AN ANALYSIS ON SWEAR WORDS USED BY MITCH PLANKO
ON DAVID DOBKIN’S FILM “THE CHANGE-UP”
THESIS
By:
HARDIYANTO
09360014
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
AN ANALYSIS ON SWEAR WORDS USED BY MITCH PLANKO
ON DAVID DOBKIN’S FILM “THE CHANGE-UP”
THESIS
By:
HARDIYANTO
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
AN ANALYSIS ON SWEAR WORDS USED BY MITCH PLANKO
ON DAVID DOBKIN’S FILM “THE CHANGE-UP”
THESIS
This thesis is submitted to fulfill one of requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Education
By:
HARDIYANTO
09360014
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
MOTTO AND DEDICATION
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillah, all praises are due to Allah SWT, who gives His blessing,
guidance and merciful in the writer’s life, then finally he could finish this thesis.
Furthermore, the writer would like to express his deepest thank to Dr, Sri
Hartiningsih, M. M and Puji Sumarsono, M. Ed, M. Pd for their advice, correction,
motivation and ideas in guiding his thesis until finished. His gratitude also goes to all
lectures of English Department in the University of Muhammadiyah Malang for
knowledge that may worthwhile.
Indeed, he would like to thank to his beloved Father (Bapak Sukardji), Mother
(Ibu Suminah), brothers (Eko Haryono and Dwi Haryanto), Sisters (Hartanti, Mahda,
and Leli) and uncle (Sugiarto) who always give the support and prayer so that this
thesis could be completed.
To his friends, especially; Be2k (Irma), Nyit, Limbok, Johan, Guntur (P1),
Dadan (P3), Tante Dian, Inok, Pebrong, Ririn, Yuman, Bertha, Fitri, Iim, Candra,
Topik, Adit, Farih, Baim, vany and all beloved friends at class A Kawok English
Department ‘09 thank for their togetherness, kindness, help, and support. Then, thank
for the crew of Semeru and Ijen Climbing, KKN 56 and PPL SMAN 9 2013 for their
support and kindness, may Allah SWT bless you all. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Malang, October 28th, 2013 The Writer,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPROVAL ... i
LEGALIZATION ... ii
MOTTO AND DEDICATION ... iii
ABSTRACT ... iv
ACKNOWLEDMENT ... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Problem of the Study ... 4
1.3 Purpose of the Study ... 4
1.4 Significance of the Study ... 5
1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 5
1.6 Definition of the Key Term ... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Literature. ... 7
2.2 Film………... 8
2.3 Type of Film ... 8
2.3.1 Action-Adventure ……….……….. 9
2.3.2 Animation ……….. 9
2.3.3 Avant-Grade………... 9
2.3.4 Biopic………. 9
2.3.5 Children ………. 9
2.3.6 Comedy……….. 10
2.3.7 Crime ………... 10
2.3.8 Cult Film ………... 10
2.3.10 Drama………... 11
2.3.11 Historical ………... 11
2.3.12 Horror ………..…………. 11
2.3.13 Melodrama ……….………….. 11
2.3.14 Musical ………...……….……... 11
2.3.15 Mystery ………... 11
2.3.16 Romance ………... 12
2.3.17 Science Fiction and Fantasy………..……… 12
2.3.18 Serial ………...………... 12
2.3.19 War … ………..…... 12
2.4 The Element of Film ... 12
2.4.1 Character ... 13
2.4.2 Plot... 14
2.4.3 Setting... 15
2.4.4 Conflict ... 16
2.4.5 Dialogue... 16
2.4.6 Theme ... 16
2.5 Swear words ... 17
2.5.1 Classification of Swear Words ……….. 17
2.5.2 The analysis Behind the use of Swear Words... 19
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design ... 21
3.2 Approach ... 22
3.3 Object of the Study ... 24
3.4 Research Instrument ……….. 24
3.5 Data Collection ... 24
CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Research Findings ... 26
4.1.1 The Kinds of Swear Words Used by Mitch Planko on David Dobkin’s Film “The Change-Up” ……….…… 26
4.1. 2 The Purposes of Swear Words Used by Mitch Planko on David Dobkin’s Film “The Change-Up” ……… 37
4.1.2.1 To create Attention ……… 38
4.1.2.2 To Insult ……….. 39
4.1.2.3 To Provoke ………. 41
4.1.2.4 To Discredit ……… 42
4.1.2.5 To Provide Catharsis ……….. 43
4.2 Discussion ... 45
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusions ... 48
5.2 Suggestions ... 49
BIBLIOGRAPHY……… 50
APPENDICES Appendix I ... 52
Appendix II ... 55
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abrams. M.H.1993. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Orlando: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Adler, E. S., & Clark, R. 2008. How It’s Done: An Invitation to Social Research (3nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.
