CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In this chapter, the researcher of this thesis presents review of related

literature, which is based on relevant theorist and previous research finding. It

concerns theoritical framework underlying this study that is presented in detail

explanation. The topic of the review of related literature consists of

sociolinguistics, language and society, language and communication, speech

community, language variations, slang, jargon, register, argot, dialect, style,

colloquial, word formation processes, the meaning of jargon and C.O.C.U.S Clan.

2.1 Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics concerns about language in social environment. It has a

strong connection with language, culture, and society. According to Wardaugh

(2006: 13), ‘Sociolinguistics is concerned with investigating the relationship

between language and society with the goal of a better understanding of the

structure of language and how language functions in communication’.

In line with Wardaugh, Trask (1999: 282) further elaborate that

sociolinguistics is the branch of linguistics which studies the relation between

language and society. It is focused on the term sociolinguistics as part of

linguistics. Linguistics itself is a subject that learned about language. Here, the

application of linguistics in society is called sociolinguistics.

Sociolinguistics studies about the language used by individual speaker, the

different use of language by people in different towns and regions decides the

language that will be recognized in courts or education. Sociolinguistics is a very

7
broad field, and it can be used to describe many different ways of studying

language (Meyerhoff, 2006: 1).

2.2 Language and Society

Mesthrie, et.al. (2009: 5) explained, ‘Language is not just denotational, in

term which refers to the process of conveying meaning, reffering to ideas, events

or entities that exist outside language’. It is accordingly said to be indexical of

one’s social class, status, region of origin, gender, age group and so on.

There is a relationship between language and society. According to

Wardaugh (2006: 1), a society is any group of people who become a very

comprehensive concept. Furthermore, a language is what the members of a

particular society speak. Thus, it can be concluded the language and society are

not independent. Society needs a language to interact and communicate each

other. So, society can express ideas, emotions, and feelings with language.

Based on the definition above, it can be concluded that language is very

important for human being since it is a tool of communication. Language is used

not just to communicate but also to interact, share idea and give information to

other people and also to connect with other people in the world. Language

connects people to each other in social relationship and allows them to participate

in a variety of activities in everyday life.

8
2.3 Language and Communication

The relation of language and communication is very important. Both of

them are used to communicate. People use language to communicate with other

people. Mesthrie, et.al. (2009: 1) define that ‘Language is purely human and non-

instictive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires by means of a

system of voluntary produced symbols’.

From the theory above, it can be said that communication is very

important in human life. To communicate, people need a language in their daily

activities because they have been communicating through life. It can be

summarized that language is a tool of communication. Both language and

communication cannot be separated each other.

2.4 Speech Community

The people who live in the same region, but differ in terms of education

and economic status, often speak in different ways. Indeed, these differences may

be used, implicity or explicitly, as indications of membership in different social

group. Yule (2010: 253) mentions that speech community is a group of people

who share a set of norms and expectations concern with the used of language.

Speech community is some kind of social group whose speech

characteristics are of interest and can be described in a coherent manner

(Wardhaugh, 2006: 119). People group together for one or more reasons: social,

religious, political, cultural, familial, vocational, avocational, etc. The people in

speech community share about knowledge, norms and attitude towards the

patterns of using language and there is no theoritical limitation on the location and

size of a speech community.

9
 In short, speech community is a group of people who are speaking the

same pattern of language because of the similar linguistics structure, including

region, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. Speech community in this sense is

very abstract concept. The members of speech community not only share a set of

grammatical rules, but also the regular relationship between language use and

social structure.

2.5 Language Variations

Language is a system of sound that is used by human in daily

communication. It is very various. Every language has more than one variety

especially related with whom, where and when the language is used. Somehow,

human being will find there are many varieties of language used either in different

regional or social communities. We cannot also deny that the existence of

variation of language has correlations with not only the social characteristics or

factors of speakers but also with the social context of language too.

Chaer (2003: 56) defines language variation as the language which is used

in certain situation, condition, and necessity. In formal situation people may use

standard language variation. Whereas, for non-standard language variation, people

may use it in informal context. Then, Mesthrie (2009) states that language can be

varied according to the way they speak, whether she/he speaks to family,

addresses a public gathering, or discusses science with professional colleagues.

Such contracts with variation according to the user that is the regional background

and social background.

