An Analysis of Slang Words in IT Movie

Abstract

This research discussed slang words found in the movie entitled It directed by Andy Muschietti. This research aimed to find out the kinds of slang words and to know the function of slang words used in It movie. This research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method. Regarding the research findings, there were two kinds of slang that have been found from twelve kinds of slang theory by Partridge. They are society slang and public house slang. Meanwhile, the next finding was the function of slang. The writer found that there were six functions of slang in It movie, namely to address, to form intimate atmosphere, to initiate relax conversation, to reveal anger, to humiliate, and to show intimacy. This research was expected to enrich the new English vocabulary used in daily conversation. The writer suggested the further researchers to analyze slang with another theory and use a poem, novel, advertisements, or song as the object of research.

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AN ANALYSIS OF SLANG WORDS IN IT MOVIE
Presly Rosalina Munthe1*, M. Bahri Arifin2, Ririn Setyowati3
English Literature Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences
Mulawarman University
Email: munthe.rosa@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This research discussed slang words found in the movie entitled It directed by Andy
Muschietti. This research aimed to find out the kinds of slang words and to know the function
of slang words used in It movie. This research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative
method. Regarding the research findings, there were two kinds of slang that have been found
from twelve kinds of slang theory by Partridge. They are society slang and public house
slang. Meanwhile, the next finding was the function of slang. The writer found that there
were six functions of slang in It movie, namely to address, to form intimate atmosphere, to
initiate relax conversation, to reveal anger, to humiliate, and to show intimacy. This research
was expected to enrich the new English vocabulary used in daily conversation. The writer
suggested the further researchers to analyze slang with another theory and use a poem, novel,
advertisements, or song as the object of research.
Key words: Slang, Kinds of slang, Functions of slang, It movie
ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini membahas tentang kata-kata slang yang terdapat dalam film berjudul It yang
disutradarai oleh Andy Muschietti. Penelitan ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui jenis kata
slang dan mengetahui fungsi kata slang yang digunakan dalam film It. Penelitian ini
dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Berdasarkan temuan
penelitian, ada dua jenis slang yang ditemukan dari dua belas jenis slang teori oleh
Partridge. Mereka adalah slang masyarakat dan dan slang rumah publik. Sementara itu,
temuan selanjutnya adalah fungsi slang. Penulis menemukan bahwa ada enam fungsi slang
dalam film It, yaitu untuk menyapa, untuk membentuk suasana yang akrab, untuk memulai
percakapan yang santai, untuk mengungkapkan amarah, untuk mempermalukan dan untuk
menunjukkan keintiman. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat memperkaya kosakata baru
bahasa inggris yang digunakan dalam percakapan sehari-hari. Penulis menyarankan
peneliti selanjutnya menganalisis slang dengan teori lain dan menggunakan puisi, novel,
iklan atau lagu sebagai objek penelitian.
Kata kunci: Slang, Jenis slang, Fungsi slang, Film It

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A. INTRODUCTION
Language plays an important role in human life. People use language to interact and
communicate with others in society. Language is produced by a system of voice in the human
body and it has an important function of making communication. In communication, there
are many ways to convey the language in oral and written. Written language is a language
that is recorded in writing to convey information. Whereas in human daily interaction, oral
language is easily used in each case because it expresses people’s idea to the listener. Some
people have their language that is used in a daily activity which different from others. Every
people also have different characteristic from their culture which determined the variety of
language that they use. It means that language has many variations in society. One of the
famous varieties of language used by many people is slang.
Slang is generally considered an informal style of speech used by society in a specific
community. Swan (1995) states that slang is a very informal kind of vocabulary, used mostly
in a speech by people who know each other. Slang is not used in formal conversation. It is
usually used in an informal situation when there is no rule to say something. Slang is
commonly used nowadays. Almost a lot of people use slang in daily conversation. That is
why the writer is interested in choosing slang as a topic in this study. Besides, slang is
important because people can know someone’s dialog in both formal and informal
communication.
In this research, the writer is interested in analyzing slang words in the movie entitled
“It”. It is an American supernatural horror movie based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the
same name, directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga and
Gary Dauberman. The writer chooses It movie for this research because this movie depicts
the adventures of a group of teenagers, where it makes slang easy to find since teenagers
generally use slang. Besides, the main characters who are teenagers often use slang in their
conversations. On the other hand, this movie has won many awards.
There are two objectives of this research. The first is to find out the kinds of slang
words used in It movie and the second is to know the function of slang words used in It
movie.
B. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
1. Definition of Slang
Slang is informal language used by people in a particular social group for internal
communication. According to Kipfer and Chapman (2007) “slang is a language that has little
to do with the main aim of language, the connection of sounds with ideas in order to
communicate ideas-rather, it is an attitude, a feeling, a verbal action” (p.9). Claire (1998)
defines that slang is a term used by people in social situations where they feel comfortable
with their friend. Slang can make a conversation more intimate. Fromkin and Rodman (2003)
states that slang is a kind of casual language that occurs due to the rapid growth of new words
that are used as a creative expression by people to make the words more efficient.
From the definition above, the writer concludes that slang is an informal language used
by particular groups of people related to informal communication. Slang is usually used to
communicate with a group to express people's ideas, verbal actions, feelings, and creativity.
In addition, people use slang for easiness, enjoyment and simpler to be uttered.

