Taboo Words In The Movies `Easy A` And `The Change - Up`.

TABOO WORDS IN THE MOVIES “EASY A” AND “THE CHANGE-UP”

DEWA AYU YADITYA ARIESTA PRIMANANDA 1201305107

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LETTERS AND CULTURE UDAYANA UNIVERSITY

This paper is submitted as partial fulfillment to achieve S1 Degree

at English Department, Faculty of Letters and Culture Udayana University

Approved by the Examining Board of English Department Faculty of Letters and Culture Udayana University

Denpasar, 20 Mei 2016

Chairman Secretary

Drs. I Ketut Tika, M. A. Drs. I Gede Putu Sudana, M.A. NIP. 1953123 1198103 9 NIP. 19540803198103100 2

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank God for His guidance. I thank You for the strength that You have given that I could finish this thesis on time. In this occasion, I would like to extend my best gratitude to some people for their support, encouragement, and guidance during the completion of this study.

First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Drs. I Ketut Tika, M.A and Drs. I Gede Putu Sudana, M.A, for their guidance, patience, and advice. Their support and help contribute to the completion of this study.

My gratitude is also addressed to my family. Thanks to my father for his guidance and financial support and my mother for her inspiration. Also thanks to brother, for accompanying me while analyzing the data.

Many thanks to Afriansyah as my best supporter to finish this thesis as quickly as I could; he gave me so much spirit. Thank you for being my partner and advisor. Your support gave me strength.

Last but not least, I share my gratification to all the English Department 2012 regular class students during the three and a half years, especially for class D. I am very happy to be part of class D.

Denpasar, 2nd _{May 2016}

iii ABSTRACT

The aims of this study entitled Taboo Words in Movies Easy A and The Change-Up are to find out the types of taboo words used in Easy A and The Change-up movies, to explain the function of taboo words used in Easy A and The Change-Up movies, also to present the dominant type of taboo words used in Easy A and The Change-Up movies.

The data of this study were analyzed using the theory proposed by Jay (1992) as the main theory. This theory was used to identify types of taboo words and the supporting theory proposed by Holmes (1992) to analyze the functions of taboo words. Based on Jay’s theory there are 10 types of taboo words; they are Cursing, Profanity, Blasphemy, Taboo, Vulgarity, Obscenity, Epithet, Slang, Insult and Slurs, and Scatology. And according to Holmes, there are 6 functions of taboo words: Expressive function, Referential function, Directive function, Metalinguistic function, Phatic function, and Poetic function.

This study compares Easy A and The Change-Up movies to see the difference between those movies. The differences are, Easy A movie has 10 types of taboo words and The Change-Up has 8 types of taboo words. The dominant type of taboo words in the first movie is Insult and Slurs while Vulgarity is the dominant type in the second movie. There were 5 functions of taboo words which had been identified in both movies; they are: expressive function, referential function, directive function, metalinguistic function, and phatic function.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Acknowledgements ii

Abstract iii Table of Contents iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background ... 1

1.2 Problems of the Study ... 2

1.3 Aims of the Study ... 2

1.4 Scope of Discussion ... 3

1.5 Research Method ... 4

1.5.1 Data Source... 4

1.5.2 Method and Techniques of Collecting Data ... 5

1.5.3 Method and Techniques of Analyzing Data ... 6

1.5.4 Method and Techniques of Presenting Data ... 7

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Literature review ... 8

2.2 Concepts ... 11

2.2.1 The Concept of Taboo ... 11

2.3 Theoretical Framework ... 13

5

2.3.2 Function of language ... 16

CHAPTER III THE ANALYSIS OF TYPES AND FUNCTION OF TABOO WORDS IN MOVIE EASY A AND THE CHANGE-UP 3.1 Types and Function of Taboo Words in Easy A Movie... 18

3.2 The Dominant Type of Taboo Words in Easy A Movie ... 33

3.3 Types and Function of Taboo Words in The Change-Up Movie ... 34

3.4 The Dominant Type of Taboo Words in The Change-Up Movie ... 49

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ... 50

4.1 Conclusion ... 50

BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Language has a phenomenon. A large number of words are, therefore, taken as silly, vulgar or obscene when used in communication. These words are “taboos”, according to Gao (2013). The phenomenon of taboo words can be found in certain cultures, but most people who use taboo words are from American cultures.

Taboo is a social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing based on The New Oxford Dictionary of English (2001).

