EUPHEMISM ANALYSIS ON “AMERICAN PIE 5” script: AN
APPROACH OF MEANING RELATION AND SEMANTIC
CHANGE
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for
the Degree of Letters Scholar
Yohana Sari
203026002111
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY “SYARIEF HIDAYATULLAH”
JAKARTA
2007
1
2
ABSTRACT
Yohana Sari. Euphemism Analysis on “ American Pie 5 Scripts: An Approach of
Meaning Relation and Semantic Change. A Thesis. English Letters Department.
Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University (UIN) Syarief
Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2008.
The aim of this research is to describe the meaning relation and semantic
change that happened in euphemistic expression that found on film American
Pie5. This meaning relation falls under : synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy , and
meronymy. While semantic change divided into :semantic broadening, semantic
narrowing, amelioration, pejorative, sinestesia, and association.
The writer applies descriptive – qualitative method to describe the types of
meaning relation and semantic change that happened in euphemistic expression.
In collecting data the writer applies the documentation method in which the “
American Pie 5” film scripts are downloaded from the website
http.//www.American scripts.com. The writer only uses 53 expressions from 101
data obtained, because the are several same euphemistic expression used more
than one in different utterance. Data analysis continued by using descriptive
method, and the theory of Jackson with binary semantic feature.
From all the data analysis taken from film “American Pie 5” the writer
found the types of euphemism like: metaphor, rhyming slang, remodeling,
circumlocution, clippings, abbreviation quasi-omission, full-omission, metonymy,
hyperbole, understatement, borrowing, and abstraction., but is not found the
types of euphemism like: synecdoche, indirectness, mispronunciation, play on
abbreviation, phonetic alphabets. The euphemistic expression can replace the
words assumed by taboo because there is meaning relation between both
expressions that arises semantic change. But for some euphemism types like:
rhyming slang, abbreviation, and quasi-omission have no meaning relation ,
while synonymous words undergo no semantic change.
3
APPROVEMENT
EUPHEMISM ANALYSIS ON “AMERICAN PIE 5”SCRIPT: AN
APPROACH OF MEANING RELATION AND SEMANTIC CHANGE
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for
the Degree of Letters Scholar
Yohana Sari
203026002111
Approved by:
Dr. Muhammad Farhan. M. Pd
NIP:150 299 480
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY “SYARIEF HIDAYATULLAH”
JAKARTA
2007
4
LEGALIZATION
The thesis entitled “Euphemism Analysis on “American Pie 5 Script” has been
examining before the Examining Committee held by the English Letters
Deparment, the Faculty of Adab and Humanities, Syarief Hidayatullah State
Islamic University Jakarta on March 27, 2008. this paper has been accepted as a
partial fulfilment required for Strata One Degree in English Letters Department.
Examining Comitee
Chair Person
Secretary
Dr. Muhammad Farhan, M. Pd
Drs.A. Saefuddin, M.Pd
NIP. 150 299 480
NIP. 150 261 902
Member
Examiner I
Examiner II
Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd
Supardi. SS
NIP. 150 261 902
NIP.
5
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by
another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the
award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institution of
higher learning. Except where due acknowledgment has been made in the text.
Jakarta, March 27, 2008
Yohana Sari
6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillah, my greatest praise will all be onto Allah SWT, the Almighty and
the All Merciful. His guidance completely helped the writer through it all to
accamplish this thesis. The writer would also like to deliver her deepest
gratefulness to all parties who have given the constant supports, meaningful
suggestions, constructive criticism, time and the like. They are:
1. Prof. Dr. Abdul Chaer, MA., as the Dean of the Letters and Humanities
Faculty, The State Islamic University Syarief Hidayatulah, Jakarta.
2. Dr. Muhammad Farhan, M.Pd., as the Head of English Departement and as the
guidance counselor for this thesis.
3. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd., as the Secretary of English Letters Department.
4. All lecturers in the English Letters Department, and all the staffs of the Letters
and humanities Faculty.
5. The witer’s Father and Mother. You are always there for me every step of the
way…I can never thank for you endless feeling of affection.
6. The witer’s brother and sisters. Hopefully, God gives you all thr glorious ways
to reach your dreams. Amin.
7. My beloved engagement Mas Zahril Anasy. You are my everything….I love
you so much.
8. The writer’s close friends: Esa, Retil, and Ikmal ( I’m so greatful to have you
all and I’ll be missing all the lough, tears and joke we have shared).
9. Friends of 2003 BSI Ex…(May Allah bless you always….!)
7
Finally, the writer hopes this thesis will be useful especially for the writer
herself and those who are interested in this field of the thesis. She realized the this
thesis is not perfect, that is why the writer welcomes critic and suggestion for this
thesis to be better.
Jakarta, March, 2008
The Writer
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER .......................................................................................................... i
ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………ii
APPROVEMENT .......................................................................................... iii
LEGALIZATION………………………………………………………………iv
DECLARATION ........................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................... vii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...............................................................
1
A. Background of the Study..................................................
1
B. Focus of the Study ...........................................................
3
C. Statement of the Research Problem .................................
4
D. Objectives of the Study ...................................................
4
E. Significance of the Study .................................................
5
F. Research Methodology.....................................................
5
1. Method of Research...................................................
5
2. Data Analysis ............................................................
6
3. Collecting Data .........................................................
7
4. Unit of Analysis .........................................................
8
5. Place and Time........................................................... 10
CHAPTER II:
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
10
A. Euphemism ...................................................................... 10
1. Definitions and Types of Euphemism ......................... 10
2. Taboo Words.............................................................. 15
B. Semantics........................................................................ 17
1. Defination of Semantics ............................................. 17
2. Definition of Meaning ................................................ 18
C. Semantic Field ................................................................. 19
D. Componential Analysis .................................................... 20
9
E. Meaning Relation............................................................. 23
F. Semantic Change ............................................................. 26
CHAPTER III:
RESEARCH FINDING
29
A. Data Description ……………………………………………….. 29
B. Data Analysis…………………………………………………… 31
1. Metaphor ………………………………………………….. 31
2.Rhyming Slang …………………………………………….. 35
3.Remodeling ………………………………………………… 38
4.Circumlocution……………………………………………… 41
5.Clippings……………………………………………………. 44
6.Abbreviation………………………………………………… 47
7.Quasi-omission……………………………………………… 50
8.Full Omission ………………………………………………. 53
9.Metonym……………………………………………………. 55
10. Hyperbole………………………………………………… 58
11.Understatement……………………………………………. 61
12. Euphemism through Borrowing………………………….. 64
13.Abstraction………………………………………………… 67
CHAPTER IV:CONCLUSION and SUGGESTION…………………………71
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX
10
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Talking is one of the most significant social activities. It is used to
deliver and express the idea, information, feeling and so on. People can do
this activity if the interlocutor may recognize the certain conversation
governing their own action, use of language, and also the interpretation of the
action and utterance of others. The speakers do not randomly choose the
forms and style to use in the conversation, they will bear in mind several
aspects, namely how close to one another interlocutors, when and where the
conversation take place, and whom the interlocutor are.
Evey single time we speak, we tend to speak in good way in order to
avoid insulting the listener, embarrassing the interlocutors, attacting the
listener’s self-esteem, and judging people in the negative way. To overcome
the bed effect, the speaker may conceal the truth by avoiding the “dengerous”
words. The dangerous word is well known as “taboo” or “dysphemism”.
Taboo word is a word known to speakers but avoided in some, most, or all
forms or contexts of speech, for reasons of religen, decorum, politeness,etc.1
It is like a way in which people show the disapproval believed to be harmful
to other, either for supernatural reasons or for violating a moral code.
1
Peter Mathews, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1997), p.371
11
These taboo subjects can vary widely: sex, bodily effluvia, bogily
function, death, religious matters, dangerous animal, political issue even
diseasses. People may find these taboo words in every single corner in life
such as: in the street, in the movie, in the bars, in the parties, in the office, at
school and so forth.
For those certain words that can not be said, people are going not to
talk about these words, or, if these words are talked about, people shall talk
about in roundabout way to rename and repackage them in getting ‘better’
sound. They may apply “Euphemism” so as to avoid mentioning to certain
matters directly as mentioned above. According to Matthews Euphemism is
word, etc. used in place of one avoided as e.g. offensive, indecent, or
alarming. 2
Morever, euphemism is a polite substitute for taboo words, which fall
under many types of euphemism. The Use of euphemism word is in order not
to hurt anybody else by telling less than the truth or concealing the truth. For
instance, we can take these euphemism words from the “American Pie 5’
scripts, the word “fuck” may be represented by freak on television, the words
“death” is neutralized by passed Away, passed on, the word ‘penis’ for ‘tits’,
the word ‘ladies room’ for ‘toilet’, the phrase “in bed” for “sexual
intercourse” and so on. In addition, the word which relates to ‘God’ are
strictly avoided to mention in vain for Chrsitian religious teaching. To
2
ibid. p.119
12
overcome this problem, jeeze, gee, gosh, holy, lord, gracious, laudy, and so
forth are the euphemism for God.
This euphemism term occurs in order to refine the taboo words. These
eephemisms surely give rise to language change through the emergence or
loss of some sense of lexems, or suitable replacement in the higher style. A
euphemistic term usually arises “semantic change”, these semantic changes
lead the new meaning to be broader, narrower, more favorable or less
favorable. Besides, the other meaning may change because of the exchange of
perception or the similarity of chracters.3
Although each lexem undergoes semantic change, it is still tied by
meaning relation. Hence, together with the above explanation, the writer has
in mind to bring about the research “ Euphemism Analysis on American Pie
5 Scripts: An Approach of Meaning Relation and Semantic Change”.
Here, the writer intends to describe in detail what kind of meaning relatioan
and semantic change undergone by euphemism term based on the theory cited
in chapter II.
B. Focus of the study
This study focuses on semantic issue such as Meaning relation and
Semantic Change involved or not involved in the implication of euphemism
taken from American Pie 5 Scripts. In analyzing the data, the writer applies
semantic theory proposed by Leech, Saeed, Cruse, Jackson, and so on. The
3
Keith Allan & Kate Burridge, Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as Sheild
and Weapon (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) p.97
13
writer also uses theory of componential analysis in order to get the real
meaning relation and semantic change of the euphemism.
The writer applies these theories so as to cover up all the data, which
are going to be analyzed. The writer also makes up her mind to collect data
from American Pie 5 script after considering that these might be the best data
for the analysis. It is because the story of this movie goes a lot to the area of
friendship, love, sex and the like.
C. Statement of the Research Problem
Based on the focus of study above, the writer formulates the following
questions:
1. What types of euphemisms are found from “American Pie 5” script?
2. How do the meaning relation of the euphemistic terms in “American Pie
5” script influence to the semantic change?
D. The Objectives of the study
The principle aims of this study are:
1. Describing and classifying the euphemism terms into types of euphemism
taken from American Pie 5 script.
2. Giving explanation what kind of meaning relations give to euphemism
terms on each type of euphemism by applying componential analysis.
3. Giving explanation what kind of the semantic changes involved in the use
of euphemism terms by applying componential analysis.
14
E. Siqnificance of the Study
The writer hopes the result of this research will be advantageous to
her especially and the reader generally, in order to know what kind of words
in English terms called “Taboo and Euphemism”.
The writer also hopes that this research can give contribution for
linguistics study Especially in the study of semantics and sociolinguistics.
Finally , the result of this research can motivate other reseachers to do
the same study but different object.