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2. Kinds of Slang
According to Eric Partridge (1970), there are some kinds of slang as follows
a. Cockney slang
Cockney slang is a form of English slang that comes from the End East of England.
Nowadays, almost all of people in England use cockney slang, especially London. Cockney
slang is the brightest spot in England because it has a very pronounced accent (Partridge,
1970). For example, eye in a sling means crushed or defeated.
b. Public House Slang
The definition of public house slang is considered as public house group words and
phrases make up for the smallness of the recorded vocabulary by nature of the subject. It is
the main, genial, cheery, materialistic, but not gross nor cynical. For example, round the
corner means a drink.
c. Workmen’s Slang
This kind of slang has a link with public house’s slang. The characteristics of the users
of workmen’s slang do not mention the real something, but they call it with another name
that is already used and understood. Usually, this slang is used by people’s activity in their
work. For example, brass means money.
d. Tradesmen’s Slang
In tradesmen’s slang as in workmen’s slang, some words are related to origin slang
and used by the worker. However, in tradesmen’s slang, consider four as typical: tailors,
butchers, chemists, and builders.
e. Slang in Art
Slang in art has always along with society. It is quickly adopted by society. This slang
is considerably more difficult than other slang terms, the meaning is hard to be guessed even
in the present day. For example, frame means a picture.
f. Slang in Publicity
This slang refers to slang used in commerce. Because much of the success of modern
commerce depends on publicity, a firm needs the catchy phrase or rhymes that can impress
the public. For example, sunlight means soap.
g. Society Slang
Society slang is concerned with the spirit of the universe, the world life, it also hovers,
joyously or jauntily over objects and the practices of the slangster’s own calling. The writer
concludes that society slang is commonly used in daily speaking and connected to society.
Society slang is like familiar words, common words that come from society even sometimes
has rude meaning. For example, vogue means fashion or mode.

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h. Slang of Commerce
This slang is of business transaction of the various exchange of the man in the street
will have heard of the formation trust and ring, concerning a commodity. It is often used by
businessman. For example, shunt means to buy and sell securities between two home
exchanges.
i. Slang in Public School and University
In this kind, students become the main source because they are fresh, full of spirit to
move forward for their future. For example, bung means a lie. Slang in university is different
from slang in public school. They tend to replace their old school slang and to create the
slang in university. As they grow into adults, they can choose to do new things and make
their own rules of alma mater. For example, leccer means a lecture.
j. Slang in Theatre
Slang in theatre is related with slang in art, because theatre is one of art term. In theatre
slang, there are some familiar terms such as actor by professional is called pro. The band or
orchestra is called as manageria.
k. Medicine Slang
Medicine slang is from the very nature of the case .This slang is slang used by doctors
and nurses. For example, drinks mean medicine.
l. Soldier’s Slang
Soldier’s slang is slang terms that come from around the army community that the
soldiers commonly use. Soldier slang refers to words related to the war and the attributes
and these slang terms are generally used in soldier’s community. For example, Old Soldier
words, such as: pawny means water.
3. The Function of Slang
According to Allan and Burridge (2006), there are seven different functions of slang:
to address, to form intimate atmosphere, to initiate relax conversation, to express impression,
to reveal anger, to humiliate, and to show intimacy.
a. To address
Someone who has a close relationship usually prefers to use informal address than
formal. Using the formal address indicating the speaker has a distant relationship or has a
specific purpose with another speaker.
b. To form intimate atmosphere
People usually choose to use slang words rather than formal words to form intimate
atmosphere and show close relationships. By using slang can be a way to alleviate the
relationship between strangers, so that it flows smoothly.

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c. To initiate relax conversation
Sometimes people prefer to use slang word rather than the standard variant of
vocabulary or formal word to create relax conversation. It is done to smooth the conversation
in informal situations. Someone who has a close relationship with others tends to use certain
vocabulary to make the conversation more relaxed and feel more comfortable.
d. To express impression
When the speakers feel that they are impressed with someone they meet or something
they see, they tend to use slang words to express their impressions.
e. To reveal anger
There is the tendency to express dislike or unpleasant feelings of the speaker to
something. Someone who has a close relationship often uses slang words to curse others
instead of using the common words when they need to reveal their anger.
f. To humiliate
The speaker tends to express unpleasant or dislike feeling to someone or something by
mocking them.
g. To show intimacy
The speaker prefers to use slang words to show their close relationship and show
intimacy or solidarity in their social relationship. When someone has a close relationship
with the other, they will prefer to use slang compared with distant relationships.
C. RESEACH METHOD
1. Research Design
This research belongs to descriptive qualitative research because the data are presented
in the form of words not number. Miles and Huberman (1994) states that qualitative research
is a kind of analysis research that uses data in the form of words not number. Therefore, it
can be said that qualitative research is research that the data results are in the form of words
and it does not form numerical as the result because the data will be in the form of description
or written as the result of qualitative research.
2. Data and Data Source
The data of this research is all utterances that contain slang. The data sources of this
research are It movie and the script of the movie. From this movie, the writer analyzed the
kinds of slang and the functions of slang.
3. Research Instrument
The instrument of the study is the writer herself. Bodgan and Biklen (1992) state that
the writer is the key instrument in conducting qualitative research.