From the explanation above, the researcher takes a conclusion that people

use language variation in many purposes. A single speaker may use different

10
language variation in different places. Language variations are also used in written

language. Most of language variations are used in informal written context such as

SMS, chatting, informal letter, etc.

2.5.1 Slang

Slang is one of informal language styles which most people use in some

occasion. This kind of language is a low and vulgar type. Most people use slang

among their groups, so outsiders do not know what they are talking about. The

slang can be used to differ themselves from other group or the rest of society who

do not and are not of the gang.

According to Yule (2010: 259), ‘Slang is more typically used by people

who are outside established higher-status groups’. In addition, Matiello (2008: 36)

states that ‘Slang is much more familiar and spontaneous’. It means that slang is

an informal and famous language. If the reader wants to enter a particular group,

they have to learn the appropriate slang that is used in that group.

It can be concluded that slang is popular words in society. People use

slang to lighten the relationship in their communities. By using one kind of slang,

the people who use slang want to get closer to a particular group or community

and be acknowledged by the members of community.

2.5.2 Jargon

The original meaning of jargon is “to make a twittering noise or sound”

but in modern standards, it has three derivations. One current or modern definition

of jargon is “an outlandish, technical language of a particular, profession, group or

trade”. Another meaning is “unintelligible writing or talk”. Yet another definition

11
is “specific dialects are resulting from a mixture of several languages”, as said by

Caudle, et. Al. (1999).

A specialized jargon serves not just to label new and needed concepts, but

to establish bonds between members of the in-group and enforce boundaries for

outsiders. Yule (2010: 259) said that ‘Jargon is specialized vocabulary used by

those inside established social groups, often defined by the professional statuses’.

In social terms, jargon helps to create and maintain connections among those who

see themselves as insiders in some way and to exclude outsiders.

According to Allan and Burridge (2006: 56), ‘Jargon is the language

peculiar to a trade, profession or the other groups’. It is the language used in a

body of spoken or written texts, dealing with a circumscribed domain in which

speakers share a common specialized vocabulary, habits of word usage, and forms

of expression. It means that this is a kind of language which only used by certain

community as their daily communication among their members.

Fromkin & Rodman (2003: 90) state that jargon is a set of words that is

used in conceivable science, profession, trade and occupation. They are like mini

dialects, but used only for the activity for which they were created. It can be said

that people use jargon to make new words from old words and make new

meanings, so other people cannot define easily.

From those definition above, we can conclude that jargon is used by the

different professional and social groups that bounded the insider and outsider. It is

a way for a group in society to have their own specific language. The groups use

jargon to make easy when they communicate each other and actually the people

12
who can understand those words just the people who are inside the groups. Every

group, profession, trade and organization has its own specialized terms.

The example of internet jargon :

- MOTD : Message Of The Day

- CYA : See You Around

- TTYL : Talk To You Later

These jargons are used by group in social media in their conversation.

C.O.C.U.S uses one of language variation that is jargon. It shows that they

have specific vocabulary to communicate with each other in that group. They use

jargon to make easy when they communicate each other. Besides, the coach of

C.O.C.U.S uses jargon to shorter their conversation and give infromation more

easily with others. If a jargon is used in public area, it will cause

misunderstanding for the people who do not belong to C.O.C.U.S.

2.5.3 Register

‘A register is the specialized vocabulary common to particular trade,

occupation, topic or activity. Hairdressers, soccer player, brain surgeons, and

undertakes all have specialized words or uses of words which refer to concepts

particularly common or specific to their activity or proposes’ (Radford et. al,

2005: 256).

According to Wardhaugh (2006: p.52), ‘Registers are the sets of

vocabulary items associated with discrete occupation or social group’. It means

that register used in community which has a different meaning according to the

situation. The expression is also a part of register, because in the expression there

is the construct meaning which has a specific characteristic.

13
 Furthermore, Yule (2010: 259) states that register is a conventional way of

using language that is appropriate in a specific context, which may be identified as

situational, occupational or topical.

From those definition above, we can conclude that register is a specific

vocabulary used by people according to their profession or occupation. The

different profession has a different register. Distinct registers are associated with

social practices of every kind, e.g., law, medicine, military, etc.

