TABOO EXPRESSED IN “THE HANGOVER”
By:
NURILLAILI RAHMAWATI
06320082
ENGLISH LETTERS AND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURE
THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
MAULANA MALIK IBRAHIM OF MALANG
2010
i
TABOO EXPRESSED IN “THE HANGOVER”
THESIS
Presented to:
The State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim of Malang
By:
Nurillaili Rahmawati
NIM: 06320082
Supervisor:
Prof. Dr. H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M. Si
NIP. 19590101 199003 1 005
ENGLISH LETTERS AND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURE
THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
MAULANA MALIK IBRAHIM OF MALANG
2010
ii
STATEMENT OF THE AUTHENTICITY
I, the undersigned,
Name
: Nurillaili Rahmawati
Reg. Number : 06320082
Faculty
: Humanities dan Culture
Department
: English Letters and Language
I declare that this thesis is written to fullfill the requirement of the degree
Sarjana Sastra (S1) in English letters and language departmen, humanities and
culture faculty, the Stated Islamic university Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang
entitled Taboo Expressed in “The Hangover” is truly my original work. It does
not incorporate any materials previously written or published by another person
except those indicated in quotations and bibliography. Due to this fact, I am the
only person responsible for the thesis if there is any objection or claims from
others.
Malang, October 20, 2010
The researcher
Nurillaili Rahmawati
iii
APPROVAL SHEET
This is to certify that Nurillaili Rahmawati’s thesis entitled Taboo Expressed in
“The Hangover” has been approved by the thesis advisor
for further approval by Board of Examiners.
Malang, October 20, 2010
Approved by
Acknowledged by,
The Advisor
The Head of the English Letters and
Language Department
Prof. Dr. H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M.Si
NIP. 19590101 199003 1 005
Galuh Nur Rohmah, M.Pd, M.Ed
NIP. 19740211 198803 2 002
The Dean of
The Faculty of Humanities and Culture
The State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim of Malang
Drs. H. Chamzawi, M. Hi
NIP. 19510808 198403 1 001
iv
THESIS LEGITIMATION SHEET
This is to certify that Nurillaili Rahmawati’s thesis entitled Taboo
Expressed in “The Hangover” has been approved by the Board of Examiners as
the requirement of the degree of Sarjana Sastra (S1).
The Board of Examiners
Siganture
1. Drs. Nur Salam, M.Pd
NIP. 19560731 198603 1 002
(Chairman)
2. Dra. Meinarni Susilowati, M. Ed
NIP. 19670503 199903 2 000
__________________
(Main Examiner)
3. Prof. Dr. H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M.Si (Member)
NIP. 19590101 199003 1 005
__________________
__________________
Malang, 29 of October,2010
Approved by
The Dean of Humanities and Culture Faculty
The State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim of Malang
Drs. KH. Chamzawi, M.Hi
NIP. 19510808 198403 1 001
v
MOTTO
            
  
“Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who
hath been wronged. Allah is ever Nearer, Knower.” (An- Nisa’:
148)
“Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing”
(Werner Von Braun)
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DEDICATION
This thesis is especially dedicated to:
My beloved parents (Zainur Ali and Siti Zainab)
My lovely brother and sister (dek Fiqi & dek Risma)
This thesis is also dedicated to my advisor
Prof. Dr. H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M.Si
To all people who love to enrich their knowledge
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the world, the merciful the beneficent,
the Owner of the day of judgment, Who has given me His guidance and blessing
so I can accomplish my thesis entitled Taboo Expressed in “The Hangover”.
Solawat and Salam are always delivered to the last Islamic prophet, Muhammad
SAW, who has guided his followers to the rightness.
First of all, I want to express my deepest thanks to my beloved parents
(Ayahanda Zainur Ali and Ibunda Siti Zainab) for their continual moral and
material supports, their pray and their endless love. I am proud being their child.
For my sweet little brother (d’ Fiki) and my cute little sister (d’ Risma) for their
kind, cheerful, attention and their pray never cease for my success. Thanks to all
my nice big family, I am happy being a part of their life.
Secondly, my sincere gratitude is dedicated to my great advisor, Prof. Dr.
