SOCIOLINGUISTICS ANALYSIS OF OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE USED IN AN AMERICAN SITCOM ANIMATION “THE FAMILY GUY" SEASON 21

Afan Gaffar Shiddiq. 2023. Sociolinguistic Analysis Of Offensive Language Used
In An American Sitcom Animation “The Family Guy" Season 21. Final project,
English Education Study Program, Faculty of Language and Art Education,
University of PGRI Semarang, Advisor I: Siti Musarokah, S.Pd., M.Hum.,
Advisor II: Dr. Rahmawati Sukmaningrum., S.Pd., M.Pd.
Keywords: Animation, Offensive Language
This study explored the categories or type of offensive languages and th function
of offensive languages spoken by the characters in the animation “The Family
Guy”. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. The purpose of this study
were to explain the categories and function of offensive languages in the
animation “The Family Guy” and to find out the most dominant category and
function of offensive languages in the animation “The Family Guy”. This study
analyze and describe the categories and function of offensive languages spoken
by the characters in animation “The Family guy” using documentation method.
The data from this study are in the form of words and sentences containing
offensive languages in the script of the animation. The data in this study were
collected through the streaming service owned by Disney called hotstar.com. To
collect data th writer used random sampling technique from 20 episodes in the
animation. The writer used Jay Timothy's (1992) theory to analyze the categories
of offensive languages in the animation “The Family Guy”. The writer used
Anderson & Trudgil’s (1990) theory to analyze the function of offensive languages.
From the documentation in this study, the writer found 75 data about the categories
and functions of offensive languages. In the category of offensive languages, the
highest amount of data is Profanity & blasphemy with 35 utterances (47%),
followed by insult or a slur 20 utterances (26%), the third is obscenity 12
utterances (16%), the fourth is epithet 5 utterances (7%), the lowest is cursing with
3 utterances (4%). In the function of offensive languages, the most used function
is Expletive with 33 utterances (44%), the second is Abusive 17 utterances (23%),
the third is Humorous 15 utterances (19%), and followed by Auxiliary Swearing
10 utterances (14%). The small amount of offensive language found in this season
was quite unexpected considering the Family Guy’s past instalment that garnered
considerable amounts of criticism and controversy due to its storylines and
character stereotypes, to allegations of racism, homophobia and sexism. It implied
that they were becoming more careful with the offensive language they use.