Swearwords Used by Gangsters in the “Alpha Dog” Movie

Authors

  • Daniel Christian English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Samuel Gunawan English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9744/katakita.2.3.24-29

Keywords:

Refunction, Childhood, Interior Containers, Surabaya City, Library, Educational Facilitiy

Abstract

Many people assume that swearwords is a rude word and should be avoided. Those words are used to insult, to curse, to offend or to mock at something when the speaker has strong emotion (Hughes, 1991,05). To swear at someone or something is to insult and deprecate the object of abuse, as well as to use other kinds of dysphemism (Allan & Burridge, 2006,76). Apparently some experts and scholars have been able to prove that swearwords also has a purpose and a meaning beside the one as commonly held. Therefore, the writer took the "Alpha Dog" movie as an example of the analyzed cases. Examples have been found by the writer including the categories of epithets derived from tabooed bodily organs, epithets derived from bodily effluvia, epithets derived from sexual behaviours, dysphemistic epithets that pick on real physical characteristics that are treated as though they are abnormalities, imprecations and epithets invoking mental subnormality or derangement. Finally, the writer also managed to find a purpose or a reason for the people to use swearwords in real life.

Author Biographies

  • Daniel Christian, English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia

    English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia

  • Samuel Gunawan, English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia

    English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia

References

Adeoye, A.F.F. (n.d). Language, Gender, and Identity: a Social Cultural and Psychological Study. August 28, 2006: http://www.staff.hum.ku.dk/smo2/Abridged-feye-art-fr.htm

Allan,K and Burridge,K. (2006). Bad language? Jargon, slang, swearing and insult. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Andersson,L (1985). Perspectives on Swearing. Göteborg : Dept. of lInguistics, University of Göteborg

Cipto, B. (2005). An Analysis of Swearwords in Jackass: the Movie. (Thesis No.02011508/ING/2005). Unpublished undergraduate Thesis.

Hughes, G. (1991). Swearing, a social history of foul language, oaths, and profanity in English. New York: Blackwell.

Jay,T. (1992). Cursing in America. Resource Publications, inc.

Jay, T. and Janschewitz, K. (2008). The pragmatic of swearing. Journal of politeness research:language, behavior, culture. 4(2):267-288. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & co. KG.

Jemmy (2005). Swearwords produced by the main characters in the movie "Bad Boys II". (Thesis No. 02011362/ING/2005 ). Unpublished undergraduate Thesis. Surabaya: Universitas Kristen Petra.

Nurmi, M. (2001). Swearing in america. April 27, 2006, from http://www.uta.f1/FAST/US1/PI/GEN/Swear.html

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Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2014)

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Articles

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