Sociolinguistic study of the function of swearing language in cyber-gaming conversations

Abstract

In most countries, swearing language is always considered as forbidden or offensive and is always judges negatively. However, to some countries swearing language is acceptable and commonly used. This study found out that swearing words are not always offensive in nature the way it is perceived by the listeners. It has been validated through the gathered data from the gaming conversations recorded in one of the internet cafes in Digos City. The players in the said internet café used swearing words without causing offense to their comrades but only intend to release their emotional state. The used of swear words contains intended meaning that requires further understanding and analysis. On the other hand, this research applied Conversation Analysis which used Swear Words Classification of Jay Timothy (1992) and the Functions of Swear Words by Andersson & Trudgill (1990) to analyze the words taken from the gaming conversations. The result has shown that sociolinguistic functions of swearing words specifically by gamers of internet café is mainly to express or emphasize one’s emotional state without causing offense. It shows that there are three classifications used in the study was taken from the conversation, these are epithets, slang, insult/slur and four functions which are expletive, auxiliary, abusive and humorous.