H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M.Si who has carefully guided me throughout the entire
process of the thesis writing with all constructive comments and guidance which
helped me to make this thesis more perfect. Thanks for always remembering me
to revise my grammar constructions. Thanks for giving me inspiration beyond the
important of language and its use.
Likewise, my grateful thanks also go to my academic advisor, Moh. In’am
Esha, M.Ag who has given me plenty suggestions and advices in my study, and all
of the lectures of English Letters and Language Department for their patient and
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generous in leading me to the world which never I know before with the
invaluable knowledge.
I extend my next gratitude to all people, especially Mrs. Lilik Rofiqoh,
Pak Muallif, Neng Ima M, mbak Irma, mbak Sulis, Rofiq and Kasih for helping
and spending their time to check my thesis’ grammar, thank you very much. Wish
them success in their life.
Furthermore, I also express my thanks to my friend of thesis advisor of
Prof. Mudjia’s (Prio, Lilik, Mb’Yulis, Ita and Mila) come on guys, let’s do your
best, thanks for sharing and studying together. For my dearest friends (Tante,
Acil, LeLy, AtoeL, and Farida), they are my lovely friends who always
accompany me whether in happiness or sadness. And also my thanks go to my
“gokil” friends in PKLI Balai Bahasa Surabaya ’10 (Ocy, Ijul, eeL, iiL, Firco,
Dung2, Hadiq, Mas’ud, Syafiq, Lucky,Sikod, Lilis, Obit, Iva) and all my friends
in English Letters and Language Department ’06 thanks for your help, support and
unforgettable friendship. How lucky I am to have friends like you all. I do love
you and miss you all so much.
Finally, I truthfully realized that this thesis still needs the constructive
criticism and suggestion from the readers in order to make this thesis better in the
following day and hopefully this thesis will be useful for the readers.
Malang, October 25, 2010
Nurillaili Rahmawati
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Thesis Title .................................................................................... i
Statement of the Authenticity ....................................................... ii
Approval Sheet .............................................................................. iii
Thesis Legitimation Sheet ............................................................ iv
Motto Sheet ................................................................................... v
Dedication Sheet............................................................................ vi
Acknowledgment ........................................................................... vii
Table of contents ........................................................................... ix
Abstract ......................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research Context ............................................................... 1
1.2 Focuses of the Study........................................................... 6
1.3 Objectives of the Study....................................................... 7
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study ...................................... 7
1.5 Significance of the Study .................................................... 7
1.6 Operational Definition of the Key Terms ............................ 8
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Language and Culture.......................................................... 9
2.2 Linguistic Taboo ................................................................ 11
2.2.1 Concept of Taboo Language .................................. 11
2.2.2 Definition of Taboo Words .................................... 13
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2.2.3 Kinds of Taboo Words ........................................... 15
2.2.4 Taboo Words in Context ........................................ 18
2.3 Men’s Language ................................................................. 21
2.4 Hymes’ SPEAKING Theory ............................................... 21
2.5 Synopsis of “The Hangover” ............................................... 24
2.6 Previous Study .................................................................... 27
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Research Design .................................................................. 30
3.2 Data and Source of the Data ................................................ 31
3.3 Research Instruments .......................................................... 31
3.4 Data Collection ................................................................... 32
3.5 Data Analysis ...................................................................... 32
3.6 Triangulation ....................................................................... 33
CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Analysis and Findings .......................................................... 35
4.2 Discussions .......................................................................... 60
4.2.1 Kinds of Taboo Utterances .......................................... 60
4.2.1.1 One’s Mother in Law ....................................... 61
4.2.1.2 Certain Game Animal....................................... 61
4.2.1.3 Sex/ Copulative Term....................................... 62
4.2.1.4 Death ............................................................... 62
4.2.1.5 Bodily Function ............................................... 63
4.2.1.6 Excretion.......................................................... 63
4.2.1.7 Religious Matter............................................... 64
4.2.2 The Context ................................................................. 64
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions ......................................................................... 66
5.2 Suggestions ......................................................................... 67
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIXES
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ABSTRACT
Rahmawati, Nurillaili. 2010. Taboo Expressed in “The Hangover”. Thesis.
English Letters and Language Department, Faculty of Humanities and
Culture, The State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim of Malang.
Advisor: Prof. Dr. H. Mudjia Rahardjo, M.si
Key words: Taboo Utterances, Context, The Hangover film
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.
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