F. Research Methodology
1. Method of Research
In this study, the writer intends to describe in detail the phenomena
of the use of euphemism she found on American Pie 5 script. Morever,
this research includes qualitative methodology. That is a research
procedure that bears descriptive data either written and oral expression of
people or their behavior. Therefore, the data collected are in words,
sentences or pictures with no figure at all (Oppenheim,1992).4
2. Data Analysis
Euphemistic terms as the primary and main data, will be analyzed
in some ways. Method of analyzing data applied in this study should be
outlined so that the writer find no confusion and go out of this study.
4
A.N. Oppenheim, Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement
(London: Pinter Publisers,1992) p.38.
15
Here, the writer applies descriptive method that is a method used
in order to make a description, an illustration, or a picture systematically,
factually and accurately about facts, characteristic and relation between
existing phenomena in observing a group of people, an object, a set of
events at present . 5 The writer also applies distinctive feature analysis
taken from semantic properties, which is belonging to those own words.
Technique used to verify the semantic properties is binary semantic
features (Jackson, 1985)6. Next the data will be analyzed by using core
meaning analysis. It is used to find out the meaning of the word, even
through the data is not in a sentence.
Hence, the writer gets through some steps as fallows:
a. Describing taboo and euphemistic terms .
b. Substituting the euphemistic term with taboo term
c. Analyzing the data by using the set of components to compare and
identify the meaning relation and semantic change.
d. Analyzing the data by using core meaning analysis that is a technique
to find out the meaning of the word even though the word is not in
sentence.
3. Collecting Data
The data of the study are the scripts of American Pie 5. Hence, it
includes documentation method since the data is obtained from
documentation. The data are also obtained from http.//www.sript-orama.com, a website that is full of movie’s information. That is movie
5
6
ibid
Howard Jackson, Words and Their Meaning (New York: Longman, 1984) p.82.
16
website where the writer browsed and attained the transcript of the movie
American Pie 5 written by Adam Hers but directed by Paul Wreitz.
Therefore, the writer applies recording technique as well by downloading
the data from the website.
Thus in detail she got through some steps, there are:
a. Watching the movie entitled American Pie 5.
b. Reading the movie script of American Pie 5.
c. Searching euphemistic terms from the movie that guided by the movie
scripts.
d. Giving a mark on euphemistic terms which are going to be observed.
e. Using note technique as the last step to make a list of euphemism and
then classify into types of speech.
4. Unit of Analysis
The analysis unit of this research is the scripts of American Pie 5
movie, where the scripts obtained from http//www.dailysripts.com, a
website that is full of movie’s information.
a. Population
In this study , population selected by the writer is all utterances
in connection with euphemism taken from thescripts of American Pie 5
movie.
sThe writer uses this movie as the population by virtue of the
genre of this movie. This movie is youth drama movie. American Pie 5
describe more detail about sex education. It presents youth’s life that is
17
full of activities, love, sex, and etc. Therefore, this movie might be
appropriate data to analyze euphemistic term. All euphemistic
expression the writer found number 101 data.
b. Sample
Arikunto 7 suggested that the sample should be 10% - 25%
minimally or between 50% - 100% maximally of the population.
Furthermore Suryabrata
supported this statement by asserting the
more sample taken, the more representative it will be.8 Due to that, the
writer takes 23% of the population as the sample. 13 euphemistic terms
from total 53 data. Here, the writer only uses 53 data out of 101 data
because there are several same euphemistic expression used more than
one in different utterance. This study applies purposive sampling
technique in which the sample are taken from the population according
to particular criteria based on the purpose of the research.
7
8
Ibid. p.72
Sumardi Suryabrata, Metodologi Penelitian (Jakarta:PT.Raja Grasindo Persada,1978). P.3
18
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Euphemism
1. Definitions of euphemism
The word euphemism comes from the Greek word euphemos,
meaning "auspicious or fortune speech" which in turn derive from the
Greek root-words eu "good or well" + pheme "speech or speaking". The
eupheme was originally a word or phrase used in place of a religious word
or phrase that should not be spoken loudly.
A euphemism is used as an alternative to dispreferred expression, in
order to avoid possible loss of face: either one's own face or, through
giving offense, that of the audience or of some third party .9
Concise Oxford Dictionary as quoted by Enright 10 explains that
euphemism is a substitution of mild, vague or indirect expression for rude
or direct one. Whereas, Matthews 11 stated that euphemism is word, etc.
used in place of one avoided as e.g. offensive,indecent, or alarming.
If the nice word is well known as euphemism, so the contrast
words, the bad one is called dysphemism. People use it to downgrade and
9
Keith Alan & Kate Burridge, Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as Sheild
and Weapon (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) p.11.
10
D.J. Enright, Fair of Speech: The Use of Euphemism (New York: Oxford University
Press,1985) p.13.
11
Peter Matthews, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1997) p.119
19
show disapproval of things, as Allan (1991)12 stated that "dysphemism is
an expression with connotations that are offensive either about the
denotatum or to audience, or both, and it is substituted for neutral or
euphemistic expression for just that reason".
The purposes of euphemism are to present words of good omen, to
avoid unlucky words in which metaphysical harm may befall either
speaker or hearer, and to prevent hearer from losing face by offending his
sensibilities.
For Examples, Euphemism words to cite intimacy for "sexual
intercourse", pass away for "die", rest room for "toilet room", pre-owned
vehicle for "used car", the big C for "cancer", custodian for "janitor".
Other euphemisms used to avoid mildly distasteful words are -we 'II have
to let you go replacing "you're fired", take industrial action instead of
'strike', life insurance replacing "insurance for when you are dead", do you
drink? goes to a policeman to know whether he will take a bribe and so
forth. In short, euphemism is an alternative to unpleasant expression, and
is used in order to avoid possible loss efface.
2. Types of Euphemism
Many euphemisms that are figurative can be formed through
several ways, such as:13
12
13
Keith Allan & kate Burridge(1991). op. cit. 13
Keith Allan & Kate Burridge (1991) op cit. 23
20
a. Metaphor is speaker's utterance meaning which is in commonly
implicit and replaces the literal meaning, for example.: the cavalry's
come replaces " I'v got my period", go to the hunting ground for "die"
b. Rhyming slang exists in whistle (and flute) for "suit", groan and grunt
for "cunt"
c. Remodelling is the way of replacing part of the word like sugar, shoot,
And shucks for "shit", tarnation for "damnation" darn, dang, and drat
for "Dam"
d. Circumlocution is a roundabout way of talking (often includes in
metaphor or metonymy). It is common in the form of listeme
(compound or idiom) Like little girl’s room for “toilet" and
categorical inaccuracy or Terminology inexactitude for "lie",
e. Clippings is the euphemisms starting off with a modifying word then
the modifier is dropped as the phrase ceases to be euphemistic,
consider: mentally deranged > deranged and lunatic asylum > asylum,
Jeeze for "Jesus", bra for "brassiere",
f. Abbreviations are written and pronounced as strings of letters like
S.O.B for "Son of a Bitch" or pee for "piss" also/... instead of printing
"fuck",
g. Acronyms are written and pronounced as words in their own right like
snafu for "situation formal, all fucked up" or commfu "complete
monumental military fuck up",
21
h. Omissions fall into:
1) Quasi- omission substitutes some non-lexical expression for the
dispreferred term into dashes and asteriks like mmm, er-mm, and
soon.
2) Full-omission seems less common than quasi-omissions found /
need to go by omitting "to the lavatory".
i. One-for-one substitution is almost synonym and consists of two:
1) Metonymy (general-for-specific): one name exchange for another
like the legal term person for "pennies" and region for "genitals",
2) Synecdoche
(part-for-whole
euphemism)
means
to
take
with something else demonstrated in spend a penny for "go to the
lavatory" and I've got a cough may occasionally ignore the
accompanying "stuffed up nose, postnasal drip, and running nose"
j. Hyperbole: overstatement, exaggeration are found in euphemism like
home meaning "house", flight to glory for "death"
k.
Understatement (litotes) like sleep for "die", deed for "act of murder".
It is used to emphasis and to negate the opposite of what we wish to
convey .
l. Euphemism through borrowing
The use of foreign language (Latin, France etc) is considered to
counteract taboo terms such as bodily effluvia, sex, and the associated
acts and bodily organs. The use of perspire instead of "sweat",
expectorate instead of "spit" defecate and feces instead of "shit",
genitals instead of "sex organ", vagina instead of "cunt"
22
According to http//www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism#see_also
many euphemisms fall into these categories:14
a. Terms of foreign and technical origin such as.: copulation, perspire,
Urinate
b. Abbreviation such as.: BS for "Bullshit", TS for "Tough Shit"
c. Abstraction such as.: it, the situation, go left the company, do it
d. Indirectness such as: behind, unmentionable, privates, live together,
go to the bathroom, sleep together.
e. mispronunciation such as: freakin, goldarnit
f. Plays on abbreviation such as.: barbecue sauce for "bullshit",
Maryland
farmer for "motherfucker", sugar honey ice tea for
"shit"
g. Phonetic alphabet such as: Foxtrot for "fuck", bravo, sierra for
"bullshit"
Then, Enright (1985:)15 classified types of euphemism into:
substitution, rhyming slang, abbreviation, acronyms, circumlocution,
litotes (understatement), indirectness, lightly imaginative language, and
synonym. All these types are similar to above types, for lightly
imaginative language is the same as metaphor in which they screen the
unlucky words in imaginative way. And synonym can be classified into
metonymy and synecdoche since both of them are actually almost
synonym.
14
August.2007. http//www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism#see_also. P.114
D.J. Enright, Fair of Speech: The Use of Euphemism (New York: Oxford University
Press,1985) p.17-27.
15
23
From all the explanation above, the writer can describe types of
euphemism as follows:
Metaphor
Rhyming slang
Remodeling
Abbreviation
Acronyms
Omission
Types of euphemism
Substitution
quasi - omission
Full omission
metonymy
Synecdoche
Hyperbole
Understatement
Borrowing
Abstraction
Indirectness
Mispronunciation
Plays on abbreviation
Phonetic alphabet
3. Taboo Words
Words that are offensive, obscee, or somehow disturbing is called
taboo. The word taboo derives from the Tongan language. It refers to
prohibition on the use of, mention of, or association with particular objects,
actions, or persons 16. Meanwhile, Akmajian in Linguistics: An Introduction to
Language and Communication proposed that "taboo words are those that are
16
Peter Matthews, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (New York: Oxford
University Press) P.371.
24
to be avoided entirely, or at least avoided in 'mixed company' or 'polite
company'17
Common swear words such as "Damn!" Or "shit!" include taboo
words. Hence to avoid words seen as offensive, obscene, or somehow
disturbing to listeners or readers, the taboo words will be euphemized. It is
like what Allan stated in Natural Semantic Language as follows:
A taboo term, a strong dysphemism, is often replaced by more
positively viewed euphemistic word or phrase whose original meaning
has been semantically extended to create a new sense for it. For
instance, instead of saying "my father died' someone may say my
father passed away.18
Thus taboo words including swear words such as "Damn!" and "hell" have
euphemistic terms: Darn! and heck
Taboo words comprise three kinds, they are:19
1. taboo of fear
a. Personal name is tabooed on any island. The inhabitants supposed
uttering a taboo name in to assault the owner of the name,
b. Names of the dead are tabooed in some societies. If they uttered the
name, they would call the deads from their resting place. Violation of
such taboo is thus believed to cause misfortune, sickness, death and
even offense to living descendants,
c. Taboos on the name of Gods are to avoid metaphysical malevolence
and blasphemy.
17
Akmajian, et al., Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication
(London: The MIT Press,1988) P.112.
18
Keith Alan, Natural Semantics Inew York:Blackwell Publishers, 2001) p.134.
