Swear Words Used by The Mobile Legends Game Players

Abstract

This study is done to analyze the types and functions of swear words used by the Mobile Legends players, and the types of swear words appearing in each function. This Sociolinguistic study is conducted applying the theory of Holmes (2013).  supported by the theories of Montagu (2001) on swear words, Wijana and Rohmadi (2007) for the types of swear words, and (Ljung, 2011) for functions of swear words. Moreover, this study was done by using the qualitative participative method, utilizing the transcribed data that was used in the analysis. The findings revealed that the Mobile Legends players  used six (6) types of swear words: activity, animal, circumstance, part of body, profession, thing. In term of functions, there were eleven (11) functions of swear words: 1)anaphoric use of epithet, 2]expressing high degree of meaning: adjective intensifier, 3)indicating that the speaker dislikes: disliked adjective, 4)giving emphasis on adjective or adverb, 5)interjection: anger, 6)interjection: surprise, 7)interjection: pain, 8)interjection: even joy,  9)interjection: disappointment, 10)interjection: incredulity, and 11)expressing speaker’s wish in order to harm: informal cursing. In addition, there were different types of swear words found in each function.  To conclude, analyzing swear word types, functions, and the relation between types in each function contribute some understanding about the swear words used during the  Mobile Legends game situation.