According to Wardaugh (2010:250) in “An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Sixth Edition ”Taboos may also be violated on occasion to draw attention to oneself, or to show contempt, or to be aggressive or provocative, or to mock authority.

Taboo word is a forbidden word in a culture, because such a word is not allowed to be uttered, and it includes sex, death, genitalia, intermarriage and many more on the use of offensive language. Kusuma (2013) stated that taboo words are usually used in daily conversations. It can be found when people express their emotions, such as emotion of anger like “fuck”; “shit”, or shocked feeling like “holy shit”;”damn it”. Taboo words are a unique phenomenon, because they may produce embarrassment, disgust, and social norm violation in the society concerned.

According to Wiadnyana (2012) nowadays almost every movie uses taboo words in the dialogue because the use of taboo words in the dialog makes the characters of the film look natural to express their emotion. Taboo words support the representation of a real life in the plot of the story.

In Easy A and The Change-Up movie, there are taboo words found in the conversations. The use of taboo words in this movie are: as a dirty joke, shocked feeling, and the emotions. This unique phenomenon becomes the reason of this study to analyze the types and functions of taboo words, also to see the dominant use of taboo words used in Easy Aand The Change-Up movie. This study analyzes by the scenes of the movies, making the data valid.

1.2 Problems of the Study

The problems of the study can be formulated as follows:

1. What types of taboo words are used in “Easy A and The Change-Up” movie?

2. What functions of taboo words are found in the dialog of “Easy A and The Change-Up” movie?

3. What is the dominant type of taboo words used in “Easy A and The Change-Up” movie?

1.3 Aims of the Study

The aims of this study are:

1. To find out the types of taboo words used in Easy A and The Change-up movie;

2. To explain the function of taboo words used in Easy A and The Change-Up movie;

3. To present the dominant use of taboo words type used in Easy A and The Change-Up movie

1.3.1 General Objective

Generally, the objective of the study is to analyze and develop the research of taboo words that are used in general even in movie scripts. By analyzing and developing taboo words, people will understand why taboo words still use even if they are not allowed universally.

1.3.2 Specific Objective

Specifically, the objectives of the study are to describe the types of taboo words and analyze the functions of taboo words, and find the dominant use of taboo words in Easy A and The Change-Up movie.

1.4 Scope of Discussion

This study focuses on the function and analysis of taboo words that occur in Easy A and The Change-Up movie. There are three problems in the scope of discussion; they are the analysis of the various types of taboo words in the movie “Easy A and “The Change-Up”, the functions of taboo words in the movie “Easy Aand “The Change-Up”, and the dominant use of taboo words in the movie “Easy A and “The Change-Up”.

1.5 Research Method

The research method can be divided into three. They are: data source, method and technique of collecting data, and method and technique of analyzing data.

1.5.1 Data Source

The data of this study were taken from the movies entitled Easy A and The Change-Up. Easy A is written by Bert V. Royal, directed by Will Gluck, and starred by Emma Stone. This movie was released on September 11th, 2010. The second data is The Change-Up.This movie is written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, directed by David Dobkin, and starred by Ryan Reynolds. The Change-Up was released on August 5th, 2011.

Easy A and The Change-Up movies were chosen as the data sources because the dialogues of the movies use natural daily conversation and contain a lot of taboo words. Also these movies have many variations of taboo words.

Easy A is an American teen romantic comedy film that tells about Olive Penderghast, a teenage girl living in Ojai, California, who feels anonymous in the high school where she studies. Rhiannon is Olive’s best friend who wants to be popular in their school, she is proud of herself because she loses her virginity. Besides, she wants Olive to be like her. Rhiannon invites Olive to spend weekend with her parents in her house, but Olive refused it and she lied to Rhiannon. She said that she had to go with a guy. On the following day, Rhiannon enforced Olive to say that she losed her virginity. Olive lied again, she said yes that she lost her virginity. The rumors spread at school and she welcomes the attention. When she agrees to help out a bullied gay friend by pretending to sleep with him, her image reputation degrades and her world begins to spin out of control. As she helps more and more of her classmates and her lies continue to escalate, Olive must find a way to save face before the school religious fanatic Marianne gets her expelled.

