CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of Study Slang is defined as
informal words and expressions that are more common in spoken language and are
not thought suitable for formal, it is sometimes restricted to one particular
group, for example soldiers and children (Oxford, 1995:111), such as fobit
means a soldier and boo hoomeans sadness (imitating the sound of crying). Slang
is created based on such forms as metaphor, simile, folk etymology, distortion
of sounds in words, generalization, specialization, clipping, the use of
acronym, elevation and degeneration, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole and
borrowing from foreign languages (Maurer, 2003:3).
Slang is commonly used to show a
special identity, to be popular, to get easier and simple conversation.
Goodword (2006:2) argues that slang refers to a simple and ungrammatical
language which is commonly used, especially by teenagers, for example hang
outmeans to reside or to pass the time or caballo means heroin. Slang is
usually used by teenagers within their group members and it is rarely used to
speak to older people or in a formal situation. Slang is a casual spoken
language which is different from dialectical speech and jargon. Some linguists
think of slang as the sprinkles of color in a language, since slang is often unique,
unusual, and sometimes startling (Lighter: 2007). Generally, slang is not used
in formal spoken and written language, unless the speaker is attempting to achieve
a deliberate effect (Goodword 2006:3). Some slang terms, however make the jump from slang to accepted common usage,
as is the case with “OK” (Anatoly Varanakov on www.refnik.com).
Slang is also commonly used by
army forces in a war (www.psichologytoday.com). The war condition usually
creates different atmosphere among the soldiers that potentially influence the
language they use.
Peters (2007) states that wars
always generate new slang which serves crucial psychological functions of the
soldiers. The soldiers use to apply slang on their communication for hiding
their identity, lightening their mood, establishing group identity, or
dehumanizing the enemy.
Studies on slang have been
conducted by several researchers. Ulfa (2004), found that slang is used to make
the speaker feels familiar and intimate with the listeners. Besides, using
Indonesian slang makes the announcers more relax. In addition, another study on
slang was conducted by Varanakov (2006) concluded that the use of slang is
commonly undertaken in the rock music as one of the tools to create the fluency
of communication between the singer and audiences.
Arba’i (2007) conducted his
research related to slang on the title “The Use of Slang in American Popular
Movies. He found the types of slang which consist of: (1) arbitrary which means
giving meaning based on their want, for example the word dude that means
friend;, (2) acronym, it is word composing of the result of the initials of
some words such as VIP (very important person;,(3) metathesis which means
replacing two phonemes in a word, for example uncomfortable becomes
uncomfterble, in Indonesian, the wordmotor becomestomor (Nurjannah in Sholihah
2007:2).Arbai also found a number of functions of slang: (1) to express
intimacy which means that people may behave among their friends as if they are family members such as honey which
means someone who is loved; (2) euphemism means stating something insulting in
other way which is more polite and soft by hiding the original word or
statement, for example consort is used to express more polite statement than
that of criminals;(3) irony means expressing the meaning of a thing which is
contradictory to the fact., for example the gay which originally means a
homosexual person, is now used to mean a man; (4) negative emotion means
expression of anger, for example motherfucker.
The latest research was conducted by Sholihah
(2007) entitledA Study of Slang Used in Save the Last Dance Film. She found
that slang is divided into several forms, some of them are proper and
acceptable, and the others are rude and obscene. Some of the acceptable slang
terms and which are considered as a standard language are jazz, VIP, and bus.
Besides, there are also slang terms which are considered as a non-standard,
informal, even rude language although they are widely used, like gonna, ain’t,
shit, and what’s up. This film states many slang expressions to tell a
Negro-Black community where slang comes from.
They use slang to show their
identity. Slang is constructed through several processes: (1) compounding, such
as the words bullshit, whassup, motherfuking, screw up, screw you, bone up,
redneck, as hell, what the hell, hang out, whiz kid, scrapped for, strapped
for, creeping up,and drive by, (2) blending, such as lemme and gimme,(3)
clipping, such as ‘fore, coz, rep, andbike,(4) creating a new word, such as
ain’t and boo hoo, (5) use the existing word, such as chick, deal, and bug, (6)
acronym, such as VIP which stands for Very Important Person, and repeating a
new word, such as hip-hop.
This study investigates slang on the novel of
Miracle at St. Anna and has several distinctions from the result of previous
studies. Some previous researchers conducted their research in magazine, radio
announcer and film as the object of study. However, this research analyses a
novel describing a certain story with its plots, characters, and settings which
help the readers to understand the sequence of the story. Without being
visualized, a novel can capture the story on the reader’s mind if it is
supported by the good sequence of its plots, characters and settings. This kind
of novel is important to be analyzed since the dialogues of the novel represent
the writer’s original thought and imagination (Sidnell on www.AfricanAmericanVernacularEnglish.htm
). Actually, this novel really has a great deal with the use of slang because
most of the conversations used by the black soldiers involved in slang.
The novel ofMiracle at St. Annais based on the
historical event of an unspeakable massacre at the site of St. Anna in
Stazzema, a small village in Tuscany. It is about the experiences of the famed
Buffalo soldiers from the 92nd Division of the U.S. Army in Italy during World
War II. Miracle of St. Annais a singular evocation of war, cruelty, passion,
and heroism.
The four black soldiers that are Negron,
Cummings, Stamps and Train got stuck behind enemy lines after getting separated
from their squadron when one of them bravely attempts to rescue an Italian boy.
Alienated from their own country, the soldiers find solace in a quaint Tuscan
village of St. Anna. This awarded novel will be filmed on 2009
(www.bartleby.com).
This novel presents different use of slang
because it was spoken by the black soldiers in the World War II which creates a
question whether the language produced
by them was influenced by their psychological and emotional condition or not.
Based on the above rationale, this study focuses on "Slang Used in Miracle
at St. AnnaNovel".
1.2. Research Problem This research is conducted to answer this
following question, “how are slang expressed in Miracle at St. Anna novel?”.
1.3. Objective of Study In line with the research problem stated
above, this study aims to, “explore slang expressed in Miracle at St. Annanovel”.
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