The Use of Slang in American Popular Movies

ABSTRACT

Slang means words or meaning of words, commonly used in talk among friends, but not suitable for good writing or formal occasions. As well the studies that are conducted by those researchers, this study is also going to investigate the use of slang in American popular movies. This research is very important to be conducted due to thesis is a research which is expected to be able to provide more information for students who are interested in studying slang and to improve communication fluidly, and make the reader familiar with the words which are used in American daily conversation. In addition, knowledge of slang is fundamental to nonnative speakers understanding of the language that native speaker actually use. Without slang students will be outsiders. This nonstandard English may even be important for students’ safety and well being.

In order to bring this study into its purpose, the researcher formulates two research problem, those are: What are the types of slang that is common in American popular movies and what are the functions of slang that is common in American popular movies.

Study on slang is closely related to human communication, therefore, the design of this research is movie data and contextual factors that could be derived from the cultural values and social norms which exist in American society which the method that is used is descriptive qualitative. Descriptive qualitative tries to describe, identify, and classify the slang spoken by the characters of American popular movies.

Considering that the design of this research is movies data, so the data of this research is taken from three American popular movies, they are Final Destination, Charlie’s Angles and Romeo and Juliet. The more specific data are in analysis of chapter IV, because students mostly use their own language in this chapter.

The instrument of this study is three videos that have observed by watching, listening and taking note of slang words used by the characters in these movies. After collecting the data from the selected movies, first, the data were identified based on the slang words, then classifying them. Second, the identified data were analyzed based on the contextual factors, which influenced the slang. Third, interpreting and explaining the findings. Fourth, drawing conclusion as the result of analysis.

This study resulted a finding that the slang that is common in American popular movies can be observed based on the type of slang which is varied, they are: Arbitrary, Acronym, Metathesis, and Clipped word. While the function of slang was analyzed as follows: Intimacy, Euphemism, Irony, Paradox, Metaphor and Negative Emotion.

Thus, the researcher suggests that the future researchers conduct the similar theme in the slang, which is not covered in this study, and in other researchers study, in order can give a positive contribution on the development of English learning especially in Department of English Literature and Language of UIN Malang.