The Change-Up is an American romantic comedy film that tells about best friends Dave and Mitch who are jealous of the others’ lifestyles. Dave is a lawyer that expects to be promoted to be a partner of the law firm; he has been married to Jamie for ten years and has three children. Unlike his best friend, Mitch is an untrained struggling actor. He usually stoned or in bed with his female sex partners. But, Mitch

and Dave are unhappy with their lives because they are bored with the routine. They wish they could switch places. Accidentally, their wishes come true; they magically switched into the other’s body when they peed on the fountain.

1.5.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data

The data were collected through observation method and documentation method. Observation is the first step method to collect the data before documentation method. Documentation method is the supporting method of this study.

There were two steps in collecting the data. First, downloading the movies from http://www.ganool.com/easy-a-movies-2010.html and http://www.ganool.com/the-change-up-movies-2011.html then watching every scene in detail and using English subtitle. Second, note taking the taboo words showed in the movies for every scene while watching the movies, the utterances which are considered appropriate data were noted. There are 20 scenes from Easy A and 25 scenes from The Change-Up movie. But there are 10 scenes selected from Easy A and 12 scenes were selected from The Change-Up.

1.5.3 Method and Techniques of Analyzing Data

A descriptive qualitative method was used to analyze the function and types of taboo words. After all the data collected, the data were classified based on the types according to Jay (1992) and the function of taboo words according to Holmes (1992). The data were analyzed and selected to a certain number needed for the type

of data presentation with the purpose of describing the various types of taboo words and the function of taboo words in the dialog. After the data were analyzed, the next step was counting the types of taboo words to see dominant types of taboo words in movies.

1.5.4 Method and Technique of Presenting Data

This study used the descriptive method in presenting the data related to the subject of this study. The data were categorized, depending on each scene. Furthermore, each scene was presented descriptively. The selected data from both movies were presented based on the selected movie scenes. There are 10 selected scenes of Easy A movie and 12 selected scenes of The Change-Up movie. From 22 data which were analyzed, the dominant types of taboo words can be seen.

CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW, CONCEPT, AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Literature Review

This chapter consists of literature review, concept, and theoretical framework. There are some sources which are reviewed to write this thesis; those are from thesis and international journals. The thesis was written by Kusuma (2013), Wiadnyana (2012), and Aditia (2013). The international journals were written by Pilloti (2012) and Fakuade (2013). Those studies are related to this study, the topics of those studies have the similar character.

The thesis entitled “The Function of Taboo Words and Their Expressions in

Bad Boys Movie” was written by Kusuma (2013). He used the theory of taboo words proposed by Jay (1999) about Taboo word which were produced to show disgust,

embracement, and violate social norms and Andersson’s theory (1985) to analyze

taboo expressions. The method of collecting data he used was the documentation method. After collecting data he searched the script of the movie first, after that he read the script carefully while watching the movie. Then, the words that were found in the script were collected. The writer used qualitative and quantitative method to analyze the data. The difference between this study and his study is that his study focused on the expression of taboo words of the main characters in the movie and his study also used the theory proposed by Andersson. This study analyzes the types,

function, and the dominant use of taboo words in the movie. This study also analyzes the main characters and supporting characters in the movies. It can enrich the result of the research.

Another thesis was written by Wiadnyana (2012), in his work “Taboo words

in Hollywood movie Bad Teacher” , in which analyzed the types of taboo words and

the use of taboo language in woman’s, men’s, and mixed gender conversations in the

movie Bad Teacher. The writer listened to the conversation of all the characters in the movie to collect the data, after that the note-taking data was divided based on each category. The writer classified the data by arranging them in the table to analyze the data; there were three steps used to analyze the data: they are categorizing, classifying, and analyzing the collected data. The theory that he used are the theory proposed by Jay (1992) which was used to analyze taboo words and the theory proposed by Lakoff (1975) which was used to analyze the gender difference of taboo words. The data were categorized based on their types. The difference between his study and this study is that this one does not give the difference to analyze about the

use of taboo words in woman’s, men’s or mixed gender. This study analyzes the types and functions of taboo words in the movies in the women’s or men’s dialogues.

Aditia (2011), in his work “An Analysis of Taboo Word and Swear Word in

Dustin Lee Abraham’s How High Movie” analyzed the types of taboo words and the

factors which caused the characters to use the taboo words and swear words in the movie. His study used the Michael Swan’s theory. He found four types of taboo

words in How High movie and two types of swear words in How High movie. This study has the same topic as that of his study. But the difference is that this study focuses on taboo words; their types, functions, and the dominant use of the film. His study combined swear words. Therefore, the theory that was used in his study is different from that used in this present study.