19
Ibid. P.140.
25
d. Names of dangerous animals are regarded taboo because there is a fear
that animals may know where the speaker is and respond to the call.
Based on the research, there are 24 animals tabooed throughout the
world.
2. taboo of delicacy
In general, people tend to prevent uttering critical and unpleasant
preference or events. Typical examples are physical and mental disorders Cancer, Aids- crime and law -barristers instead of "counsel"- military pacify means "be killing", neutralize means "kill selected targets or
conquer".
3. taboo of propriety
This typical taboo goes to sexual acts, bodily effluvia, body -parts function
and curse. For instance: shit, sperm, urine, belched breath, nail parings,
snot, fart even menstruation are regarded as synonymous for the curse. It is
because men viewed menstrual blood as far more horror than women did.
B. Semantics
1. Definitions of Semantics
Semantics is commonly considered to be the study of meaning (and
related notions) in language or the study of linguistic reference and truth
conditions in language.20 Semantics applies to the expression that made up
of words, phrases, and sentences.
20
Akmajian.,et al., op cit. p.236
26
Jackson cited there are 3 main ways in which linguists and
philosophers have attempted to construct explanations of meaning in natural
language: (a) by defining the nature of word meaning (b) by defining the
nature of sentence meaning (c) by explaining the process of communication.21
2. Definition of meaning
According to Saeed meaning must be something that exists in the mind
rather than the word so that it must be more abstract than picture or features.22
Even Leech in Semantics supported this statement by dividing meaning into:
a. Meaning as reference:
It is said that the meaning of linguistic sign is what that sign refer to, what
it stands for in the real word,
b. Meaning as mental concept:
It is considered that the meaning of the linguistic sign is the mental
concept it stands for, that the meaning of a word is the idea it conveys or
arouses in the mind of the speaker or hearer,
c. Meaning as usage:
It is the meaning of a word as the ability to use that word in ways other
people will understand, and to understand it when uttered by other
people.23
21
Howard Jackson. Words and Their Meaning (New York: Longman, 1975), p.12
John Saeed, Semantics (London:Blackwell Publishing, 2004) p.23.
23
Geoffry Leech, Semantics (New Zealand: Penguin Books Ltd, 1997) p.12.
22
27
C. Semantic Field
Lehrer as quoted by Akmajian et al noted that words belonging to the
same semantic field undergo similar semantic changes. 24 Semantic field
analysis uses feature to show the relationship of lexical items within a field or
domain. The features or components help us index the meaning of words,
separate the various meanings of individual words, and analyze relationship
between similar words.
Field theory is focused on the analysis of sense. J. Trier quoted by
Lyons cited the vocabulary of language as an integrated system of lexemes
interrelated in sense. The system is in constant flux. The relation of sense
which holds between a given lexeme and neighboring lexemes in the system
are continually changing through time.25
Matthews stated that semantics field is a distinct part of the lexicon
defided by some general term or concept. E,g. in English the semantic field of
colour included words such as black and red that distinguished colours, or are
*hyponyms of the more general term colour.26
Semantic field plays a role in semantic change. For instance: the words
from the semantic field of bird name: goose, cuckoo, pigeon, cool, turkey have
literal meaning and metaphorical meaning which refers to "foolishness". The
words hot and cold are antonyms describing physical temperature. With pair
of antonyms, if one member undergoes a metaphorical extension, the other
24
Akmajian, et al, Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication.
(London: The MIT Press, 1998) p.238-252.
25
John Lyons, Semantics (Melbourne:Cambridge University Press, 1977) p.24
26
Peter Matthews, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1997) p.334
28
tends to change in a parallel position. In colloquial styles, we can speak of a
hot car (stolen car), hence we would refer the phrase cold car to one that is
not stolen, on the ground that semantic change tends to affect entire semantic
field in a parallel position, and not just single members of the field.27
D. Componential Analysis
O'Grady cited another approach to meaning to represent a word's
intention by breaking it down into smaller semantic components known as
componential analysis or semantic decomposition. Many linguists have turned
to componential analysis to give an explicit representation of the semantic
relations between words 28. Then Lyons 29 looked upon componential analysis
is the broadening of the semantic field theory.
Componential analysis is a technique for describing interrelation of
meaning by breaking concept down into minimal components, or
features, which are distinctive in terms of a semantic opposition or
dimension of contrast 30
Meanwhile Allan et al in Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language
used as Shield and Weapon (1991:16) did support the usage of componential
analysis to analyze euphemistic terms by revealing that "the process involved
here is a kind of componential analysis, the sense of taboo terms are unpacked
and each of the meaning components are listed... using this method, a new
euphemism can easily be created".
There are three kinds of components of meaning:
27
28
Akmajian.,et.al, (1989). op cit.P.367.
William O’Grady, Contemporary Linguistics (London: Longman Pearson Education,
1996) p.78
29
30
John Lyons, Semantics (Melbourne:Cambridge University Press,1977)P.326.
Geoffrey Leech, Semantics (New Zealand: Penguin Books Ltd,1997) P.124.
29
1. Generic / common component is one or more of components which are
judged to be the most significant factor. This component describes to
which these lexemes belong to so as to differentiate it from other semantic
domains. For instance: the lexemes man, woman, boy and girl have the
common component [HUMAN]
2. Diagnostic component is components that are important and sufficient to
distinguish the sense of one lexeme from the sense of the other lexeme.
This diagnostic component is a core part that dictionary makers
incorporate into their definitions of words. For instance: [ADULT] and
[MALE] are the diagnostic components for man, woman, boy, and girl.
3. Supplementary or incidental component is non-diagnostic component to
identify the sense of the words.
Meanwhile, Jackson in Words and Their Meaning cited that there are
only 2 broad types of component namely common and diagnostic component.
Those serve to identify a semantic domain, and to distinguish lexemes from
each other within semantic domain. They are also shared by all the lexemes in
the domain. Therefore, in this research, the writer is going to discuss only 2
types of components, common and diagnostic component.31
Such a componential analysis can be applied in many areas of the
vocabularies. For example, the distinction between murder and kill can be
stated explicitly and economically, if murder is analyzed as having a meaning
which are components representing intention, causation, and death. Whereas,
31
Howard Jackson, Word and Their Meaning (New York: Longman, 1975) p.89.
30
kill as having the components representing only causation and death. Using
the method of componential analysis, we can then formally define synonymy,
hyponymy, incompatibility etc. On this basis, a set of features follows that
spinster is a hyponym of woman because it contains all the features of woman
as part of its specification, and that spinster is incompatible with bachelor by
virtue of the contrast of sex specification and with wife by virtue of the marital
specification.
Another interpretation of lexical items of semantic components using a
binary feature is conventionally written in capital letters and placed in square
brackets, which is able to take only three values, either it is present [+], or it is
absent [-], or it may be present or absent [+/-] and also could be marked with
[0]. Accordingly spinster might be characterized as having for its meaning
-
[ MALE ] + [ HUMAN ] + [ ADULT ] - [ MARRIED ]
bachelor, an item incompatible with spinster, as having
+ [ MALE ] + [ HUMAN ] + [ ADULT ] - [ MARRIED ]
wife, another incompatible item, as having
-
[ MALE ] + [ HUMAN ] + [ ADULT ] + [ MARRIED ]
31
E. Meaning Relation
Lyon and Geckeler are of the opinion that there is a close relationship
among semantic field, componential analysis, and meaning relation. 32 We
should know that componential analysis is the broadening of semantic field
theory. The subset from all lexemes may create and blend the meaning
relation of one element to the other.
Meaning relation is thus the most significant factor in semantic field
and the componential analysis is a device to identify the meaning relation.
When a word bears various relation of the meaning to one another,
they may be related semantically. Words are connected by virtue of meaning
from subgroups within the lexicon of the language. Words have a multiple
sense, namely the primary and secondary meaning. The meaning relation is
possibly derived by a variety of processes of semantic change. Semantic
relations comprise synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy or incompatible and
meronymy defined by semantic field. Semantic field serves to link certain
words with other words, indicating that the overall lexicon of a language has a
complex internal structure consisting of subgroups sharing significant
properties.
Leech 33 looked upon meaning relation under:
1. Synonym is a relation in which words have same meaning. Hatch and
Brown (1995:19) revealed that synonym refers to the similar entity so that
32
33
John Lyons (1977), op cit. p.45
Geoffrey Leech (1997), op cit. P.99-102.
32
the words might be interchangeable if all features are the same. Then
Akmajian (1988:248) added that "synonym is a relation that structures the
lexicon of a language into sets of words sharing a meaning". For instance:
automobile is synonymous with car
Nevertheless synonyms do not always share their entire feature. It
is called looser synonym when X is synonym for Y but not vise versa. A
typical example is murder is synonym for kill but kill is not a synonym for
murder . 34
2. Antonym is a relation where words have opposite meaning. Akmajian
added that "words can share an aspect of meaning but be 'opposite' in some
other aspect of meaning called antonym".35 Whereas Parera (2004) added
that there are 2 kinds of antonym:
a. Contradiction or true antonym: The opposite meanings of 2 items or
lexemes are absolute. It consists of only 2 terms; the one is the
opposite to the other.
For example: Alive X dead that were visualized by Leech (1978:106)
in diagram below:
‘alive
(+live)
‘dead’
(-live)
34
Evelyn Hatch and Cheryl Brown, Vocabulary, Semantics and language Education.
(London: Cambridge University Press,1995) P.19.
35
Akmajian,.at al. An Introduction to Language and Communication. (London: The MIT
Press,1988) p.249.
33
b. Gradable antonym 'kontrer': the meaning relation of items / words may
consist on a number of dimension at once
For instance: hot and cold share the notion of a temperature dimension.
Here they are defined as follows:
II
cold cool
lukewarm
warm hot
Whereas, Leech proposed incompatible instead of antonym. It is
because antonym contrasts only on a single dimension. In fact, the word
may contrast on a number of dimensions at once. It is supported by
Leech's theory 36 that two componential formulae may be incompatible if
the one has at least one feature contrasting with a feature in the other.
3. Hyponym is a relation which is termed meaning inclusion of one meaning
in another. Cruse reported that "the lexical relation corresponding to the
inclusion of one class in another is hyponym".37 For instance: in the sense
of tulip, orchid and rose are included in flower. These typical terms
mentioned that super ordinates as the upper term and hyponym as the
lower term. Again a diagram will help:
Flower
Tulip
36
37
orchid
rose
Geoffrey Leech, Semantics (New Zealand:Penguin Press Ltd, 1997).P.100.
D. A. Cruse. Lexical Semantics (New York: Blackwell Publishers, 2001) p.88
34
4. Meronymy is a relation which has hierarchical branching concept. Saeed
pointed out meronymy is a concept used to explain a part - whole
relationship between lexical items. To differentiate it from another
hierarchical concept, meronymy can be identified by using "part of
relationship. For instance: B is part of A, and A has B. 38 This concept
might be as follows:
Human
Head
hand
foot chest
F. Semantic Change
Semantic change happens along with the time and the development of
its society. According to Allan euphemism and dysphemism motivate
language change. They do it by promoting new expression or new meanings
for old expression and causing some existing vocabulary to be abounded.39
Fromklin and Rodman stated that "there are three ways in which a lexical
item may change semantically, its meaning may become broader, its meaning
may become narrower, its meaning become shift".40
O'Grady et al stated that the changes involve one of the phenomena:
1. Semantic broadening is the process in which the meaning of a word turns
into more general or more inclusive than the earlier form, such as: the
word aunt used to mean "father's sister" become "father or mother's sister".
38
39
John Saeed, Semantics (London: Blackwell Publishers, 2004) p.70.