Alfinawaty, Makiah. 2009. The Analysis of Swearing Expressed in “The Velvet Rope
Diaries” Novel by Daaniella Brodsky Based on Steven Pieker’s Theory.
Unpublished. Malang: University of Muhammadiyah malang.
Andersson, Lars G. & Trudgill, Peter. 1990. Bad Language. USA: Basil Blackwell Inc.
Anonymous.n.d.”David_Dobkin”.Wikipedia.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Do
bkin_%28director%29). (Accessed June 17th, 2013).
Anonymous.n.d.”The_ChangeUp”.Wikipedia.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cha nge-Up). (Accessed March 16th, 2013).
Arp, R Thomas, and Greg Johnson. 2006. Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and
Sense. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth.
Ary, Donald. Et al. 2002. Introduction to Research in Education. Sixth Edition. New York: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.
Babbie, Earl. 2002. The Basics of Social Research: Second Edition. Belmont: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.
Corey, Melinda and Ochoa, George. 2002. The American Film Institute Desk
Reference. USA: A Stonesong Press Production.
Crystal, David. 1987. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hartiningsih, Sri. 2001. Introduction to Literature. Malang: UMM Press.
Holmes, J. 1992. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Melbourne: Addison-Wesley.
Hughes, Goeffey. (1991). Swearing: A Social of Foul Language, Oaths, and Profane
Hughes, Goeffey. (2006). An Encyclopedia of Swearing: The Social History of Oaths,
Profanity, Foul Language, and Ethnic Slurs in the English-Speaking World. l.
New York: M.E.Sharpe.
Jemmy. (2005). Swear Words Produced by the Main Characters in the Movie Bad Boys II. Unpublished skripsi 02011326/ING/2005. Surabaya: Petra Christian University.
Jones Jr., H. Edward. 1968. Outline of Literature. New York: The Mac Millan Company.
Kearns, George. 1984. Appreciating Literature. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Kennedy, X.J. 1983. Literature; an Introduction of Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Koesnosoebroto, Sunaryo Basuki. 1988. The Anatomy of Prose Fiction. Jakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
Meyer, Michael. 1990. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. Second edition. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
O’pray, Michael. 2004. Film, Form and Phantasy. NewYork: Palgrave Macmillan. Rothwell, J Dan. (1973). Verbal Obscenity: Time for Second Thoughs. In Raymond
Leidlich. (Ed). Coming to term with language: an anthology. London: John Wiley&Sons, Inc.
Schmidt, Z, Jan, Bogarad, R, Carley & Crocket, Lynne. 2006. Legacies : Fiction,
Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction. New York: Cengange Learning.
Sianghio, Christina, Sherly. 2011. Elements of Drama. Retrived from
http://literalno4.tripod.com/elements.html (Accessed January 24th, 2013).
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the background of study, the statement of problem, the
purpose of study, the significance of study, the scope and limitation, and definition of
key term.
1.1Background of the Study
Communication is the basis of the human society. Without communication
people cannot understand each other. To make a good communication among the
society, people need a media that can be used to express their ideas or feelings. One
of media which is able to connect people in a communication is using a language.
Language is a mean to connect people and to exchange information about
anything. It is used to express people’s feeling toward something and to specify each
person’s need and want. Without language, people will live in isolation from their
family and society. Words are used to reflect a speaker’s attitudes, beliefs, and point
of view about something (Holmes, 1992: 246). In expressing their feelings, people
have many ways of using language and one of them by producing swear word.
Swear words are the obscene words which are used to swear and view as
indecent and taboo in the society. Those words are used to insult, to curse, to offend,
or to mock at someone when the speaker has strong emotion (Hughes, 1991:05).
People always associate swear word with a bad or inappropriate word, which is not
2
that swear words are the appropriate media to express strong emotion. It means that
people can use swear words to express their feelings, and it can be seen there are
many forms of swear words found in novels, songs lyric, and films. Swear words that
occur in those media are not only used as bad words, but they can be used for many
purposes, such as creating more understanding on the media messages, showing the
expression of emotion, and giving an entertainment.
