A study on Taboo words as used by Banyu Urip "kampung" inhabitants in Surabaya

This study analysed the use of taboo words by Banyu urip “kampung” inhabitants in Surabaya to answer the following research questions: (1) What kind of taboo words are usually used by Banyu urip “kampung” inhabitants?; (2) What are the functions of taboo words used by Banyu urip “kampung” inhabitants?; (3) What are the factors that influence them in using taboo words? The data of this study were collected by using a tape recorder and a diary. In collecting the data, the writer was helped by one informant. The data were analysed based on parameters which were taken from Holmes and Muma’s theories. This study found the following taboo words used by Banyu urip “kampung” inhabitants: “Cuk/jancuk/diancuk/mbokne ancuk”; Nggatheli/ gathel”; “Kirik/ asu”; “Mbalon”; “Itil”; “Raimu”; “Congok”; “Taek”; “Gendheng”; “Diamput”; “Mbokne amblek”; “Jangkrik”; “Semok”; “Matamu”; “Mbahmu”. The Banyu urip “kampung” inhabitants use these taboo words mostly because they feel angry and disappointed. Sometimes they use taboo words to show their intimacy. Besides, they also use these taboo words to draw someone’s attention, to provoke other peple, even only to release pain. The study also found that the frequent use of these taboo words are based on the following factors: the level of education and intelligence of the speakers (mostly low), the level of the subjects’ occupation (mostly middle low), the casual topic of conversations, and the low formality of the situations between the speakers. The writer believes that the results above cannot be over generalized to all the “kampung” inhabitants. The writer is also sure that there are many shortcomings in this study whether in the terms of its instruments, the procedures of data collection or data analysis. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies related to this study applying more accurate procedure of analyzing the data can add deeper information