Taboo expressed in “The Hangover”

ABSTRACT

The study of language in a society relates to the utterances which are used by people in their daily interaction. All languages that are used by people all over the world must have certain words, utterances, and sentences that are prohibited to be uttered, because they are improper or related to something that has spiritual power this is so called taboo language.

This research investigates the kinds of taboo utterances and the context when the taboo expressed in “The Hangover”. The purposes of the research are to get the knowledge of the kinds of taboo utterances and to know in detail the context when the taboo expressed in “The Hangover”.

The descriptive qualitative method is used to conduct this research. This research describes the kinds of taboo utterances and the context when the taboo expressed in “The Hangover”. In analyzing the kinds of taboo words, the researcher applies theory of taboo language from Wardhaugh. For describing the context when the taboo expressed in “The Hangover”, the researcher uses Hymes’ SPEAKING theory.

Based on the findings of the research, taboo utterances which are used by men characters are one’s mother in law, certain game animal, copulative term, death, bodily function, excretion and religious matter. This research has found that in the context of conversation when the men characters express taboo words, there are various kinds of settings, scenes, participants, ends, keys and norms. The most setting is in the room of hotel in Las Vegas with the scene the participants speak full of emotion in informal situation. Taboo words in this research are mostly expressed by main characters; they are Stu, Phil, Doug and Alan. For the outcomes of expressing taboo words are to express their anger, to emphasize their utterance, and to insult other. The key that is mostly applied is the participants speak using loud voice; The norm used in this research is friendship norm.