The international journal written by Pilotti (2012) entitled “Taboo Words in

Expressive Language: Do Sex and Primary Language Matter?” in “American

International Journal of Contemporary Research”Vol.2 No.2 published by School of

Arts and Sciences, New Mexico Highlands University United States of America on 2012 analyzed the sex matter of taboo words use. Because there are differences in the number of taboo words that women and men use to refer to others either of the same sex or of adifferent sex. Her study used the quantitative method to get the result of taboo words used by different sex. The theories used in her study are by proposed by Jay (2009) and Mehl & Pennebaker (2003) to analyze the sociolinguistic of taboo words, also the sex differences reported in the literature by Foote & Woodward (1973). The result of her study is that the male respondents emerged as more likely to produce taboo words than females.

The topic of this study is similar to that of her study and her study also used

Jay’s theory to analyze the sociolinguistics of taboo words. But the differences are

that her study focused on taboo words used by males or female, and the method is also different because her study used questionnaire to count the result of taboo words

used by different sexes. The explanation formula of analyzing questionnaire in the journal is not clear; it makes the explanation random and hard to understand.

Another journal was by Fakuade (2013) entitled “Linguistic Taboo in The IGBO Investigation: Sociolinguistic Investigation” in the journal “Department of

Linguistics University of Ilorin” published by University of Ilorin, Nigeria in 2013. IGBO is one of the three major Nigerian languages spoken in the eastern part of Nigeria. This journal investigated the linguistic prejudice towards taboo expressions in the Igbo society and its implications on the teaching of the Igbo language both as a first and second language. He used the quantitative method to get the result and he made 50 copies of questionnaire. This journal used the theory proposed by Jay (1996) and Qanbar (2011). The result of this journal is that the taboo words exist in the Igbo language.

The journal is different from this present study because the journal analyzed taboo words that exist in Igbo language; the journal used a different method of collecting data with this study. The quantitative method was the method used in the journal. This journal only mentioned the theory he used but did not mention the main theory, it made the result of the journal not arranged with the number of the problems.

2.2 Concepts

Allan Burridge (2006) stated “a taboo is a proscription of behavior for a specifiable community of people, for a specified context, at a given place and time.”

Wardhaugh (2000:234) said “Taboo is prohibition or avoidance in any society

of behavior believed to be harmful to its members in that it would cause them

anxiety, embarrassment or shame.” It means that taboo is harmful for any society

because it makes embarrassment for some people.

In Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics (2000), it is stated that Taboo word is a term that is avoided for religious, political, or sexual reasons and is usually replaced by a euphemism.

In the Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary (1995) it is stated “Taboo is a cultural or religious custom that forbids people to do, touch, use or talk about a

certain thing. Taboo words are often considered offensive, shocking or rude.” Taboo

is rude because it refers to the parts of the body and sometimes it refers to sex that are sensitive.

This study follows Allan Burridge (2006) as the main theory of the concept, because his statement means that everybody can use taboo words in a specific context, time, and place. Taboo words cannot be spoken in a formal situation, because taboo words produce social norm violation in the society and harms to be spoken in a formal situation. The statement made by Allan Burridge makes senses and matches with this study.

2.3 Theoretical Framework

This study is concerned with the types of taboo words based on the theory developed by Jay (1992) as the main theory and the function of language supported by Holmes (1992) as the supporting theory in the dialog of Easy Aand The Change-Upmovies.

2.3.1 Taboo Words

Taboo word is a phenomenon of people to express words related to any area of human activity. Taboo itself comes from Tongan, a language that is spoken from Polynesians where any sacred or humble things are forbidden to touch or talk about. Taboo words are related to sociolinguistics because taboo words are a unique phenomenon in social life. There are many taboo words used in many movies nowadays. The reason is because taboo words are used in daily life; it makes the director of the movie use taboo words purposively to make the movie look like the reality. There are several types of taboo words based on sociolinguistics developed by Jay (1992) as the main theory of this study:

1. Cursing

The intention of cursing is to invoke harm on another person using certain words or phrases. Religion makes a point to note that there exist in language a set of

special words. For example, “Damn you!”; “Goddamn you!” On the other hand,

curse can be non-religious but still wishes to harm the target person, for example “Eat

shit and die!”

