THE ANALYSIS OF BAD LANGUAGE USED IN STAND-UP COMEDY “DIRTY JOKES SHOW” VIDEO BY GILBERT GOTTFRIED

THE ANALYSIS OF BAD LANGUAGE USED IN STAND-UP
COMEDY “DIRTY JOKES SHOW” VIDEO BY GILBERT
GOTTFRIED

THESIS

By:
BRYAN NOVIASTANTO

08360133

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
OKTOBER 2013

THE ANALYSIS OF BAD LANGUAGE USED IN STAND-UP
COMEDY “DIRTY JOKES SHOW” VIDEO BY GILBERT
GOTTFRIED

THESIS

This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements
to achieve Sarjana Degree in English Education

By:
BRYAN NOVIASTANTO

08360133

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
OKTOBER 2013

This thesis written by Bryan Noviastanto was approved on Oktober 22nd, 2013

By

Advisor I

Advisor II


Dra. Thathit Manon A. M.Hum

Bayu H Wicaksono, M. Ed Ph.D

This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher
Training and Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang
and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Education
on Oktober 22nd, 2013

Approved by:
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
University of Muhammadiyah Malang

Dean,

Dr. Poncojari Wahyono, M.Kes

Examiners :


Signatures :

1. Rina W. Setyaningrum, M.Ed

1....................................

2. Dian Arsitades, M.Pd

2....................................

3. Dra. Thathit Manon Andini, M.Hum

3....................................

4. Bayu Hendro Wicaksono, M.Ed, Ph.D

4....................................

MOTTO AND DEDICATION


Sesungguhnya beserta kesukaran ada kemudahan
(QS: Al- Insirakh: 6)

“You will get anything depand on what you are, and what you are depand on what
you think”
Anda akan mendapatkan sesuatu hanya sebatas pada “siapa” anda, dan “siapa” anda
tergantung pada apa yang anda “pikirkan”

Dedication:
I dedicated this thesis to:
My beloved father and mother,
My brother
My friend and my future

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Alhamdulillah, in the name of Allah, the beneficent and the merciful. All
praises be to Allah, the lord of the worlds, who has given the blessing, health,
strength and wonderful life, who always hears my pray, and gives me power,

patience, and fluency in completing this study.
Many great thanks addressed to my best advisors, Dra. Thathit Manon A,
M.hum and Bayu H Wicaksono, M.Ed, Ph.D for their times, advices, patience, and
motivation. The best thanks also goes to all the lecturers of English department of
University of Muhammadiyah Malang for teaching, guiding, and educating me.
Finally, special thank is delivered to my beloved father (Ngabdun), mother
(Ida Marini), brother (Abraham), and my beloved Vanny Armitha who always
support me who always support and pray the best for me. Thanks also to my best
friends Ferdiansyah, Lutfi Karismawan, Habibie, Ayu, and Azril who help me in data
collection process, and all my friends that I cannot mention one by one who are
always there and color my life.
Malang, Oktober 2013

Bryan Noviastanto

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
APPROVAL …………………………………………………………….


i

LEGALIZATION ………………………………………………………

ii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION ………………………………………..

iii

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………........................

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………..

v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………..


vi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study ……………………………………………

1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ……………………………………………

4

1.3 Purpose of the Study ………………………………………………...

4

1.4 Significance of the Study ……………………………………………

4

1.5 Scope and Limitation ………………………………………………..


5

1.6 Definition of Key Terms ……………………………………………..

5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Sociolinguistic …………………………………………….............

