speech is seen based on the place of language activity occurred. In addition, people use a language based on its occasion or in a certain part and in
a certain place, for instance, the language used in a discussion, seminar, meeting, in a court and in a seminar.
2. Manner of a speech
Manner of a speech is based on the way of using the language, for instance, speech language has different way on delivering the message from
written language.
3. Style of a speech
Style of a speech is based on the relationship between the speakers on the conversation. It is divided as formal and informal language. Formal language
is usually used in formal situation. The examples of formal language are:
a. Language which is used between teacher and students b. Language which is used on giving the speech
c. Language in application letter On the other hand, informal language is used on informal situation. The examples
of informal language are: a. Language which is used between friends
b. Language in a family Whether someone has to use formal and informal language depends on the
relationship between the speakers and the situation. The use of language is differentiated according to the people and situations. It means that language users
the speakers always use language in large numbers of varieties. One of the
language varieties that are well known among many people in America is Slang. It is a part of “informal vocabulary” that is uttered as a suitable language by the
“people who know each other well”.
4
As nonstandard vocabulary expression, slang words are understood by persons from the same particular region or social
group. This language variety is often used to express the “things that people fell strongly about”.
5
These can be the expression of sexual activity, the emotional relationship or the physical and mental illness. There are two classifications
related to such expression: swear words and taboo words. Swear words are the strong language that is expressed by the person to
express their powerful emotion.
6
Swear words or abuse words are the words that are usually used to abuse, as the result of reaction toward unwanted things
occurred. It consists of expression that is used by people to abuse, whether to abuse another people or themselves. Thus, there is a relationship between the
speakers who abuse or the speakers who are abused. People usually say swear words when they feel angry or disappointed,
but also when they admire something. Hornby also gives some examples of swear words which express anger, surprise or admiration, like “Gosh” and “Golly”
These two words come from the word ‘God’. “Gee”, “Jingo” and “Jeez” come from the word ‘Jesus’ etc. then Hornby explains that people express the powerful
emotion when she or he gets able to say swear words.
7
4
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 2
nd
ed. New York: Oxford Up, 1995, p. 534
5
Swan, Michael 1995, op. cit. p.535
6
Ibid. p.574
7
Hornby, A S. The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English London: Oxford University Press, 1974, p. 28
Swear words are divided into two groups; Strong swear words and Weak swear words.
8
Lakoff explains that the difference of using swear words such as Shit Damn Etc with Oh dear Goodness Etc depends on how people express
their feeling. Strong swears words are the words used to abuse another people by the words, and these words have the rudest character. Weak swear words are also
the words used to abuse but its character is not as rude as the strong one Strong swear words. These are some examples of strong swear word,
Holy Shit Hell Son of a Bitch Goddamn Fuck Motherfucker
These are some examples of weak swear words, Blah Ouch Stupid
Dummy Coward Oh Gosh Swear words and taboo words actually have close relationship. Lakoff
explains that taboo words are often used as swear words because it has magic power.
9
Because of plentiful emotion, people seek the phrase that has bad meaning in order to give rein to his or her emotion. Therefore, people use the
words that are considered taboo to express their emotion orally or in a written text. By using taboo words, the users of these words will get satisfied. In normal
situation, people usually dislike using taboo words, but when someone get mad then he or she will say these words in abusing form. According to Ullman the
8
Lakoff, Robin. Language and Woman’s Place Toronto: Fitzhenry and Ehiteside Limites, 1975, p 10
9
Lakoff, Robin 1975, op. cit. p. 30
words that are considered taboo are the words that related to sexual activity, dirt, and religion, for example, fuck Shit Jesus.
10
When people know that swear words are considered taboo, they try to find the manners to soften the use of swear words. One of the examples is using
the acronym or slashing. Ullman explains two manners to soften swear words. First manner is the use of acronym or slashing. For example, God Become G_ _
d or G _ _ . Second manner is by omitting the part that is considered taboo. For example, God’s blood become “by blood” and “God’s arm become “by arm”,
etc.
11
These manners are usually done in written form, for examples in a textbook, printed ads, movie text, etc. but not in a movie or songs, for instance.
That is why there are a lot of American movies or songs, in which the characters or the singers always use swear words when they are talking or singing.
The writer chooses movie as the object of the research because there are a lot of swear words or abuse words that are said by the actors and actresses in
movie, especially in big screen movie. The movie that the writer chooses is “Crank”.
The movie entitled “Crank” uses a lot of swear words like shit, motherfucker, asshole, son of a bitch, etc which is used by white American people
and considered taboo in English, so the writer is interested to find out what kind of swear words that the actors and the actresses use in the movie and then
categorized it into strong and weak swear words. The movie “Crank” was not the
10
Ullman, Stephen. The science of Meaning Oxford: Barnes and Nobles Inc, 1962, p. 30
11
Ullman, Stephen 1962, op. cit. p 45
only one movie that used a lot of swear words, the reason why the writer chooses this movie was because the script of this movie is easily to find.
B. Focus of the Study