Keith Allan, Natural Language Semantics (New York: Blackweel Publishers,2001)
p.164-5.
40
Victoria Fromkin & Robert Rodman, An Introduction to Language, sixth Edition (New
York: Blackwell Publishers,1997). p.26.
35
2. Semantic narrowing is the process in which the meaning of a word turns
into less general or less inclusive than the earlier meaning. Such as: The
term fowl used to mean "any bird" becomes "a domestical bird"
3. Amelioration is the change of meaning in which the new meaning
becomes more positive or favorable, such as: Pretty used to mean "tricky,
sly, cunning" has a better meaning "attractive"
4. Pejorative is the change of meaning in which the new meaning becomes
more negative or unfavorable, such as: Wench means "girl", but it is
regarded worse with meaning " wanton woman, prostitute "
5. Semantic shift is a process in which a word loses some aspect of its former
meaning, taking on a partially new, but related, meaning. Such as:
Immoral used to mean "not customary" becomes "unethical".41
Djajasudarma divides the semantic change into generalization, amelioration,
pejorative, sinestesia, and association.42 The meanings of generalization,
specialization, amelioration, and pejorative in Djajasudarma's theory are
similar to those of O'Grady's theory. Djajasudarma adds two more, i.e.
Sinestesia (the change of meaning because of the exchange of our perception).
And the other one is Association (the change of meaning because of the
similarity of character).
Based on those theories we can conclude that the semantic change can
be classified as follows:
The Semantic Chang
Semantic broadening = Generalization
Semantic narrowing = Specialization
Semantic Shift
Amelioration
Pejorative
Sinestesia
Association
41
William O’Grady, Contemporary Linguistics (London: Longman Person
Education,1996) p.334.
42
T. Fatimah Djajasudarma, Semantik 2: Pemahaman Ilmu Makna (Bandung:PT.
Eresco,1993) P.63.
36
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDING
A. Data Description
In this chapter, the writer analyzes the data collected from movie titled
American Pie 5. The writer chooses this movie 'because they relate to teenager’s
life and sex education which are still regarded taboo. All available data contain
euphemistic terms are then categorized into types of euphemism which classified
into the euphemistic application. After that, the writer goes to the next steps by
analyzing the meaning relation and the semantic change the euphemistic terms
undergo.
Based on the types of euphemism, the writer found out that there are no
euphemistic terms in classification of acronym, synecdoche, indirectness,
mispronunciation, plays on abbreviation, and phonetic alphabet as shown at the
following table:
The Table of the Types of Euphemism That Found in Scripts of American Pie 5
Movie
No
Type Of
Euphemism
1
Metaphor
2
Rhyming slang
3
Remodeling
Eupemistic Term
-
In bed
A tit,tits
Pussy
Touch
Dirty magazine
Hot cartoon
Coming
Puppy
To poop
Heck
Gosh!
Tabo Term
-
Sexual intercourse
Penis
Vagina
Foreplay
Porno magazine
Porno cartoon
Ejaculation
Buttock
To urinate
Hell
God
Source
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
37
4
Circum locution
5
Clippings
6
Abbreviation
7
Acronyms
8
Quasi- omission
9
Full- omission
10 Metonymy
-
- MILF!
-
11 Synechdoche
12
Hyperbole
13 Understatement
-
14 Borrowing
Making out
Feeling me up
Turning it on
Bra
Jeeze
Jeez
-
The idea of ..of ..
I's gonna
Not tonight
I'm just not
ready
Bottom
Ladies room
Sleep with you
Have fun
Making fun
Lord
Honey
Baby
Dear
Doll
Sweety
Pal
Love
Pal
Mr ...
Ms ...
Sir
Dad
Buddy
Grandma
Equipment
I'm not good
I'm not quite
sure
She's not exactly
genius
I doesn't get any
easier.
Vagina
-
-
Flirtation
Flirtation
Stimulating
Brassiere
God
God
Mom I'd Like to
Fuck!
Having sex
Having sex
To have sex
intercourse
To have sex
Arse
Toilet
Have sex with
Have sex
Have sex
Jesus
Address form
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
-
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
-
Penis
I'm stupid
AP 5
I'm surely confuse AP 5
She is idiot
AP 5
I find it difficult AP 5
- Cunt
AP 5
38
15 Abstraction
-
16 Indirectness
To do it
It
It
These things
Be with
-
-
To have sex
Have sex
Penis
Underwear
Have sex
-
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
AP 5
-
17 Mispronunciation
18 Play
onabbreviation
-
-
-
19 Phonetic
alphabets
-
-
-
B. Data Analysis
1. Metaphor
Data example: (1)
(a) Tracy: Slow starter, then turns out to be a genius in bed. (p. 60)
That utterance is taken from American pie 5 movie. It is uttered by Tracy.
She is Erick's girl friend in the movie. Tracy says so after making love with
Erick. Yet, this expression only crosses her mind. She does not express it to
Erick.
The word 'bed' is categorized as euphemism since it is a figurative word
that means to 'sexual intercourse'. 'Sexual intercourse' is vulgar to say. It refers
to sex activity between couple. The uses of euphemisms are in order to avoid
hurting somebody's feeling, losing somebody's face, blurring and upgrading
the dispreferred words.
Many people conceal the word 'sexual intercoure' in consideration that it
is taboo as the part of bodily function. It is because:
a) Sexual intercourse is the act of union of the man's and woman's sex organ
when they make love.
39
b) It involves sensitive organs of human being connecting to their sensitive
feeling.
c) Many couples supposed that sexual intercourse is private matters so that it
should be for the record of only both parties.
One way to blur 'sexual intercourse' is by concealing it with the
euphemistic term. Here, 'bed' is euphemism for 'sexual intercourse'. It is a kind
of euphemistic metaphor. It is because metaphor is a figure of speech in which
an expression literally denoting one thing, event, or attributive is quoted to an
expression for another dissimilar things or event to imply sameness between
them. The lexical meaning of 'bed' is sort of furniture whose main function is
to sleep. Meanwhile, the literal meaning goes to sexual activity conducted by
lovers to express their feeling. It involves male and female genitals and
happens in bed. Hence, ‘bed’ might be the figurative form for sexual
intercourse.
To support that the utterance : slow starter, then turns out to be genius in
bed includes euphemism, the writer unpack the term 'bed' as follow:
Bed: [PHYSICAL] [IN ROOM] [HUMANITY] [THING] [FURNITURE
USED TO SLEEP] [FURNITRE USED TO HAVE SEX]
Here, the word 'bed' has no sensitive feature. the components of 'bed' will be
different, if 'bed' is replaced with the intended term.
(b) Tracy: Slow starter, Ihen turns out to be genius in sexual intercourse.
Sentence (b) is acceptable, but the sentence does not include euphemism
anymore. It is because the meaning of the utterance is not hidden. We can
40
catch the reference directly. In addition, 'sexual intercourse' has semantic
components like:
Sexual intercourse: [PHYSICAL] [IN ROOM] [HUMANITY] [ACTIVITY]
[MAKE LOVE]
For further information, the writer will identify the meaning relation by
using the semantic components of both words:
Bed
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
Physical
In Room
Humanity
Thing
Activity
Furniture used to sleep
Furniture used to have sex
Make love
Sexual intercourse
+
+
+
+
_
+
In consideration of above semantic component, the writer finds out some
components in common such as [PHYSICAL] [HUMANITY] [ROOM].
These similar components surely let them replace each other especially in the
sentence :slow starter then turns out to be genius in bed.
The proofs also occur in the Semantic component. The word 'bed' that is
regarded nicer has no sensitive feature, while the word 'sexual intercourse'
comprises one sensitive feature that is [MAKE LOVE]. Hence, people tend to
say 'bed' rather than 'sexual intercourse' in order not to mention a vulgar one
and to lose somebody's face as well.
Then, the writer goes to analyze the Meaning relation of both words 'bed'
and ’sexual intercourse’. The writer suppose that these words apply hyponym
41
relation. It is a kind of meaning inclusion. The word 'bed' and 'sexual
intercourse' are included in meaning of physical, humanity, and room in which
they share with it the semantic component [PHYSICAL] [HUMANITY] [IN
ROOM]. 'Bed' is physical object located in room or bed room. It has
[HUMANITY] feature because 'bed' is specifically used by people not others.
Hence, [HUMANITY] includes the character of 'bed'. Whereas, 'sexual
intercourse' is physical activity taking place in room or private place. The
feature [HUMANITY] belongs to 'sexual intercourse' because all human
beings have sex. Yet they share no component [FURNITURE USED TO
HAVE SEX] [FURNITURE USED TO SLEEP] [HAVE SEX]. The feature of
'bed' refers to object used to activities like sleeping and having sex. while, the
features of 'sexual intercourse' refers to physical activity. So, the meanings of
'sexual intercourse' are included in the meaning of ’bed’. ’Sexual
intercourse’is then hyponym of ’bed’ that may describe as follow:
Bed
Sleep
Sexual intercourse
The word 'bed' as euphemism used to mean home furniture on which to
take asleep. It is normally inside bedroom furnished with all accessories like
bed sheets, pillow, bolster and so forth. While, in sentence slow starter, then
turns out to be genius in bed, 'bed' refers to sexual activity committied by
couple. As private activity, most people do it in private room like bedroom.
The word 'bed' here undergoes Semantic narrowing in which the new meaning
gets narrower and less general than the earlier one. The proof is shown in the
42
number of semantic component of both words. If 'bed' has 6 [+] features,
while 'sexual intercourse' has 5 [+] features.
Secondly, 'bed’ applies Semantic change in pejorative process in which
the new meaning is regarded worse than the previous one. Based on the above
explanation, the previous meaning has neutral feature like [FURNITURE
USED TO SLEEP] and [FURNITURE USED TO HAVE SEX], yet the new
meaning has sensitive feature like [HAVE SEX]. So, the new meaning 'bed' is
regarded less favorable by referring to the sex area.
2. Rhyming Slang
Data example: (2)
(a) Lola: ... like shaft! I could just ride the puppy! ( p. 11)
This utterance is said by Lola. Lola is a doorwoman at Night club . It happens in the night when Erick is going to go
to the bar, Erick and Lola meet at the door. She then opens the door and offers him a drink. Lola is so impressed on
Erick. He is handsome guy and a widower as well. But she only says her idea about Erick on her thought .
In that sentence, 'puppy' is a euphemism for 'the buttocks' or 'ass'. 'The
buttocks' should be replaced because it is profane. It relates to body part that is
vulgar to utter. It is vulgar for some following reasons:
a) The buttock locates on the lower trunk
b) It contains orifices and passages that expel excrement from the body such
as defecate and the like
c) It is also used to have sex, especially anal sex.
’The buttock' is taboo in the area of body part. Many people get disgusted
to mention it in the daily conversation. In this case, Puppy counteracts
'buttock'. 'Puppy' sounds more polite, pleasant, and tactful by obscuring the
43
real intention referring to somebody else's private part. The hearer then just
catches the nice sense of the word.
The use of 'puppy' as a euphemism for buttock get through Rhyming slang
process. We know that 'puppy' is a young dog. People take care and love the
puppy as best they could. Meanwhile, ‘buttock’ is back part of our body on which
people sit, put in an injection, process excrement or even have copulation. Many
people prefer to take care of another body part rather than take care of the buttock,
while it has significant of excretion process.