7

2.2 Language Variety …………………………………........................

8

2.3 Kind of Language Variety………………………………..……........

8


2.3.1 Dialect ………………………………………...……….......

8

2.3.2 Idiolect ………………………............................................

9

2.3.3 Style………………………...........................................……

9

2.3.4 Register ………………………………................................

9

2.3.5 Bad Language …………………………..............................

10


2.4 Kind of Bad Language ………………................................................

11

2.4.1 Slang ………………………............................................

11

2.4.2 Taboo ……………………………...................................

11

2.4.3 Vulgar …………………………………..............……....

11

2.4.4 Swearing ………………………………………..............

12


2.5 Stand-Up Comedy ……………………………………………...........

13

2.5.1 Kind of Jokes……………………………………………...........

13

2.5.2 Joke’s Components ……………………………………………… 14
2.5.3 Joke’s Techniques …………………………………………….… 15
2.6 Meaning …………………………………………………..................... 17
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design ……………………………………………………

18

3.2 Research Object …………………………………………….......…

20

3.3 Research Instrument …………………………………………........

20

3.4 Data Collection Procedure ……………………………………..….

20

3.5 Data Analysis Procedure…………………………………………..

21

CHAPTER IV : FINDING AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Research Findings ………………………………………………...

23

4.1.1 The Kind of Bad Language Used by Gilbert ………...............

23

4.1.1.1 Slang ……………………………….............................

23

4.1.1.2 Taboo ………………………………….......................

24

4.1.1.3 Vulgar ……………………………..............................

26

4.1.1.4 Swearing ……………………......................................

28

4.1.2 The Meaning …………………………...................................

31

4.3 Discussion ………………………………………………………....

42

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusion …………………………………………………………

43

5.2 Suggestion …………………………………………………………

44

5.2.1 Suggestion for Sociolinguistic lecturer ………………………… 44

5.2.2 Suggestion for English Department Students ………………

44

5.2.3 Suggestion for Future Researcher ...................................……..

45

REFERENCE
APPENDIX 1

: The Biography of Gilbert Gottfried

APPENDIX II

: Transcript of “Dirty Jokes Show” Video

REFERENCE
Andersson, Lars and Trudgill. 1990. Bad Language. Basil Blackwell: Oxford
Ary, Donald. 2010. Introduction to Research in Education. Wadsworth Group:
Belmont
Battistella, Edwin. 2005. Bad Language: Are some words better than others. Oxford
University Press: New York
Bogdan, Robert .2007. Qualitative Research for Education. Pearson Education:
Boston
Holmes, Janet. 2001 An Introduction to linguistic second edition. Longman: London
Radford, Andrew. 1999. Linguistics: An introduction. Cambridge University press:
Cambridge
Schwarz, Jeannine. 2010. Linguistics aspect of verbal humor in stand up comedy.
Sierke: London
Swan, Michael. 1996. Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press: Oxford
Verderber, Rudolph and Sellnow. 2012. The Challenge of Effective Speaking.
Wadsworth cengage learning: New York
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics Fifth edition.
Blackwell: Malden
Yule, George. 1996. The Study of Language. Cambridge university press: Cambridge
http://www.gilbertgottfried.com/about.php
Monday on 18:20
http://www.youtube.com/gilbertgottfried-dirtyjoke
Sunday on 8:46

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of discussion on background of study, statement of
problems, purpose of study, scope and limitation, significance of the study, and
definition of the keys terms.
1.1.

Background of Study
Sociolinguistics is the study of language in social contexts and the study of

social life through linguistic. It is about correlation between language and society, and
the way people use language in different social situations. Radford states that
sociolinguistics is the study of relationship between language use and the structure of
society (1999:16). It can be said that the study of sociolinguistics cannot be separated
from social interaction and language.
The society uses the language to communicate or make social interaction.
The use of language are affected by some factors, they are social background,
relationship between people, the context and manner of the interaction. With those
factors language variety makes the communication between societies is unique and
interesting. The language varieties are dialect, idiolect, style and bad language.
However, there is language variety that can be accepted and hard to accept by society
that is bad language.

