Dysphemistic expressions used in Malang Post on headline column

ABSTRACT

Dysphemism is a means of expressing something considered offensive, harsh, crude, taboo or embarrassing in a particular culture in terms of that maximize its offensive impact. It is a language used as a weapon; not neutralized, pacified and waved as a white flag. Dysphemistic is a word to execute a communication intention.

Dysphemism is not only important for certain group of people but also for all level in society to use of dysphemism in expressing casualness, informality, solidarity etc. Power word is a word that is used to make one’s statement stronger. It is a form of loaded language; it is not always the same thing as either a dysphemism that imply the use of harsh or vulgar words. Language uses in society cause language change through the loss of some senses of terms across styles.

This research is conducted to find out the type of dysphemism used in Malang Post on headline column newspaper. The headline of Malang post is investigated in this study because the headlines must convey maximum of information with minimum symbols and catch attention at the readers as well as elaborating message at the first time. The attention of the reader can emerge, the reader can capture the interest of the news, headline tells readers what a story is about, and the size and style of a headline give readers some idea of the importance of the story. The researcher chooses the Malang Post newspaper because in Malang Post as one as the local media from Malang. As we know that the language of Malang people is crude and used dysphemistic expressions in language. The writer is interested in doing observation on headline in Malang Post Newspaper because the writer realizes that chapter is consisting of many types of dysphemism.

This research used descriptive qualitative research design. The data of this research was in the form of sentences that were found in the headlines of Malang Post newspaper. ,The key or the main instrument of the research was the researcher herself. The data collected, then, were analyzed in accordance with the type of dysphemism. As the result, the researcher find four types of dysphemism such as first, the terms that belittle or degrade one's race, gender, rationality, or religion. Second, profanity. The most important meaning of profanity is language that belittles or displays disrespect for sacred things.Third, taboo words that refer to the genitals, sexual act, and bodily functions. Forth, crude phrases.

The researcher hopes that this thesis could give contribution toward the researcher herself are the case of dysphemism study. It is hoped for the future researchers to conduct the research not only focused on written language but also on spoken language.