To prove that sentence ... like shaft! I could just ride the puppy! is a
euphemism expression by the existence of the word 'puppy'. It is shown from
the components of 'puppy'
Puppy: [CONCRETE] [ANIMAL] [ANIMATE] [HAS BODY]
Here, 'puppy' has no sensitive feature, its refer to animal that shall move, eat,
and so on. If the writer replaces the word 'puppy' in sentence (a) with the
intended reference, the sentence will be:
(b) Lola: ... like shaft! I couldjllst ride the buttock
sentence (b) is acceptable, but it does not include euphemism. It is because the
meaning is shown clearly. Besides, 'buttock' consists of components like:
Buttock: [CONCRETE] [ANIMATE] [BODY PART] [GENITALS]
To get the Meaning relation of the words, the components will be
identified as follow:
Puppy
+
+
+
+
Concrete
Animate
Animal
Has body
Buttock
+
+
-
44
-
Body part
Genitals
+
+
Based on the semantic component, the word ’puppy’ and ’buttock’ share
several components such as [CONCRETE] [ANIMATE]. ’Puppy’ has those
components referring to animal that shall move, eat, do copulation to
reproduce, and so on. The identical fatures let ’puppy’ substitute for ’buttock’.
They are concrete or real. The [ANIMATE] feature of ’puppy’ refers to
something in connection to human creator as the characteritic of animal.
While, the {ANIMATE] feature of ’buttock’ goes to body part of creature.
These similar components induce 'puppy' replace and refine ’buttock’ as well.
The word ’puppy’ is regarded more polite because it is used to refer to a
young dog, while ’buttock’is a body part specifically, genitals.
Next the writer is going to analyze the meaning relation between ’puppy’
and ’buttock’. They have meronymy relation in which it is a relation used to
describe part - whole relation. The meaning of ’buttock’ like [BODY PART]
and [GENITALS] are part of the meaning of ’puppy’. Thus, the ’buttock’ is a
part of ’puppy’. To avoid confusion with hyponym relation, the writer then
identifies this relation by using the frame X as a part of Y and Y has X. This
term is shown in the relation between 'puppy' and 'buttock' in which 'buttock is
a part of ’puppy’ and ’puppy’ has ’buttock’ like below:
Puppy
Head
body
buttock
leg
45
The word ’puppy’ undergoes pejorative in which the new meaning is regarded
more negative than the previous one. The word ’puppy’ is only used to mean a
young dog. It is a kind of pet loved so much by the owner. It is because
’puppy’ is a funny and loyal animal. Meanwhile, 'buttock' is back part of
human being referring to genitals having function to copulate and excrete as
well. In this sentence, the new meaning ’puppy’ is buttock as back part and
genitals of human. It is then clear that the new meaning 'puppy' gets worse
than earlier one.
3. Remodeling
Data example:( 3)
(a) Girl: oh gosh, I forgot - you uh, you look okay ... I mean you can't even
tell. (p.68).
This utterance is taken from American Pie movie 5. It is uttered by girl whose name is not mentioned in this movie.
The conversation involves three people namely: girl, Finch and Stifler. That girl holds out for Finch when she refuses
Stifler’s offer to go out with him. Being refused, Stifler gets mad and express his anger in the word “shitbreak?!!“
then the girl responds his anger like the above utterance.
The euphemistic term mentioned above is the word ‘gosh’. ‘Gosh’ is a
euphemism for ‘God’. God becomes taboo since it relates to metaphysical
subject or object so that it evokes not to mention the names of God explicitly.
‘God’ is categorized as high taboo in consideration of:
a) God is the creator over this world
b) God is the only one worshiped by all human being around the world
c) God is the most powerful ruler
The other reason of applying this euphemism is to counteract
blasphemous and profanity. People get so fearful that they replace the names
46
of God in euphemistic terms. They are afraid of the terrible wrath when they
say the names of God in oath.
Hence, the word ‘gosh’ stands for ‘God’ that has been avoided in
euphemistic expletive. ‘Gosh’ is a euphemism in addressing and naming of
God. In typical case, the word ‘gosh’ turns into euphemism gained through
remodeling. It is a kind of euphemism ending up substitution in which either
the onset or rhyme of the unpleasant expression is suitable for that of a
semantically unrelated word. Thus, the lexical meaning of ‘gosh’ is an
expression of surprise, shock and anger in the form of expletive or
exclamation. Meanwhile, ‘God’ is the creator or ruler of the universe
worshipped as having power so that it becomes a nightmare to say the names
of God in oath.
Supporting the above idea, the writer would like to break down the word
‘gosh’ in oh gosh, I forgot - you uh, you look okay ... I mean you can’t even
tell ... into smaller features:
Gosh: [EXCLAMATION] [SURPRISE] [SHOCK]
Those features show that ‘gosh’ has netral and common feature, it is thus
regarded euphemism. The writer then replace 'gosh' with the hidden meaning
to get any difference:
(b) Girl: oh God, I forgot - you uh, you look okay ... I mean you can't even tell
... Sentence (b) is acceptable, but it does not include euphemism, it is because
the word ‘God’comprises components like:
God: [SOUL] [CREATOR] [POWERFUL] [RULER] [WORSHIPPED]
47
This expression together with the components refers God to the only creator
over the universe.
Based on those components, the writer then describes the Meaning
relation between 'gosh and 'God' by comparing the semantic component.
Gosh
+
+
+
-
Exclamation
Surprise
Shock
Soul
Creator
Powerful
Ruler
Being worshipped
God
+
+
+
+
+
From the above component, the writer tinds out that ‘gosh’ and ‘God’
share no semantic components. Those opposite components do not let ‘gosh’ and
’God’ have a meaning relation. Here, ‘gosh’ only refers to an exclamation of
irritation without specific meaning. Meanwhile, ‘God’ is the powerful creator over
the world that is worshipped by all human creators. ‘Gosh’ can stand for 'God'
because it sounds almost similar to the dispreferred word. It is motivated by
euphemistic remodeling the word ‘gosh’ applies. This type puts the euphemistic
terms matched either the onset or rhyme of impropriety one, no matter
semantically related or unrelated the words are. The writer can summarize that
there is no meaning relation of both words.
The new meaning ‘gosh’ applies semantic broadening in which the new
meaning becomes more general than the earlier one. From the semantic
component, ‘gosh’ is a kind of exclamation which expresses surprise and
48
shock as well. It has 3 [+] features falling under [EXCLAMATION]
[SURPRISE] [ANGER]. Meanwhile, ‘God’ has 5 [+] features comprising
[CREATOR] [RULER] [POWERFUL] [SOUL] [BEING WORSHIPPED].
The meaning of ‘gosh’ turns into broader because the previous meaning has
no exact meaning but the new meaning refers to the creator over the world. In
consideration of all the power, He is the ruler worshipped by all human
creatures.
4. Circumlocution
Data example: ( 4)
(a) Ryan: I haven’t had this much fun making out since ...(p.14)
The sentence is uttered by Ryan. The conversation takes place between Ryan
and his colleague, Darcy. One night, Darcy called him up and they planed a
date in a club. After sharing their personal live, they get closed, begin kissing
and so on. Therefore, Ryan says so to Darcy.
The euphemism for that context is the word ‘making out’. This word
doesn’t refer to the activity of completing a list, managing to see a thing, or
understanding what is being said. Its different from all above references, the
word ‘making out’ is a roundabout way to mention ‘flirtation’. ‘Flirtation’ is
absolutely taboo because of the reasons as follow:
a) Flirtation is sexual activity evoking somebody to have great pleasure.
b) Flirtation is an act to show affection in getting amusement
c) Flirtation comprises hugging, kissing, necking and petting.
49
d) Flirtation stimulates partner’s genitals
According to those reasons, people avoid saying ‘flirtation’ explicitly.
They then conceal the truth in consideration of guarding against unpleasant
term in public, keeping the sex partner’s sensibility, preventing people or
involved partner from losing face.
‘Making out’ is a kind of sexual euphemism since it deals with all about
sex. The euphemistic term obscures the real intention so that it is surely more
polite and pleasant to mention.
The word ‘making out’ also gets through euphemistic Circumlocution. It
is an indirect way of talking used commonly in the form of compound or
idiom. Thus, the term ‘making out’ is an idiom for ‘flirtation’.
Supporting the above explanation, the writer shall show the semantic
components of ‘making out’ like below: Making out: [PHYSICAL]
[ACTIVITY] [DONE BY PEOPLE] [COMMON] This term has no sensitive
feature. It is therefore regarded as euphemism in which the lexical meaning is
dropped. To make clear, the writer will replace ‘making out’ with the intended
meaning:
(b) Ryan: I haven’t had this much fun flirtation since ...
The sentence (b) is acceptable, yet it is not euphemism expression. It is
because ‘flirtation’ is vulgar to say and comprise the components like:
Flirtation: [PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [DONE BY PEOLPLE] [SEX] The
feature [SEX] Jets ‘making out’ differentiate from ‘flirtation’. The feature also
motivate ’fl irtation’ to be taboo term.
50
To get more information about the meaning relation and semantic change, the
writer then identifies the component of these words:
Making out
+
+
+
+
-
Physical
Activity
Done by people
Common
Sex
Flirtation
+
+
+
+
From those semantic components, ‘making out’ and ‘flirtation’ share
several components. These are [PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [DONE BY
PEOPLE].
Therefore, they may make up for each other especially in sentence: I
haven’t had this much fun making out since .... ‘Making out’ not only replaces
but also refines the taboo term ‘flirtation’. The euphemistic term does so to
obscure the dispreferred term. It is even supported by the component itself. As
mentioned above, ‘making out’ has general and neutral feature, while
'flirtation' comprises one sensitive feature such as [SEX].
In the area of meaning relation, the word ‘making out’ are incompatible
because they share semantic components but has one feature contrasting with
a feature in the other. Based on semantic components, ‘making out’ and
‘flirtation’ have similar features like [PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [DONE BY
PEOPLE]. Yet, they also clash in the feature [± SEX]. ‘Making out’ refers to
physical activity done by people in general area and ‘flirtation’ means
physical activity done by people in sex area.
51
‘Making out’ involves many people and contains general issues. It is
evoked by the existence of [PEOPLE] and [COMMON] features. Meanwhile,
‘flirtation’ with [SEX] feature usually involves only 2 people usually a couple
and lover. They surely do something specifically in sex area. These words
therefore have Semantic change in Semantic narrowing process in which the
new meaning is considered less general than the earlier one.
5. Clippings
Data Example: ( 5)
(a) Jessica: all right, where's my wonder bra? (p.21)
The utterance is stated by Jessica. The situation is he has to toss his idea about women's products.
The implication of euphemism in this sentence occurs in the word ‘bra’.
‘Bra’ is able to counteract ‘brassiere’. ‘Brassiere’ is considered as a distasteful
word for below reasons:
a) Brassiere is a kind of women’s underwear.
b) Brassiere connects directly to female sex organ, breast
c) The shape of brassiere consist of two concavities that looks like breasts it
self.
d) We feel disgusted with stranger's underwear.
Therefore, brassiere is taboo in the connection to bodily effluvia. The
brassiere connects directly to the sex organ breasts, as the private parts. It
surely motivates embarrassment to the owner of the underwear. Talking about
someone’s underwear is similar to attract the private area. Let alone the
52
conversation is in the opposite sex gender. Man and woman are different so
they will consider brassier in the different way.
‘Bra’ is a modifying fonn of ‘brassiere’. It could be said that 'bra' is the
abbreviation of ‘brassiere’ that end - clipped. Both of them refer to female's
cloth supporting and covering for the breasts. It usually starts using by girl in
the age around teens in which their sex organ especially breasts are getting
grown. To avoid hurting girl's sensibilities, the word ‘brassiere’ should be
euphemized with the implicit one, which is ‘bra’.