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4. Data Collection Techniques
There were several steps to obtain the data required for this research. First, the writer
watched the movie several times in order to understand the movie. Second, the writer read
the movie script comprehensively. Third, the writer marked the words or sentences that were
included in slang and made a note of the data. Fourth, the writer classified the data that are
related to the kind and the function of slang.
5. Data Analysis
After collecting the data, the writer analyzed the data using three qualitative data
procedures by Miles and Huberman (1994). First, data reduction, which is the process of
selecting, focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and transforming the data that appear in
written-up field notes or transcriptions. Second, data display, an organized, compressed,
assembly of information that permits conclusion drawing and action. Third, conclusion
drawing, draw the conclusion after analyzing the data.
D. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Kinds of Slang
a. Society Slang
Society slang is commonly used in daily speaking and connected to society. This is
included in society slang such as familiar words, common words that come from society and
sometimes even have rude meaning. Here is the data included in society slang.
Data 2: Shit
Bill : What's going on? Richie!
Richie : I can't!
Bill : Open the door, Rich.
Richie : Oh, shit. Stupid clowns
The conversation above happened at the old house on Neibolt Street. This slang word
said by Richie when he was locked in a room. It separated him and Bill. Richie is annoyed
by the clown that keeps him locked in the room.
Shit is considered as slang because the writer found the meaning of the word in the
Dictionary of American Slang which means an obnoxious. This slang meaning is also
derived from situational context, where the meaning is appropriate the situation in the
conversation that shows Richie’s annoyance. This slang is categorized into society slang
based on the characteristics of the word connected to theory. This word has characteristics
that is often employed in daily conversation by character to express their feelings of
annoyance. This word is also connected to the society since this is common word that come
from the habitual society of the character.
The slang word shit has a function to reveal anger. There is the tendency to express
unpleasant or dislike feeling of the speaker toward something. The anger feeling is a major
reason of using the kind of slang word. It can be seen from the conversation above that after
Richie heard a strange sound in the room, then he expressed his anger by using the slang

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word shit. Richie uses this slang word to express his annoyance and anger towards the clown
who always bother him.
b. Public House Slang
The definition of public house slang is considered as public house group words and
phrases make up for the smallness of the recorded vocabulary by nature the subject. The
characteristics of public house slang such as genial, cherry, materialistic, but not gross nor
cynical. Usually this kind of slang is a word or phrase used in neighbor relationship or
community to address each other. It is also a word that represents the subject and has
characteristics that are more friendly, not gross or have a cynical smell.
Data 16: Man
Mike : Stan!
Richie : Shit! Stan!
Eddie : Stanley!
Mike : We're coming, man!
The conversation took place at the well house. This conversation happened between
Mike, Richie and Eddie who are looking for Stanley who has disappeared. They are looking
for Stanley while calling out his name.
Man is consider as slang because this word is used in informal situation by character
to call their close friend. Besides the meaning of the word is found in the NTC’s Dictionary
of American Slang and Colloquial expressions 3rd Edition which means friend. This slang
is categorized into public house slang based on the characteristics of the word connected to
theory. Where this is a word that is often used in a character’s friendship environment to
address his friend and this word is conveyed with genial expression and not gross.
Here, the slang word man has a function to address. The speaker uses slang words to
address another speaker in order to maintain their close relationship. The topic of
conversation is looking for Stanley. Stanley is missing and his friends search for him by
calling out his name. They have a close relationship because they are friends and
schoolmates. When they were looking for Stanley, suddenly they heard Stanley's scream.
Then mike said "we are coming man". The word man refers to Stanley. Therefore, the slang
word man is used to address Stanley.
E. CONCLUSION
In this research the writer found twenty three slang words used in It movie. The writer
concluded that slang in this movie are classified into society slang and public house slang
by Partridge (1950). From the kinds of slang that mentioned, society slang is the most
common used by the characters and public house slang is the fewest kind of slang used in
the movie. In this research, the writer also found that the meaning of the slang word in the
movie is based on the dictionary of slang that appropriated with the context.
The writer also analyzed the function of slang in It movie. There are six functions of slang
used in this movie which are to address, to form intimate atmosphere, to initiate relax
conversation, to reveal anger, to humiliate and to show intimacy. The most dominant
function used by the character is to reveal anger. Meanwhile the fewest function used by the

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character are to humiliate and to show intimacy. The function of slang word is not only
analyzed based on the theory but also based on the meaning and the situation when the slang
word used by the character in the movie.
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