ix
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of Study
As social human being, people have to interact with another. One of the ways is through language. By language people can cooperate and communicate, so that
they can understand each other. According to Djoko Ketjono, “Bahasa adalah sistem lambang bunyi yang
arbiter yang digunakan oleh para anggota kelompok social untuk bekerjasama, berkomunikasi dan mengidentifikasi diri.”
1
, or it can be said “language it self is a system of arbitrary vocal symbol used by a social group for cooperation,
communication and identification.” Therefore, language has an important role for human life. Beside to communicate language also the important part to look after and
make a relationship with other people. “Language is not simply a means of communicating information but also very important means of establishing and
maintaining relationship with other people.”
2
Every human being has their own personality and consciously or not they show the characteristic of their personality in language. The language used by every
body also has different characteristics. Basically, the using of language by each
1
Djoko Kentjono, Dasar-Dasar Linguistik Umum, Jakarta: Universitas Indonesia, 2003 p. 2
2
Peter Trudgill, Sociolinguistics : An Introduction, New York : Pinguin Book, 1974, p. 13
x individual represents their social class in society. Whereas, for a social group
language is more necessary as a social identity than a system. There are many kinds of languages in the world. But, as we know that English
represents the first International language that used when people want to going abroad. That is the reason, why English become important part in every aspect of
social life. The importance of the English language is naturally great. English has spread across the country even not only in England but become the national language
in United States too. There are many kinds of non-standard languages, one of non-standard
language is slang which has impolite and rude meaning. The writer limits the discussion only about slang which is recognized as vulgar and inelegant phrase or
word. Nevertheless, slang always develops and follows new trend. As a mode, slang appears and most of people choose to use it not because of requirement but slang has
uniqueness, and also it can be found everywhere. Wishnubroto Widarso said in his book, “Slang juga seperti fashion; muncul, setiap orang menyukainya, lalu
menggunakannya dan bisa ditemukan dimanapun”
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, or it can be said “Slang also likes a fashion; it comes, everybody loves it, then uses it and can be found anywhere.”
Slang often suggests the person utilizing the words or phrases is familiar with the hearers group or subgroup; it can be considered as distinguishing factor of in-group
identity.
3
Wishnubroto Widarso, Bahasa Inggris; dialek, ragam, jargon, slang, blends, clipped words, Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 1989, p. 58
xi Word or phrase slang is found because of habits or ideas that appear in
society. The use of Slang is the way to define new word that can enrich language itself. Generally, most of countries have their own slang term in their language. In
Indonesia, slang also can be found in daily conversation and most of teenager uses it, such as katro old-school, narsis narcissi, cewek girl, etc. Besides being used by
teenagers, there are some other social groups who usually use it, such as: gambler, street gang, criminal, drug user, football player. ”Slang is to be chosen rather than
required, much of teenage talk, speech of street gangs, gambler, criminal, drug user, football player.”
4
Language comes from ordinary word or phrase but it can represent special vocabulary in small group. For the most part, slang is an extension into
ordinary speech of the special vocabularies of small group- professional, criminal, teenage and other.
The use of slang can also be found in lyrics of songs and movies. Especially, movie and song that bring out the social culture and somebody’s identity. To analyze
slang language, the writer chooses Malibus Most Wanted movie for the research material, which is about the background of how urban Negro black people live and
exploit the racial stereotype, most of them have lived as a gang-banger and street rapper. This movie tells about a white rich Jewish kid from Malibu named Brad
Gluckman who acts like black people Negro by being a rapper and always using
4
Robert L Chapmen and Ann Kipta, Barbara, Dictionary of American Slang 3
rd
Edition, New York: Harper Collin Publisher, p. xi
xii street slang. Then, some black people can’t accept that because they think Brad has
stolen their culture. The writer feels excited to analyze this movie because it has interesting and
entertaining story, also there are some slang words or phrases in conversation used by the characters actoractress that the writer can analyze it, for example:
SEAN incredulous: “Hold the phone, buddy... you want us to scare this kid until he starts acting like a nice little white boy again?” Buddy in the text means friend
fellow and kid from the word child means a young man.
From the examples above, we can see that some slang language in the movie can be understood directly, but some can not, then we must see in dictionary or other
references to find the real meaning of the slang.
B. Focus of the Study