To support that explanation, the writer then unpacks the word ‘bra’ in
sentence all right, where’s my wonder bra? as follow: Bra: [BREAST]
[FEMALE] [CLOTH] [OBJECT] [PHYSICAL]
In sentence (a), ‘bra’ is categorized as euphemism. The writer replaces the
word ‘bra’ with the real meaning to differentiate the euphemism and taboo
term.
(b) Tracy: all right, where's my wonder brassiere?
Sentence (b) is acceptable, yet it is not a kind of euphemism. The word
‘brassiere’ is vulgar that falls under components like: Brassier: [BREAST]
[FEMALE] [CLOTH] [OBJECT] [PHYSICAL] From that features, the writer
finds out that ‘bra’ and ‘brassier’ have similar components, but ‘bra’ has more
implicit sense than ‘brassiere’.
To get the meaning relation between bra and brassiere, the writer will
identify semantic components as follow:
Bra
Brassiere
53
+
+
+
+
+
+
Breast
Female
Cloth
Object
Physical
Private
+
+
+
+
+
+
These words are able to replace each other even though having different
sense. ‘Bra’ may stand for 'brassiere' and vice versa. It is because they have
identical components such as [BREAST] [FEMALE] [CLOTH] [PHYSICAL]
[OBJECT] [PRIVATE]. ‘Bra'’ and ‘brassiere’ share the similar entities so that
‘bra’ is synonymous for ’brassiere’ and ‘brassiere’ is synonymous for ‘bra’.
Nevertheless 'bra' is categorized as a euphemism with the consideration that it
is more pleasant, implicit and tactful than ‘brassiere’.
For the semantic change, the word ‘bra’ undergoes no semantic change.
It is that there is no change in meaning occurring to these words. It is because
‘bra’ is the short form of ‘brassiere’ and still refers to the female cloth whose
function is to cover the female breasts. The other proof is ‘bra’ or ‘brassiere’
share semantic components that are similar in number and lexeme. Those 6
components
comprise
[CLOTH]
[PHYICAL]
[BREAST]
[OBJECT]
[FEMALE] [PRIVATE]. The proof is clearly shown by the componential
analysis in which ‘bra’ and ‘brassiere’ fall under the all components in
common. In this typical case, to get the better, polite, pleasant term, and blur
the true meaning, the word 'brassiere' is being short.
6. Abbreviation
Data example: ( 6)
54
(a) Guest: Dude! That chick ... is a MILF! ( p.22)
The utterance derives from American Pie movie. It happens at
Stifler’s home. There is a picture of Stifler’s mom on the wall. She is late
30’s but she is still so attractive and beautiful. The guests like Jim and
other guys just feel so impressed on her and naughtily give an opinion like
that.
'MILF' is a euphemism term in above utterance. 'MILF' is an
abbreviation for 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck'. 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck' turns into
taboo because the existence of the vulgar term 'fuck'. 'Fuck' is forbidden to
say because of these below reasons:
a.
Fuck may refer to have sexual intercourse in which it is completely
taboo in connection to sex organ of human being
b.
Fuck is also an expression of anger and swearing
c.
Fuck associates with the way of treating somebody else unfairly.
The function of using the euphemism word replacing 'Mom I'd
Like to Fuck' are that to avoid mentioning vulgar and profane expression, to
prevent the listener or the interlocutor from getting hurt, to keep away from
attracting other people self-esteem and also to keep the word 'fuck' vague.
The word 'MILF' is a euphemism getting through Abbreviation
process. It is a way created from the initial letter of the words in phrase, and
it will be pronounced as strings of letters. Thus 'MILF' becomes euphemism
by taking the initial letter of phrase 'Mom I'd like to Fuck'.
55
To back up the above description, the writer will break down the
word 'MILF' in utterance (a) as follow:
Guest: Dude! That chick ... is a MILF!
MILF: [EXCLAMATION]
In utterance (a), the abbreviation 'MILF' is only an exclamation. It is like
the way to express something with no specific meaning. Thus, if the term
'MILF' in sentence (a) is replaced with the intended reference, it will be:
(b) Guest: Dude! That chick ... is a Mom I'd Like to Fuck!
Sentence ( b) is acceptable, yet it is not euphemism expression because the
meaning is shown clearly. In addition, 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck' falls under
components like:
Mom I'd Like to Fuck: [EXCLAMATION] [SEX] [FUN] [FEMALE]
[WONDER]
Having those features, 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck' is regarded taboo and vulgar.
The writer then identi fies the semantic component of these words in the
hope to get further information.
MILF
+
-
Exclamation
Sex
Fun
Female
wonder
Mom I'd Like to Fuck
+
+
+
+
+
According to above semantic components, the term 'MILF' can be replaced
by 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck'. It is evoked by a similar component such as
[EXCLAMATION]. Exclamation is the way of expression dealing with
56
interjection. In spite of that, the abbreviation 'MILF' is regarded a euphemism
due to the success of concealing the truth. It is also shown by the feature
'MILF' has. There is no bad and sensitive component like [SEX] [WONDER]
[FUN] [FEELING] [WOMAN]. Meanwhile, 'Mom I'd Like to Fuck' seems
taboo because of the existence of the word 'fuck'. Having above description,
'fuck' goes to sexual activity, copulation or the expression of irritation. In
consideration of that, the word 'fuck' is restricted to mention.
For those Meaning relation, these two words actually has no exact
meaning relation. It is supported by the reference of the semantic component.
The abbreviation 'MILF' is a kind of exclamation referring to no real meaning
but the expression of anger or surprise like uuuuhhh!!, wow! and so forth.
In sentence 'Dude! That chick ... is MILF!', 'MILF' undergoes Semantic
broadening. It is because the new meaning of 'MILF' refers to broader field
than the previous one. The proof is the semantic components of both terms.
'MILF' consists of only one feature [EXCLAMATION], while 'MILF' occurs
in above utterance referring to women that like having sex. It is supported by
the existence of the features like [FUN] [SEX] [FEELING] [WOMEN] and by
the increasing number of the components of 'MILF' by 5 [+] features. Hence,
in this typical case, the new meaning has semantic broadening process.
7. Quasi- omission
Data example: (7)
57
(a) Jim’s Dad: You're a young man now and you may be flirting with the idea of
.. of .. (p.35)
It is said by Jim’s dad. As a father he knows that his son has girlfriend. He is
just so worried about a thing. He intends to give any suggestion but afraid of
hurting his son's feeling.
The euphemism of the above utterance does not occur in word but in the form
of silence. The proof is seen in the dashes at the end of the utterance. The word
'of.. .of...' is the euphemism for the omitting word, 'having sex'. The speaker
would like to hide the truth because 'having sex' is still categorized as taboo for
next reasons:
a) Having sex deals with sex organ
b) Having sex refers to sexual activity in which male genital will enter female
genital
c) Having sex is such private activity influenced by sex desire of human
d) Having sex is sacred and it is not for public consumption
e) Having sex actually is done by couple in wedlock.
According to the norm, it is forbidden to say people's privacy so as to
prevent them from getting embarrassed, and uncomforted. These terms include
quasi-omission because the speaker hides and stops the intended words by
omitting the offence. The speaker is worried and afraid of saying it explicitly. It
could touch the hearer's sensibilities. Hence, the speaker tries to conceal the
truth. It is because the missing words supposed too taboo, it is 'having sex'. The
58
uses of euphemistic omission of 'having sex' are to guard against other's
privacy, not to mention of unlucky or sensitive matters.
Supporting these ideas, the writer would like to unpack the semantic
components of the term 'of.. .of...', yet the writer finds out nothing since the
speaker just says nothing. If the writer replaces 'of ... of .. .' with the hidden
meaning, it will be:
(b) Jim’s dad: You're a young man now and you maybe flirting with idea of
having sex.
This sentence is acceptable, yet it is not euphemism expression anymore.
By mentioning 'having sex', we can catch the meaning directly. Let alone
'having sex' comprises components like:
Having sex: [PHYSIAL] [ACTIVITY] [GENITALS] [COITUS] [DONE
BY PEOPLE] [LOVE]
To get more information, the writer is going to identify the semantic
components of both words as follow:
Of...of ...
-
having sex
Physical
+
Activity
+
Genitals
+
Coitus
+
Done by people
+
Love
+
Based on the above explanation, the writer find out that 'of ... of. .. 'and
'having sex' share no semantic component at all. If the euphemism 'of...of ... '
has no feature, yet the word 'having sex' falls under [GENITALS] [DONE BY
59
PEOPLE] [LOVE] [PHYICAL] [ACTIVITY] [COITUS]. Those lexemes are
regarded so sensitive that the word 'having sex' turns into taboo.
The writer then sums up that 'of ... of ... ' and 'having sex' have no meaning
relation in replacing each other. The acceptable reason of the utterance 'of. .. of
... ' standing for 'having sex' is that a euphemistic quasi-omission used to
counteract the taboo one. The speaker will hide and stop uttering the intended
words. It is a roundabout way of talking by omitting the unlucky or sensitive
matter. Even though, the utterance 'of ... of ... ' has no clear meaning, it is surely
acceptable to refine the word 'having sex'.
The euphemism 'of ... of ... ' can be regarded as spoken counterpart like
silence. It is so because the speaker has no alternative idea to neutralize the
distasteful term. Nevertheless, the new meaning 'of.. .of...' applies Semantic
broadening. The proof is the semantic component of the words. The earlier
meaning 'of ... of ... ' falls under no feature, while, the new meaning refers to
sexual matter that comprises 6 [+] features. They are [LOVE] [MATE]
[PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [GENITALS] and [COITUS]. Therefore, it is
regarded broader in meaning since the previous meaning is more general than
the earlier one.
8. Full omission
Data example: (8)
(a) Nadia: " ... oh, not tonight, dear" (p.59)
60
The data derives from American pie 5 movie. It happens when Nadia is in
Jim’s bedroom, then Jim comes and rubs her back. Nadia turns to him and
rejects her boyfriend offer by saying above utterance.
In that utterance, euphemism is in the words 'not tonight'. But it does not
refer to the condition of the night of today. 'Tonight' refines the taboo words
'have sexual intercourse'. It is strongly taboo to mention. The speaker
euphemized 'have sexual intercourse' in order to obscure the real meaning.
Some reasons letting 'have sexual intercourse' be high taboo are as follows:
a) It is sexual activity involving both female and male genitals
b) Having sex is induced by hormonal changes associated with sexual desire
c) Having sex is an activity centering and leading coitus
Thus 'having sex' is counteracted with the only words 'tonight' in this
sentence. The speaker said so in the hope to avoid losing someone's face,
attracting someone's sensibility and blurring the taboo words.
The word 'tonight' even gets through euphemistic omission in which the
speaker does not mention the complete sentence. They omit the dispreferred
term. To differentiate full- omission from quasi-omission, the first term is not
shown any kind of spoken counterparts to dashes or things like mhm, or eeeerrr
To back up the above explanation, the writer then breaks down the word
'tonight' into smaller features like:
Tonight: [PHYSICAL] [TIME]
From these components, 'tonight' refers to physical time. The components will
be different, if the word 'tonight' is added with the omitting utterance.
61
(b) Nadia: ... oh, not tonight to have sex, dear.
Sentence (b) is acceptable. 'Having sex' is what is being hidden since it is taboo.