The examples of register words in Military:

- TDY : Temporary Duty. It is used in the Army and Air Force

- TAD : Temporary Additional Duty. It is used in the Navy and

Marine Corps

- TDT : Temporary Duty Travel. It is used in the Navy and Marine

Corps

These registers are used in military. People who was on military definitely

know the meaning of these registers.

2.5.4 Argot

Argot is a secret language which is use to technical vocabulary or

specified used for business, professions, or other activities. Just like cant, argot is

a name for the language of criminals. Its origin is French where it has been used

for several centuries with this meaning.

Jendra (2012: 60) infers that argot is one of the secret language varieties.

Argot is commonly used to identify whether someone is one of the members of

14
such circles or outsiders, as well as to promote feelings of security, isolation, and

camouflage of the members.

It means that argot is a language created by the groups that are not easily

understood by othe people outside of the group. The group itself is like the

criminals group.

The examples of argot in criminals :

- Key : a kilogram of a narcotic drug. It is used in drug

dealers group.

- Gad / rod : a gangster’s pistol. It is used in gangster group.

- Deck : street name for a packet of illegal drugs. It is used

in drug dealers group.

2.5.5 Dialect

Edwards (2009: 63) says that dialect is a variety of a language that differs

from others along three dimensions: vocabulary, grammar and pronounciation

(accent). The differences can be occured because of choice of word, the

pronounciation of word, and grammatical rules. In the same way, Fromkin, et.al

(2010) argue that dialect are mutually intelligible forms of a language that differ

in systematic ways. In addition, according to Finegan (2004: 371), dialect refers to

a language variety in its totality-including vocabulary, grammar, pronounciation,

pragmatics, and any other aspect of the linguistic sytem”. A dialect is not an

inferior or degraded form of a language, and logically could not be so because a

language is a collection of dialects.

15
 From the explanation above, dialect is a variety of language spoken by a

group in society based on features (phonological, lexical, grammatical).

Furthermore, the differences from vocabulary, pronounciation, and grammar is

called dialect. In every place or country has different dialect. For example,

Indonesia, French, Japanese, etc. have different dialect.

2.5.6 Style

‘Style is an older term for certain aspect of register. In variation of

sociolinguistics, style is name for pattern of variation not correlated with speaker

geographc origin’ (Agha: 2007). Furthermore, according to Eckert, et.al. (2004),

‘Style as an individual speaker’s shifts in details of usage within a very structured,

monolingual situation – seems at first glance much narrower than mine it actually

opens a window into an equally wide sociolinguistic scene’.

In this case, style is how the speaker is using language to interact.

Apparently, in different situation, the speaker use different style, so it is

depending on the context in which the language is being used. For example, when

a teacher is lecturing, he or she pronounces quite carefully and slowly, avoids

using contractions, tries to use syntactic constructions and words that can be

understood by everybody, and so on (formal style). But as soon as that same

person meets his or her friends at the party, he or she will speak more carelessly

and rapidly, will use a lot of contractions, syntactic constructions and words

typical of the situation or setting (informal style).

2.5.7 Colloquial

Colloquial is informal speech. People have got control over the use

appropriate language. However, in a more informal variety of our language, we

16
are completely relaxed and unselfconscious. Colloquial is not the same thing as

slang: many people, when speaking colloquial, make liberal use of slang, while

others use little or no slang: in colloquial, slang is admissible but not obligatory

(Trask: 1999, p.41).

Colloquial English words and phrases are often difficult to understand by

non native speakers. ‘Since English words contain many colloquial phrases and

slang expressions, a native English speakers should be cautions about using

colloquial phrases and slang to communicate with people from whom English is a

second language’ (Wood in Ramdhani : 2007). It means that colloquial is like

slang, but it is more directed to various in written or symbols and it can caused

misunderstanding from whom English is a second language.

Colloquial can be defined as words or phrases that are commonly used in

daily conversation not in a written form. English uses colloquial such as I’ve for I

have, y’know for you know, I’ll for I will, ‘bout for about, prob for probably,

sayin’ for saying, wanna for want to, etc. In Indonesia such as dok for dokter, prof

for professor, kap for kapten, etc.

2.6 Word Formation Processes

According to Yule (2010: 52), there are some word formation processes,

such as:

1. Coinage. It is the invention of totally new terms. For examples: Kleenex,

Nylon, Xerox, etc.