1

2

According to Anderson and Trudgill, bad language is all those things (sounds
words and phrases) that may be dangerous to use. That language contains explosive
items which should be handled with care (1990:4). Bad language used to insult
someone whom the speaker hates. Some people consider that bad language is the
language to express their emotion. Bad language can also be offensive and aggressive
when it is used in a formal situation. The words are inconvenient to listen and people
will not give a respect to the speakers of bad language.
Anderson stated that no word or phrase is in itself bad. It is bad only in the
eyes of those who evaluate and look at the language (1990:35). It means that every
language used by someone can be accepted as good or bad depend on the listener’s
point of view and the context used. Bad language can be amusing and friendly when
it is used to show solidarity and strengthen a group. Many bad languages can be
found in movie and music that people usually watches and listen freely. Therefore,
this study about bad language is interesting to be discussed
The previous research about bad language conducted by Mochamad Prisna
Aziz Pratama (2007) found the kind of bad languages used by the main characters in
Michael bay’s movie “Bad Boy 2”. Those are swearing, vulgar, taboo, and misuse.
Different from this study, the writer analyzed bad language found in stand-up comedy
dirty joke show. The comedy was chosen because Gilbert as the comedian often used
bad language in his joke. Therefore, the writer wants to know the kind and meaning
of bad languages are used by Gilbert.

3

Schwarz states that stand-up comedy is the term for special genre of comedy
in which performer or stand-up comedian stands on the stage and speaks directly to
the audience (2010:17). In stand-up comedy the comedian usually recites a fast-paced
succession of humorous stories, short jokes. Some comic or comedians use props,
music or magic tricks to enhance their acts. Stand-up comedy is often performed in
comedy clubs, bars, colleges and theaters. Sometimes, the comic use bad language in
their performance to make audience laugh.
This study was analysis on bad language in stand-up comedy by Gilbert
Gottfried. The interesting side of stand-up comedy is using logical thinking. Gilbert is
an American voice actor and stand-up comedian best known for his trademark
comedic personal of speaking in a loud. The researcher chooses Gilbert Gottfried
because of his character and experience in entertainment. He began doing amateur
stand-up in New York 1980 and he was present more than eighty performances on
television. Beside of his performance he also has a three video of his stand-up
comedy and one of the titles is dirty joke show. In dirty joke show, Gilbert used bad
language to make a joke. Materials of the comedy usually contain of taboo and some
words that disgusting to listen. The analysis will be concerned on description about
the existence of bad language in stand-up comedy dirty joke show. By many bad
languages that appear in stand-up comedy, it means bad language is not always bad
and it can make people laugh.

4

1.2 Statement of Problem
Based on the background of the study above, the problems are stated as
follows:
1. What kinds of bad language are used by Gilbert Gottfried in stand-up comedy
dirty joke show?
2. What are the meanings of bad language used by Gilbert Gottfried in stand -up
comedy dirty joke show?

1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of the study should be stated clearly from the beginning as the
principle guidance. They are formulated as follows:
1. To describe kind of bad language used by Gilbert Gottfried in stand-up comedy
dirty joke show.
2.

To analyze the meaning of those bad languages used by Gilbert Gottfried in
stand-up comedy dirty joke show.

5

1.
4 Significance of the Study
1.4
The result of this study has both theoretical and practical values.
Theoretically, the writer expects that the result of this study can give some
contribution for the readers to develop knowledge about bad language. Practically,
this is important for the students who study about the linguistics especially bad
language. That study can be used also as a scientific analysis reference for the
teachers who want to give the knowledge to their students about bad language from
another culture, help further researchers to develop their research about bad language.
1.5 Scope and Limitation
This study focused on investigating the existing of bad language in stand-up
comedy used by Gilbert Gottfried. The limitation of this study is bad language used in
Gilbert Gottfried video’s dirty joke show.
1.6 Definition of the Keys Terms
There are several key terms used in this study that must be clarified in this
chance in order to avoid misunderstanding the writer defines the key terms as follows:
Sociolinguistic: the study of relationship between language use and the structure of
society Radford (1999:14).
Bad language: is all those things (sounds words and phrases) that may be dangerous
to use. That language contains explosive items which should be handled with care
Anderson and Trudgill (1990:4).

6

Stand-up comedy
comedy: the term for special genre of comedy in which performer or standup comedian stands on the stage and speaks directly to the audience Schwarz
(2010:17).