Therefore, sentence (b) is not a euphemism expression anymore in which the
real meaning is shown explicitly. Besides, it has below components:
Having sex: [PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [COITUS] [PEOPLE]
To get meaning relation between 'not tonight' and 'having sex', the writer will
identify the semantic component as follow:
Tonight
+
+
-
Physical
Activity
Time
Coitus
People
Having sex
+
+
+
+
+
From above description, the writer finds out that 'tonight' and 'have sex'
only has a component in common, it is [PHYSICAL]. If 'tonight' refers to
physical time, 'have sex' will refer to 'physical activity'. In sentence oh, not
tonight, dear, 'tonight' neutralize the taboo terms by omitting having sex'.
'Tonight' may replace 'having sex' because it is a conversation between couple
in bed room at night. Thus, the experience let people refer 'tonight' to 'have sex'.
Based on the opposite feature and above explanation, the writer concludes
that there is no exact meaning relation between 'tonight' and 'having sex'. They
have only one identical feature and contrast in [ACTIVITY] [TIME] [COITUS]
[PEOPLE] features
The word 'tonight' replaces 'having sex'. It undergoes Semantic broadening
in which the meaning change is regarded broader than the previous one.
'Tonight' describes the physical time especially night of today that is dark,
62
calm, and silent. The peaceful atmosphere let us do relax activity. While,
'having sex' is physical activity done by people who are in love. Thus the
references of 'tonight' changes and gets broader as well. The other proof is the
number of semantic components, the word 'tonight' has 2 [+] features and
'having sex' has 4 [+] features.
9. Metonym
Data example: (9)
(a) Oz: Yeah, I saw in the ladies room, she's been there for like an hours.
(p.30).
The word 'ladies room' is a euphemism for 'toilet' or 'latrine'. Toilet or
latrine is considered as taboo in the connection of bodily effluvia. It is so for the
following reasons:
a)
People do dressing, cleaning and arranging their whole body in toilet
b)
People expel the waste product of the body in toilet
c)
People are used to get naked inside the toilet
d)
There is a belief that toilet is a place full of devil or magic.
Hence, toilet is a kind of taboo of propriety. The preferred, polite, and
tasteful word counteracts the dispreferred and distasteful word in order not to
freely mention the sensitive word and lose someone's face as well.
'Ladies room' is a mild alternative to the dispreferred term, toilet. 'Ladies
room' is also a kind of sexual euphemism. In the previous sentences, 'ladies
room' leaves its lexical meaning behind and it refers to toilet in which room for
63
having bath, urinating and defecating. 'Ladies room' becomes euphemism
because it has positive meaning sense and sounds sweet, nice and far from the
sense of offence. Then, 'ladies room' is also a euphemistic metonymy. It is an
associated concept making up for the one being referred to. It puts the words
from general area to specific area within it.
Backing up the description, the writer then unpacks the term 'ladies room'
into semantic features:
Ladies room: [PHYSICAL] [ROOM] [HUMANITY] [FOR FEMALE]
The term 'ladies room' comprises no sensitive feature that refers to room for
ladies. The word 'ladies room' is regarded as euphemism expression. If 'ladies
room' is replaced by the intended reference, it will be:
(b) Girl: Yeah, I saw in the toilet, she's been there for like an hour.
Sentence (b) is acceptable, but it is not euphemism expression because we may
refer toilet to place for doing activity like bathing and the like. It is also used by
male and female that is explained below components:
Toilet: [PHYSICAL] [HUMANITY] [ROOM] [FOR FEMALE] [FOR MALE]
To get the relation between 'ladies room' and 'toilet', the writer then
identifies the semantic components of the words as follow:
Ladies room
+
+
+
+
-
Physical
Room
Humanity
For female
For male
Toilet
+
+
+
+
+
64
'Ladies room' and 'toilet' is a pair of word in which 'ladies room' may stand
for 'toilet'. 'Ladies room' may do so in connection to the similar components to
those of toilet, such as [PHYSICAL] [ROOM] [HUMANITY] [FOR
FEMALE]. Four semantic components in common let 'ladies room' replace
'toilet'. 'Ladies room' also can be the euphemism since it falls under a several
components like [FOR FEMALE] as if this is a special room for ladies that is
regarded pleasant and tasteful terms. Conversely, 'toilet' comprises [FOR
FEMALE] and [FOR MALE] that means it is a room for both female and male.
Based on above semantic components, the writer can conclude that they
have incompatibility relation. It is because 'ladies room' and 'toilet' have four
similar components and clash for [FOR FEMALE] [FOR MALE] features. This
relationship is also supported by Cruse's theory. He cited that two words are
incompatible if the one has at least one feature contrasting with a feature in the
other.
The new meaning 'ladies room' becomes broader than the previous one. It
means that the new meaning is regarded more general than the earlier one.
According to the above semantic components, 'ladies room' and 'toilet' has
identical components, except [FOR MALE]. While, the new meaning 'ladies
room' is toilet that may be used for female and male. From the reference and the
number of component, it is clearly shown that the meaning gets broader than
the earlier one.
65
10. Hyperbole.
Data example: (10)
(a) Erick's dad: Honey, why don't you let me handle this one. (p.3)
It is uttered by Erick's dad. He acts as father of Erick. He delivers his
message to his wife. But in this conversation, the writer can not find the name
of both parties. Therefore the writer addresses Erick's mom by name Anna to
ease the writer gives an explanation.
In above sentence, the euphemism goes to the word 'honey', this is a kind
of euphemistic hyperbole . The word 'honey' is a euphemism for 'Erick's mom'
which is called 'Anna' in this study. Her name is counteracted by the
euphemistic term for some reasons:
a)
There is a social taboo and fear to name the older kin by their given name.
b)
It could be taboo to address someone's name in maintaining social
harmony.
In typical sentence, it is taboo for the speaker to address her wife by name
since personal names are not used among spouses. Therefore, the speaker
euphemized it by addressing 'honey'.
'Honey' is a kind of address form marked by exaggerating the social
distance between them. They do so because of the little social distance. Hence,
they may use the casual and intimate style or add the given name or nickname
in that situation.
66
To address someone with intimate style is in order to get more polite and
more familiar address form. In the case, it happens to couple, close friends,
relatives. To address wife by using 'honey' sounds more romantic, nicer than
those of given name that is a little bit rude.
'Honey' is a euphemism in addressing or naming getting through
euphemistic exaggeration or hyperbole. It is in order to emphasize and cause
dramatic effect and not to be understood literally.
Supporting above description, the writer shall break down the term
'honey' into smaller components:
Honey:
[OBJECT]
[COMMON]
[NON-LIVING]
[HUMANITY]
[SWEET]
In this case, 'honey' is something with sweet taste. Therefore, it is used as
euphemism for the taboo term. If the term 'honey' is replaced by the intended
meaning, the sentence will be changed like below:
(b) Erick's dad: Anna, why don't you let me handle this one.
This sentence is acceptable, yet it is not a euphemism expression like sentence
(a) We can catch what is being said directly, moreover 'Anna' falls under below
components:
Anna: [OBJECT] [COMMON] [NON-LIVING] [HUMANITY] [GIVEN
NAME]
These features let 'Anna' be name of somebody which is taboo for some reasons
that have been mentioned
The writer then would like to identify the semantic component of both
67
words to get more explanation:
Honey
+
+
+
+
+
Object
Common
Non-living
Humanity
Given name
Sweet
Anna
+
+
+
+
+
-
Those words share similar components [OBJECT] [COMMON] [NONLIVING] [HUMANITY]. 'Honey' and 'Anna' are common object but they have
[HUMANITY] feature that let them deal with human. 'Honey' is a kind of food
consumed by human being, while, 'Anna' is a kind of human beings' name.
Therefore, 'honey' is able to replace' Anna'. Let alone 'honey' is regarded more
polite and pleasant to hear. It is shown from semantic components which
differentiate it from that of' Anna', such as: [SWEET]. The feature [SWEET]
has a good and broad sense that refers to taste like sugar, fresh and pure,
fragrant smell, pleasant, attractive and the like. Hence, 'honey' can be used to
address form as intimate style.
Then the writer shall conclude that the meaning of 'honey' is
incompatible with that of' Anna'. it is because they share four components in
common but clash in the feature [± GIVEN NAME] and [± SWEET].
The new meaning 'honey' undergoes semantic meaning in association
process. The meaning change is motivated by the similarity of characters.
'Honey' used to mean thing produced by bee with sweet and delicious taste.
While, 'Anna' is female name with nice characters like beautiful, attractive,
patient and the like. The word 'honey' may make up for 'Anna' because they
68
share identical feature [HUMANITY]. 'Honey' has this feature and relates to
human since human consumes honey because of the sweet taste like sugar.
Meanwhile, 'Anna' is common object having [HUMANITY] feature since name
is label for human beings to recognize one to another.
11. Understatement
Data example: (11)
(a) Ryan:So you know I'm not good at making speech ...(p. 5)
It is said by Ryan to Erick. They are just a good friend .Ryan confess his
inability to Erick who has overcame his problem.
In this utterance, the euphemism occurs in the word 'not good'. It is the
negation form for the word 'stupid'. 'Stupid' is regarded taboo evoked by
following reasons:
a)
Stupid refers to disadvantages things
b)
Stupid deals with slowness, short - minded, simple - minded.
c)
Stupid means the capability of knowing no up to date information.
d)
Stupid is bad mind.
Therefore, the speaker tends not to mention this distasteful term in order
to avoid attracting and judging the weakness and capability of anybody else.
Moreover, 'stupid' is crude and rude that may hurt one's feeling and offend the
sel- esteem.
69
For those reasons, the use of euphemism term is so significant to guard
against the unpleasant word along with the bad effect caused by this
dispreferred term.
The word 'not good' is a kind of taboo in delicacy in which the speaker
will look for pleasant configuration to counteract the unpleasant one. It is also
categorized as euphemistic understatement. It refers to a type of euphemism
commonly well-known as litotes whose primary function is to negate the
opposite of what you are going to convey.
Supporting the description, the writer shall unpack the term 'not good' in
sentence so you know I'm not good at making speech: Not good: [ABILITY]
[SLOWNESS] [SHORT-MINDED] [STUPID] [GRADATION] If the writer
replaces the term 'not good' with the taboo or hidden term, the sentence will be:
(b) Dan: so you know, I'm stupid at making speech.
The sentence (b) is acceptable but it is not a euphemism expression anymore. It
is because we can catch the real meaning directly. Besides, 'stupid' comprises
component like: Stupid: [ABILITTY] [SLOWNESS] [SHORT-MINDED]
[STUPID] [ABSOLUTE]
To find out further information, the writer then identifies the component
of words 'not good' and 'stupid' as follows:
Not good
+
+
+
+
+
-
Ability
Slowness
Short – minded
Stupid
Gradation
Absolute
Stupid
+
+
+
+
+
70
The term 'not good' is a euphemism for 'stupid'. It may so because they
share several features, they are [ABILITY] [SLOWNESS] [SHORT MINDED] and [STUPID]. But 'not good' has additional component
[GRADATION], while stupid has additional component [ABSOLUTE].
Thus, the term 'not good' can substitute for 'stupid' by virtue of semantic
components in common. 'Not good' and 'stupid' would be looser synonym in
which they do not share their entire features. The feature [GRADATION]
obscures the absolute degree of the capability. 'Not good' refers to a little bit
stupid, stupid and very stupid. It is also used to obscure the truth, so that the
hearer finds it difficult to catch the point whether the object is a bit stupid or
very stupid.
Meanwhile, the term 'stupid' along with the feature [ABSOLUE] means
stupid, not more or less. It is then categorized as taboo because it judges
someone's ability in a bad point. Therefore, the word 'not good' may be the
euphemism of 'stupid'.