2. Profanity

Profanity is based on a religious distinction. To be profane means to be secular or behaving out and to be ignorant to the words in a religious belief which seeks not to denigrate God, religion or holy affairs but would be based more on the

ignorance of or indifference to these matters. Some examples are “Jesus Christ, I’m tired of this!”.

3. Blasphemy

Blasphemy resembles profanity. Profanity and blasphemy are both religious. But the difference is blasphemy is a religious doctrine, not religious distinction.

These verbal assaults would take form of using the Lord’s name in vain. Blasphemy has lost its impact as an insult. Example: “Say what it says in the bible!”

4. Taboo

A taboo operates to inhibit certain behavior through speech. Different cultures have different ways when use taboo to control individuals within the groups. The function of taboo is to prohibit the behavior of a speaker and social cohesion. Example: screw, piss, etc.

5. Obscenity

Obscene words are considered the most offensive and rarely, if ever, are used in public places. Obscenities are pointed sexual in nature; this kind of expression is indecent. But obscenity is legal. Most of the time, it is offensive and repulsive. The function of obscenity law is to protect listeners from harmful language. Obscenity

laws control the content of books and the content of broadcasts. Example: ‘Fuck’, ’mother fucker’

Vulgarity means the language of the common person, ‘the person in the street’, or the unsophisticated, un-socialized, under-educated. It does not serve any particular need or function beyond the normal communication demands of the common human.Vulgarism is not necessarily obscene or taboo, it just reflects the

crudeness of street language. Example: ‘Kiss my ass!’

7. Slang

Slang is a word that is developed in certain sub-groups for ease of communication. The slang code serves to identity members of the group, while misuse or ignorance of it identifies non-members, which may be especially important in illegal translations. Sometimes slang terms become popular and are used in standard language, putting on sub-groups members to invent a new code. Example:

“pimp”,”dweeb”

8. Epithets

Epithets are brief but forceful burst of emotional language. They are more powerful in presentation (loudness or duration) and in offensiveness than other type of cursing, for example, joking. The epithet is uttered from frustration, as when you do a lot of assignments and feel frustrated. It may also mark a sense of hostility, as when someone crowds in front of you in a supermarket check-out-line. Example:

9. Insults and Slurs

Insults are verbal attacks on other people. These words are spoken to harm other people by the word alone. Slurs may be racial, use a psychological qualities of

the target. Some insults use animal imagery. Example: “pig!” ; “dog!” When

someone’s insults are commonly based on abnormal psychological characteristic,

example: ‘nigger’ ‘big mouth’

10. Scatology

The term scatology refers to human waste products or process. Scatological insults are common among children. Americans have a great desire in changing childish terms rather than using standardized terms or those of scientific origin. Since scatological references are about faces and elimination, they appear as:

‘poop’;’piss’;’crap’;’turd’.

2.3.2 Function of Language

The function of language was analyzed using Janet Holmes’ theory (1992).

This function helps the speakerto convey his meaning to the listener in order to avoid missed communication. There are six functions from Holmes:

1. Expressive function

This function is used to tell other people about the speaker’s feeling. This

Example: I got headache. The speaker can express his sock feeling, fear, anger, or sad.

2. Directive function

Directive function attempts to get someone to do something or also can divine as to command people. This function is used when the speaker wants someone else to

do something or do what the speaker’s want. Example: Open the window. The

directive function can be difined as a command to other people. 3. Referential function

Referential provides information on an action or activities but it just provides the information without taking any response. In this case, the speaker tells someone else about an action or gives another person information about what happened in some situation. Example: at the third stroke it will be three o’clock precisely.

4. Metalinguistic function

Metalinguistic is an utterance that comments on the language itself. Metalinguistic function is used when the speaker comments about another, agree or disagree with anther people say. Example: I don’t think that she’s beautiful.

5. Poetic function

This function is focused on aesthetic, e.g. a poem. This is used in order to fulfill the need for aesthetic reason.

Phatic function expresses solidarity and empathy with others, example: hi

2.3.1 Taboo Words

Taboo word is a phenomenon of people to express words related to any area of human activity. Taboo itself comes from Tongan, a language that is spoken from Polynesians where any sacred or humble things are forbidden to touch or talk about. Taboo words are related to sociolinguistics because taboo words are a unique phenomenon in social life. There are many taboo words used in many movies nowadays. The reason is because taboo words are used in daily life; it makes the director of the movie use taboo words purposively to make the movie look like the reality. There are several types of taboo words based on sociolinguistics developed by Jay (1992) as the main theory of this study:

1. Cursing

The intention of cursing is to invoke harm on another person using certain words or phrases. Religion makes a point to note that there exist in language a set of special words. For example, “Damn you!”; “Goddamn you!” On the other hand, curse can be non-religious but still wishes to harm the target person, for example “Eat shit and die!”

