Proceedings of the 2nd Social Sciences, Humanities and Education Conference: Establishing Identities through Language, Culture, and Education (SOSHEC 2018)

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Swear Words among Males: The Social Functions and Pragmatic Meanings

Authors
Slamet Setiawan, Fatimatuzzahroh Ms.
Corresponding Author
Slamet Setiawan
Available Online July 2018.
DOI
10.2991/soshec-18.2018.71How to use a DOI?
Keywords
swearing, swear word, gender, social function, pragmatic meaning
Abstract

Swearing at some stage is similar to cursing; a linguistic activity utilizing taboo words to express strong emotions. Traditionally, swear words contain taboo and offensive expressions. Thus, the users are negatively judged and labeled. Are swear words always negatively framed? This paper tries to prove that such expressions do not only convey negative sense but also provide diverse functions and meanings. Dual mode of communicative data was gained; spoken and written. Besides, direct and virtual interviews were conducted to reveal the males’ underlying reasons for swearing. The results may indicate that the use of swear words carries social functions, namely: intraindividual and interindividual which are reflected into cathartic, abusive, emphatic, idiomatic, and dysphemistic swearing. Nonetheless, cathartic and abusive searing are mostly committed. Another finding, pragmatically, swears words are bound by context. They can reflect not only the user’s anger but also happiness and even solidarity. The other finding is that males swear more frequently in the presence of a group consisting of their own gender. All these evidence might be a gentle warning on the effect of what one produces and the wise interpretation upon one produces. When these are taken into account, living in harmony is created.

Copyright
© 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2nd Social Sciences, Humanities and Education Conference: Establishing Identities through Language, Culture, and Education (SOSHEC 2018)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
July 2018
ISBN
978-94-6252-585-6
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/soshec-18.2018.71How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Slamet Setiawan
AU  - Fatimatuzzahroh Ms.
PY  - 2018/07
DA  - 2018/07
TI  - Swear Words among Males: The Social Functions and Pragmatic Meanings
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd Social Sciences, Humanities and Education Conference: Establishing Identities through Language, Culture, and Education (SOSHEC 2018)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 330
EP  - 335
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/soshec-18.2018.71
DO  - 10.2991/soshec-18.2018.71
ID  - Setiawan2018/07
ER  -