Comedian film entitled “The Change-Up” as the object for research is
discussed because in this film there are many kinds of swear words uttered or
produced by some characters. The main character, Mitch Planko is chosen because in
the film he often used swear words in his daily life and used many kinds of swear
words for different purposes.
Swear words are not only used when the people are being angry, but swear
words can be used for different purposes. Swear words can be used as identification
among a society or a group identity. According to Hughes (1991), swearing can be
used to show familiarity, friendliness or identity among some communities. For
example in the sentence Hay you bastard. The word bastard means friend. It is usual
thing among American Negroes to use swear words in daily talk with their friend or
family. Therefore, the writer is curious about analyzing the underlying context for
using swear words used by Mitch Planko on David Dobkin’s film “The Change-Up”.
It is also interested to analyze the categories of swear words. Each swear
words has its own category or classification. The classification is based on the
3
are dealing with genital, religion, copulative, animal and other. For example, fucking
which means making love. It is classified into copulative term because the word deals
with sexual activity.
In the previous research, Alfinawaty (2009) who studied about the analysis of
swearing expressed in The Velvet Rope Diaries novel by Daniella Brodsky. She
concerned with the characteristics and types of the swear words based on Steve
Pinker’s theory. She found that there were swearing by blurting taboo words and
phrases related to Gods or religion, sexuality, disease, and filth or bodily effluvia. She
analyzed about swear words found in novel. In addition, Jemmy (2005) in his thesis
entitled “Swear words produced by the main characters in the movie Bad Boys II”
analyzed about swear words are used by main characters and the reasons that make
the main characters used the swear words. He found that the main characters in the
movie Bad Boys II mostly used the excretory, copulative, and mother-in-law term.
Also, he found the reason of main characters used swear words to express their
feelings according to their psychological state such as angry, or surprise. He only
classified the classification of swear words into three classifications. They were
excretory, copulative, and mother-in-law term.
Different from this study, there are differences in these two previous above.
First, Alfinawati’s thesis analyzed swear words in novel, but in this study, the writer
analyzes swear words on film, “The Change-Up”. Second, Jemmy’s thesis only
classified the classification of swear words into three classifications, they are
4
classifies the classification of swear words into eight classifications based on Hughes
(1991), Rothwell (1973) and Trudgill (1986) theories. They are genital, anatomical,
excretory, imbecilic, animal, general, copulative, and religion term.
1.2Problem of the Study
Based on the background of the study above, the problems are stated as
follows:
1. What kinds of swear word were used by Mitch Planko on David Dobkin’s film
“The Change-Up”?
2. What were the underlying contexts for using swear words used by Mitch Planko
on David Dobkin’s film “The Change-Up”?
1.3Purpose of the Study
The purposes of the study should be stated clearly from the beginning as the
principle guidance. They are formulated as follows:
1. to describe the kinds of swear words were used by Mitch Planko on David
Dobkin’s film “The Change-Up”.
2. to investigate the underlying contexts for using swear words used by Mitch
5
1.4Significance of the Study
First, the writer expects the result of this study can give contribution to the
readers in some ways. First, it can give contribution to the readers to develop
knowledge about swear words. This is also important for the students who try to learn
sociolinguistics analysis especially on swear words from other cultures. Second, the
readers will able to learn more about kinds of swear words classification into
appropriate category. Third, the readers will be able to learn about the underlying
contexts for using swear words to avoid the misunderstanding in swearing.
The second, the result of this study is expected to be used as references for the
teachers who want to teach swear words from other cultures to their students.
The third, the result of this study is also expected to give contribution to
further researchers who want to conduct research on other topics from this film such
as, message, psychological conflict, struggle, etc.
1.5Scope and Limitation
There are lots of films of David Dobkin, but the writer only analyzes one of
them, that is “The Change-Up” film. This film is very interesting to be discussed
because in this film there are many swear words were produced by the main
characters. The scope of this study is focused on swear words. The writer limits this
6
contexts for using swear words which are used by Mitch Planko in the film entitled
“The Change-Up”, because he often used many kinds of swear word in his daily life.
1.6Definition of the Key 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:
1. Analysis is trying to examine all parts of work in relation to the whole, selects
for examination one aspect or element or part that relates to the whole (Jhonson,
2006: 6).
2. Swear words are the obscene words which are used to swear and view as
indecent and taboo in the society. Those words are used to insult, to curse, to
offend, or to mock at someone when the speaker has strong emotion. (Hughes,
1991: 05)
3. Mitch Planko is the main character on “The Change-up” film that being
researched.
4. David Dobkin is the director of “The Change-up” film.