expression is taken from taboo words but with different literal sense. Swear words are divided into several categories as shown below:
B. Strong and Weak Swear Words
Swear words are divided into two groups. They are strong swearing words and weak swear words.
1. Strong swear words
Strong swears words are the words that have rude meaning that is expressed by people to their powerful emotion.
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These are some categories of strong swear word based on the situation where they are taking place as presented
in this table: Table 01. Categories of strong swear words.
No Categories Expression
Examples
a. Exclamation of annoyance
Fuck God damn Shit Damn it God Damnt
Bastard “Oh fuck I’ve forgot
the number”
b. Exclamation of surprise
Fuck me Shit me Damn me Suck me
“Fuck me Your girl is hot”
c. Exclamation of unconcern
I don’t give a damnshitfuck Rudy: “Why don’t you try to fix your
TV?” Josie: “I don’t give a
shit”
d. Insult Asshole, Bastard, Damn,
Cunt, Fuck, Bitch, Son of a bitch, Dickhead, Suck, Shit,
Fucker, Motherfucker, Fart, Cocksucker, Prick.
“You son of a bitch” “All of you asshole”
“Fuck you” “It’s such
motherfucker”
e. Insulting request to go away
Fuck off Piss off Screw Rudy: “Hi sweetie, I
want to fuck with you”
Cindy: “Fuck off”
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Swan, Michael 1995, op.cit. p. 574
f. Intensifying used
to emphasize an emotion
Damn ed, Fucking, Goddamn
“Where is my fuckin’ wallet?”
“Let the Goddamn man talk”
g. Surprised question
WhoWhatWhereWhyHow the hell…?”
WhoWhatWhereWhyHow the hell…?”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Where the fucks are they?”
h. Violent refusalrejection
Fucked if I will Stuff it up your ass
Shut the fuck up Suck this
2. Weak Swear Words
Weak swear words are the words, which its expression is not as rude as the strong one. It is usually used in no powerful emotion.
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These are some categories of weak swear words, which based on the situation that is taking
place as presented in this table: Table 02. Categories of weak swear words
No. Type Expression
Example
a. Exclamation of annoyance
Oh Jess Gosh Blah Ouch
“Oh Jess I can’t find the address”
“Gosh I don’t pass the exam”
b. Exclamation of surprised
Oh my God Fool me Jesus Christ
“Oh my God I’ve got the new car”
“Oh fool me I forgot her birthday”
c. Emphasize an
emotion Oh dear My goodness
Dear God “My goodness What a
beautiful view is there” “Oh dear, you are so
handsome”
d. Insult Dummy Fool Idiot
Coward Stupid “Don’t do that, stupid”
“You coward, come here”
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Lakoff, Robin. Language and Woman’s Place Toronto: Fitzhenry and Ehitside Limites,1975, p.11
“Why do you still do that, idiot?”
In this case, Lakoff says that the difference between using the words such as Shit and Damn with the words such as Oh dear and Jesus Christ is based on how
the people express their feeling.
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Therefore, the power of emotion will be seen in choosing the swear words on the sentence. The strong swear words are based on
the emotion power of people in expressing their felling when use the swear words. Strong swears word is the word which is used to abuse and its characteristic is so
rude. Weak swear word is the word, which is used for abusing, and its characteristic is not as rude as the strong one.
C. The Relationship of Swear Word with Taboo Word