2. Borrowing. It is the taking over of words from other languages. For

examples: Alcohol (Arab), Boss (Dutch), etc.

17
 3. Compounding. It is joining of two separatewords to produce a single form.

For examples: Bookcase, Fingerprint, Wallpaper, etc.

4. Blending. It is combining of two separate forms to produce a single new

terms, such as gasohol from gasoline and alcohol, brunch from breakfast

and lunch, motel from motor and hotel, etc.

5. Clipping. It is reduction which is noticable in blending is even more

apparent in the process. For examples: lab from laboratorium, gym from

gymnastic, exam from examination, etc.

6. Backformation. It is a change in the function of a word. For examples: edit

(from editor), donate (from donation), opt (from option), etc.

7. Acronyms. It is some new words formed by the initial letters of a set of

other words. These acronyms often consist of capital letters, as NATO

(North Atlantic Treaty Organization), UNESCO (United Nations

Educational), etc.

8. Derivation. It is the origin or developing of a word. For example, “un-“ is

a prefix meaning “not”.

The word formation processes are used as the addition based on linguistics

features because the types of jargon are very general. Meanwhile, that theory is

used to do the analysis word formation processes on the jargon because they

represent the types of it.

2.7 The Meaning of Jargon

Meaning refers to the interpretation people assign to a message and how it

is recognized or understood (Morreale, Spitzberg & Barge 2006). Thus, meaning

18
is the sense of a word, sentence, or symbol. In addition, the study of the meaning

is called semantic.

Semantics is the study of the meaning of words, phrases and sentences. In

semantic analysis, there is always an attempt to focus on what the words

conventionally mean. In other words, semantic is the study of the relation between

form and meaning. Moreover, semantics deals with conventional meaning

conveyed by the use of words and sentences of language (Yule, 2010: 112).

The word meaning can be characterized by the relation of the words. This

procedure has also been used in the description of language and it is treated as the

analysis of lexical relation are explained as follows :

1. Synonym

Synonym are two or more forms with very closely related meanings,

which are often, but not always, intersubstitutetable in sentence. It might be

found the meaning of word by the word which has the same meaning as

another word. For example answer-reply, broad-wide and liberty-freedom.

2. Antonym

Antonym refers to two forms with opposite meaning. Antonyms are

usually divided into two main types, which is gradable antonyms and non-

gradable antonyms. Gradable antonyms can be used in comparative

construction like bigger than – smaller than. Also, the negative of one

member of the gradable pair does not necessarily imply to the other. For

example, “That dog is not old”, its mean “That dog is young”. While, non-

gradable antonym is comparative are not normally used and the negative of

one member does imply the other. It means that the non-gradable antonym

19
 often uses negative sentences to express. For example: “That person is not

dead”, which means “That person is alive”.

3. Polysemy

Polysemy is related with meaning accompanying an identical form, which

can be defined as one form (written or spoken) having multiple meanings

which are related with extension. For example, the word “head” is used to

refer to the object on the top your body, on the top of a company or a

department. Another example is “run”. The word “run” may be used for a

person and water, because a person does and water does.

2.8 C.O.C.U.S Clan

Clash of Clans UMM Student (C.O.C.U.S) is a clan used for students in

University of Muhammadiyah Malang. This clan is developed for University

Muhammadiyah Malang students only. The students have the same hobbies and

they will share anything about Clash of Clans. This clan is very popular among

students that have Clash of Clans game. So, many of them are enthusiastic to join

it.

Clans are groups of players that pool their trophies in order to compete

with other clans in a battle to collect the most trophies and to win a Clan War in

order to gain the most loot. The members of clans have a private chat for

socializing with each other, and are able to donate troops to each other. Within a

clan there are four ranks: member, elder, co-leader and leader. Including the

leader, you can have up to 50 players (of any rank) in a clan.

Once you join a clan, the Clan chatroom will show you the 100 most

recent messages between Clan members. You can also see who has joined, started

20
Clan Wars, been promoted or demoted, or been kicked, including invite requests

and those who have left the Clan. You cannot report anyone in Clan chat and there

are no filters, so caution must be taken when joining a Clan; mature groups of

players may use offensive language during conversations.

21