Based on the componential analysis, the new meaning 'not good' along
with all components refers to absolute ability of someone dealing with slowness
and short - minded. Whereas, the previous meaning 'not good' goes to the
gradation ability of someone dealing with slowness and short-minded. The
feature 'gradation' gives another reference like more or less stupidity. Even
though, 'not good' and 'stupid' have 5 [+] features. The feature [ABSOLUTE]
belonging to 'stupid' let this word has limited reference. Hence, the writer can
71
conclude that 'not good' has the semantic change in semantic narrowing process
that makes the meaning change become less general.
12. Euphemism through borrowing
Data example: (12)
(a) Oz: Why don't you take me seriously and give me some real work to do? Oh
yeah, I remember why, because I have a vagina. (p.30)
It is uttered by Oz. she gets so confused and mad to Jim. Therefore she
grumbles like above expression that is only mentioned on her thought.
The use of euphemism in that sentence occurs in the term 'vagina'.
The word 'vagina' stands for 'cunt'. 'Cunt' is strongly taboo or vulgar of
property for several reasons such as:
a)
Cunt principally means nasty and contemptible.
b)
Cunt connotes a sexually attractive girl or a mean old woman.
c)
Cunt places women as a sexual object.
d)
Cunt refers to female pudenda.
e)
Cunt locates at the lower abdomen that is so private.
To overcome this taboo term 'vagina', Latin language is taken to stand for
'cunt'. The usage of foreign language especially Latin language is in
consideration of Latin as a formally educated for the young, innocent and
women through out the word. Whereas foreign language gives standard English
72
with euphemism in the area of sex, body part and bodily effluvia. 'Cunt' is a
taboo associated with body part.
Even though there is a shift for the word 'vagina'. It is because 'vagina' is
generally used by now especially in formal conversation to doctor. Previously,
'vagina' is a euphemistic borrowing terms replacing 'cunt'. The usage of 'vagina'
refers to female pudenda with better and pleasant sense.
To support above description, the writer then explains the semantic
components of 'vagina' in sentence (a):
Vagina: [FEMALE] [GENITALS] [PRIVATE PART] [COPULATION]
[EXCREMENT]
If the term 'vagina' in sentence (a) is replaced with the hidden reference, the
sentence will be:
(b) Oz: Why don 't you take me seriously and give me some real work to do? Oh
yeah, I remember why, because I have a cunt.
This sentence is acceptable, yet it is not a euphemism expression by the
existence of 'cunt'. The term 'cunt' let us catch the meaning directly. That is also
shown from the components:
Cunt: [FEMALE] [PRIVATE PLACE] [COPULATION] [EXCREMENT]
[IRRITATION]
'Vagina' and 'cunt' have similar components but the feature [IRRITATION].
This feature motivates 'cunt' to be taboo to mention.
To get more explanation, the writer then analyzes the semantic
components belonging to 'vagina' and 'cunt'
73
Vagina
+
+
+
+
+
-
Female
Genitals
Private part
Copulation
Excrement
Irritation
Cunt
+
+
+
+
+
+
Having the componential analysis, the word 'vagina' and 'cunt' share the
semantic
components
[FEMALE]
[GENITALS]
[PRIV
ATE PART]
[COPULATION] [EXCREMENT]. Those similar components allow 'vagina' to
replace 'cunt' and to have synonym relation, whereas the word 'cunt' has
additional component [IRRITATION] in which it is used to refer despicable
person. This component differentiates 'vagina' from 'cunt'. It is because 'vagina'
only refers to female genitals used to have copulation and excrement, while
'cunt' not only refers to female pudenda along with the function but also to
show irritation. The word 'vagina' undergoes looser synonym invoked the
additional component of 'cunt'.
The meaning 'vagina' used to mean female pudenda to copulate and
excrete. Meanwhile the new meaning 'vagina' goes not only to female genital
along with the function to do copulation and excrement but also to the
expression of irritation associated with 'shit'. Therefore, 'vagina' undergoes
Semantic broadening in which the new meaning is regarded more general or
broader than the earlier one. in addition, the other proof is presented from the
number of component. The word 'vagina' has only 5 [+] features, while 'cunt'
has 6 [+] features.
74
13. Abstraction
Data example : (13)
(a) Kevin: ... I mean, how do you want to do it? (p.88)
This data is taken from American Pie movie. The conversation is
between Kevin and his girl, Vicky. It takes place in bed room, they plan to
make love for the first time. Hence, both of them are so nervous that Kevin tries
to control the situation by asking some questions. One of the questions is the
above expression.
From the above sentence, the words 'do it' is a euphemism term. The word
'do it' does not refer to common activity like swimming, reading, cooking and
so forth. 'Do it' stands for the taboo term, 'have sexual intercourse'. 'Have sexual
intercourse' might therefore taboo for the reasons like:
a)
Sexual activity connects to sex organ.
b)
Sexual intercourse relates to sensibility full of jealousy, anger and
embarrassment.
c)
Sex activity centers and leads to coitus.
d)
Sex activity is a privacy matter that should be kept secret.
'Do it' is able to be as a substitute for 'have sexual intercourse'. 'Do it' gets
trough euphemistic abstraction. It is a roundabout way separating from what is
concrete and facts. It is very general word that is able to many activities, while
this typical case, 'do it' specifically refers to only sexual area.
75
To support the description, the writer breaks down the term 'do it' into
smaller units:
Do it: [ACTIVITY] [PHYSICAL] [COMMON]
The features let 'do it' to be a euphemism expression. Whereas, if the
term 'do it' is replaced with the intended meaning, the sentence will be:
(b) Kevin: I mean, how do you want to have sex?
Sentence (b) is acceptable, yet it is not a euphemism expression anymore
because the existence of the word 'have sex'. 'Have sex' help us get the real
meaning explicitly. 'Having sex' is considered as taboo that is also supported by
the components.
Have sex: [ACTIVITY] [PHYSICAL] [PEOPLE] [SEX]
The writer then analyzes the data by identifying the components of 'do it
and 'have sexual intercourse' as follow:
Do it
+
+
+
+
Activity
Physical
People
Sex
Common
Have sexual activity
+
+
+
+
-
According to those semantic components, there are similar components
such as [PHYSICAL] [ACTIVITY] [PEOPLE]. Those components let 'do it'
stand for 'sexual intercourse'. This is because they have something in common.
The words 'do it' and 'sexual intercourse' refers to human physical activity.
Nevertheless, the opposite components [COMMON] and [SEX] are needed to
76
differentiate one to another. 'Do it' as euphemism term is regarded polite and
tasteful because of the neutral components.
In each of these explanation, the writer also finds out the meaning
relation between 'do it' and 'sexual intercourse'. In this typical case, the word
'sexual intercourse' is a hyponym of 'do it'. It is because they are included in
several components but they are not similar in other components especially
[±COMMON] and [± SEX]. It may be concluded that 'do it' refers to people
doing general activity, while 'sexual intercourse' refers to people especially
couple doing a sex activity. It is then classified as a part of general activity,
which may be described like below:
Do it
Reading
Cooking
Sexual
intercou
rse
Working
(Figure II: Meaning Relation)
The word 'do it' is a euphemistic term for 'have sexual intercourse'. 'Do it'
used to mean having activity but in general matters. It refers to general matters
since it consists of component [COMMON] that may go to all activities without
any specification and limitation. Meanwhile, the new meaning 'do it' in
sentence ... I mean, how do you want to do it?' goes to sexual intercourse by
77
virtue of the component [SEX]. Thus, it is clear that the word 'do it' undergoes
semantic narrowing process in which the new meaning becomes less general
than the earlier one.
78
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
Having analyzed all of the data sample taken from Euphemism term of
American Pie 5 movie, the writer attained some conclusion as follows:
From all of the data analysis taken from this movie, the writer found no
the euphemistic term classification of acronyms, synecdoche, mispronunciation,
plays on abbreviation, and phonetic alhabeths.
The writer then analyzed 13 types of euphemism. The writer also found
that 10 euphemistic terms out of 13 data are refining the dispreffered terms
referring to sex bodily effluvia and bodily function.
The actors use the euphemictic terms is in order to avoid the bad effects of
taboo terms such as: embarassing the interlocutors, attacting the other’s selfesteem., losing the interlocutors or listener’s face, and so forth.
Some euphemistic terms like: remodeling, abbreviation, quasi-omission
have no exact meaning relation. The types of euphemism evoke it. Rhyming slang
motivates the word to be euphemism because it has similar onset and rhyme to the
dispreferred terms. The abbreviation let the word be euphemism by being the
short form of the taboo terms so that it is difficult to find out the real meaning.
The quasi-omission is a roundabout way of taking the taboo terms by not
mentioning the complete utterance.
Two data analysis
has synonym relation, namely ‘bra’ and ‘vagina’
undergo no semantic change, because they share identical semantic components.
Suggestion
79
Based on those conclusion the writer hopes the paper can contribute a
supporting reference in analyzing works of Linguistics through Sociolinguistics
and Semantics frame work. However this paper is not perfect yet.
For the readers who are interesting to do the same study about Euphemism
and Taboo, the writer suggests take the theory of Nida, Cruse, Leech or other
theory to find out a perfect analysis.
Finally, study of Sociolinguistics and Semantics is needed to be concerned
by the whole students of UIN especially students of English Letter and also by
linguistics lecturers.
80
REFERENCES
Akmajian, Adrian, Richard A. Demes, and Robert M. Harnish. Linguistics: An
Introduction to Language and Communication. London: The MIT Press, 1988.
Allan, Keith and Kate Burridge. Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as
Shield and Weapon. New York : Oxford University Press, 1991.
Allan, Keith. Natural Language Semantics. Now York: Blackwell Publishers,
2001.
Arikunto, Suharsimi. Prosedur Pendekatan: Suatu Pendekatan Praktek. Jakarta:
PT. Rineka Cipta, 1998.
Azwar, Saifudin. Metode Penelitian. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar, 1998.
Cruse, D.A. Lexical Semantics. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1987.
Djayasudarma, T. Fatimah. Semantik 2: Pemahaman Ilmu Makna. Bandung: PT.
Eresco,1993
Farkhan Muhammad. Proporsal Penelitian Bahasa & Sastra. Jakarta : Cella,
2007.
------------------------, Penulisan Karya Ilmiah. Jakarta: Cella Press, 2006.
Fromkin, Victoria, and Robert Rodman. An Introduction to Language sixth
Edition. New York: Blackwell Publishers, 1997.
Hatch, Evelyn, and Cheryl Brown. Vocabulary, Semantics and Language
Education. London: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Hornby, As. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. London:
Cambridge University Press, 1974.
Jackson, Howard. Word and Their Meaning. New York: Longman, 1975.
Kempton, Ruth. M. Semantic Theory. Sydney: Cambridge University Press, 1980.
81
Leech, Geoffrey. Semantics. New Zealand: Penguin Books Ltd, 1997.
Lyons, John. Semantics. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1977.
O’Grady, William. Contemporary Linguistics. United Kingdom: Longman Person
Education, 1996.
Odgen .C.K. and I.A. Richard. The Meaning of Meaning. London: Routledge and
Kegan Paul Ltd. 1952.
Palmer. F. R. Semantics A New Outline. London: Cambridge University
Press.1979.
Suryabrata, Sumardi. Metodologi Penelitian. Jakarta: PT. Raja Grasindo Persada,
1978.
Saeed, John. Semantics. London: Blackwell publishers, 2004.
Tuckman, W. Bruce. Conducting Educational Research. New York: Harcourt
Brace Jovavonich, 1978.
Wardhough, Rorald. An Introduction to linguistics (Forth Edition). Blackwell
Publishers.2002
http.//www.dailyscripts.com/amaerican pie-production.html.
http.//www.wikipedia.com.