2. Profanity

Profanity is based on a religious distinction. To be profane means to be secular or behaving out and to be ignorant to the words in a religious belief which seeks not to denigrate God, religion or holy affairs but would be based more on the

ignorance of or indifference to these matters. Some examples are “Jesus Christ, I’m tired of this!”.

3. Blasphemy

Blasphemy resembles profanity. Profanity and blasphemy are both religious. But the difference is blasphemy is a religious doctrine, not religious distinction. These verbal assaults would take form of using the Lord’s name in vain. Blasphemy has lost its impact as an insult. Example: “Say what it says in the bible!”

4. Taboo

A taboo operates to inhibit certain behavior through speech. Different cultures have different ways when use taboo to control individuals within the groups. The function of taboo is to prohibit the behavior of a speaker and social cohesion. Example: screw, piss, etc.

5. Obscenity

Obscene words are considered the most offensive and rarely, if ever, are used in public places. Obscenities are pointed sexual in nature; this kind of expression is indecent. But obscenity is legal. Most of the time, it is offensive and repulsive. The function of obscenity law is to protect listeners from harmful language. Obscenity laws control the content of books and the content of broadcasts. Example: ‘Fuck’, ’mother fucker’

Vulgarity means the language of the common person, ‘the person in the street’, or the unsophisticated, un-socialized, under-educated. It does not serve any particular need or function beyond the normal communication demands of the common human.Vulgarism is not necessarily obscene or taboo, it just reflects the crudeness of street language. Example: ‘Kiss my ass!’

7. Slang

Slang is a word that is developed in certain sub-groups for ease of communication. The slang code serves to identity members of the group, while misuse or ignorance of it identifies non-members, which may be especially important in illegal translations. Sometimes slang terms become popular and are used in standard language, putting on sub-groups members to invent a new code. Example: “pimp”,”dweeb”

8. Epithets

Epithets are brief but forceful burst of emotional language. They are more powerful in presentation (loudness or duration) and in offensiveness than other type of cursing, for example, joking. The epithet is uttered from frustration, as when you do a lot of assignments and feel frustrated. It may also mark a sense of hostility, as when someone crowds in front of you in a supermarket check-out-line. Example: “Shit!” ; “Damn!”

9. Insults and Slurs

Insults are verbal attacks on other people. These words are spoken to harm other people by the word alone. Slurs may be racial, use a psychological qualities of the target. Some insults use animal imagery. Example: “pig!” ; “dog!” When someone’s insults are commonly based on abnormal psychological characteristic, example: ‘nigger’ ‘big mouth’

10. Scatology

The term scatology refers to human waste products or process. Scatological insults are common among children. Americans have a great desire in changing childish terms rather than using standardized terms or those of scientific origin. Since scatological references are about faces and elimination, they appear as: ‘poop’;’piss’;’crap’;’turd’.

2.3.2 Function of Language

The function of language was analyzed using Janet Holmes’ theory (1992). This function helps the speakerto convey his meaning to the listener in order to avoid missed communication. There are six functions from Holmes:

1. Expressive function

This function is used to tell other people about the speaker’s feeling. This function only expresses the speaker’s feeling without any response to other people.

Example: I got headache. The speaker can express his sock feeling, fear, anger, or sad.

2. Directive function

Directive function attempts to get someone to do something or also can divine as to command people. This function is used when the speaker wants someone else to do something or do what the speaker’s want. Example: Open the window. The directive function can be difined as a command to other people.

3. Referential function

Referential provides information on an action or activities but it just provides the information without taking any response. In this case, the speaker tells someone else about an action or gives another person information about what happened in some situation. Example: at the third stroke it will be three o’clock precisely.

4. Metalinguistic function

Metalinguistic is an utterance that comments on the language itself. Metalinguistic function is used when the speaker comments about another, agree or disagree with anther people say. Example: I don’t think that she’s beautiful.

5. Poetic function

This function is focused on aesthetic, e.g. a poem. This is used in order to fulfill the need for aesthetic reason.

Phatic function expresses solidarity and empathy with others, example: hi how are you, bright day isn’t it? This function wants response from others.