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P-ISSN: 0854 – 9125 E-ISSN: 2599 – 2678 Vol. 24 No.

2, December 2017

AN ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF AMERICAN SLANGS


ON EMINEM’S SONG LYRICS

Luh Putu Karina Febriyanti Aryawan

Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha

e-mail: karina.febriyanti1004@gmail.com

Abstract
There were two types of speech style which could be divided into formal and informal type. The
informal one was well-known by the name of slang. Slang was non-standard language used in the
everyday life created by a certain community and usually used by the teenagers in modern era.
Slang was not only found in the daily conversation, but also could be found in literary works like
song. Song was a literary work which could reflect the reality and express someone’s feelings. This
study analyzes the slangs found in five lyrics of Eminem’s song by using descriptive qualitative
method. Besides, this study focused on the word formation of the slangs itself. There are 60 data
which has been collected from the lyrics. From the analysis conducted, the types of word
formation are found in the slangs used in the lyrics, such as blending, clipping, coinage, acronym
and onomatopoeia. Mostly, the American slangs in the Eminem’s song lyrics are created by the
process of blending and clipping.

Keywords : speech style, slang, song lyrics, Eminem, word formation

INTRODUCTION and even literature such as movies,


The style of speech can be divided into advertisement, songs, etc. Slang may be found
formal speech style and informal speech style. in shape of single word and group of words or a
Informal speech style is also well-known as sentence. According to Yanchun and Yanhong
slang. According to Yanchun and Yanhong (2013), slang is part of a language that is out
(2013), slang may be found in shape of single from the standard usage of daily life language
word and group of words or a sentence. Slang is that may consists of new vocabularies and
kind of informal language that is used in phrases with extended meanings attached to
informal situations. In another terminology, the original terms or words that belongs to a
slang is part of a language that is out from the particular group.
standard usage of language that may consists of “Slang words and expressions are
new vocabularies and phrases with extended characterized by a high degree of informality,
meanings attached to the original terms or familiarity, vocabulary richness. They are
words that belongs to a particular group realized by a specific group of people whose
(Yanchun & Yanhong, 2013). From the members are connected with some particular
terminologies stated above, it can be concluded link, such as territory (Californian), age
that slang is an unofficial standard language that (teenagers), subculture (students), and mainly
is used for communication in society life. In occur in the spoken form of the language.”
application, slang words are usually popular in (Burdova, 2009) cited in Astriyani (2000).
young children, teenagers and college students. Another terminology said that slang is a
But actually, not all slangs belong to slang kind of code or secret language which is used by
collections. It means that, people should some people or community group in society
recognize the slang words itself, so by the times (Astriyani, 2000). It is caused by the
it can be used in social conversation. development of the language variations in the
In general, the definition of slang is the society, especially by advertisement, songs, etc.
non-standard language used in the everyday Slangs can also be found in literary works
life. Slang words can be used in conversation that are connected with the social life, the

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followings are: movies, poetries, songs, novels, THEORICAL FRAMEWORK


and short stories (Oktavia, 2017). Besides, those Previous Study
kind of literary works can affect the The research about analyzing the song
development of language in this new era that lyrics has been conducted by other researchers.
will upgrade the slang languages in decade or The study entitled “An Analysis of Slang
months, even days. One of literary works that Language Related to Sex in Eminem’s Rap Songs’
has the biggest impact in developing the slang Lyrics” (Astriyani, 2000) classifies the slang
words is song, especially Rap or Hip Hop song words into three parts based on the sexual kind
that contains a lot of aesthetical and meaningful of slangs as follows: sexual perversion, gender
lyrics about anger and sarcasm. Rap song that identity sexuality and sexual attraction. She puts
uses American Slang is naturally made and used the slangs which are found in the lyrics to its
by males and black people in United States belonging, for example fag belongs to sexual
(Yanchun & Yanhong, 2013). One of the famous perversion, bitch belongs to gender identity
figure that is well-known with his slangs is sexuality and bush belongs to sexual attraction.
Eminem, the one who becomes a successful The study which is conducted by Abadi
rapper in United States. Eminem can stand out (2010) entitled “Analysis on the Use of Slang on
with his slang words among the American in Eminem’s Lyrics” explains that the
United States, because the people in United characteristics of slang language can be divided
States tend to use Eminem’s “dope” slangs and into four parts as the follows: fresh, creativity,
other slangs created by the popular hip hop flippant, and onomatopoeic. He found out that
singers in their daily life conversations (Yanchun the slang words used in the Eminem’s song lyrics
& Yanhong, 2013). can be characterized into those kinds of
There are some reseachers who already characteristic. For example, sh*t belongs to
do the research about slang language in the flippant, blackballed belongs to creativity,
previous study. The first study is about “An witcha belongs to fresh, and tryin’ belongs to
Analysis of Slang Language Related to Sex in onomatopoeic. There is a difference between
Eminem’s Rap Songs’ Lyrics” which is conducted this previous study and the present study, in
by Astriyani (2000). She classifies the data that which the object of the previous study is the
belongs to sexual perversion, gender identity characteristic of slangs and the present study is
sexuality and sexual attraction. The second trying to look at the types of slangs which uses
study is conducted by Mukthar, A. (2010) the word formation.
entitled “Analysis on the Use of Slang on
Eminem’s Lyrics”. This study is analyzing the Word Formation
characteristics of slangs used in Eminem’s song As time goes on, the language will also
lyrics such as fresh, creativity, flippant, and develop. O’Grady (1996) cited in (Astriyani,
onomatopoeic. 2000) stated that one kind of the so-called
In this present study which is based on “language development” is using word
the matters above, the writer will conduct a formation to create a new word. Word belongs
research about the analysis of the Eminem’s to a part of language which has an important
songs entitled, “An Analysis of the Use of role to form language. People should know
American Slangs on Eminem's Song Lyrics” by where the language comes from, how the
concerning two problems, such as the types of language formed and the meaning is built. So it
the slangs found in the lyrics by using word means that the process of forming a word
formation and analysis the standard word or influences the meaning of a word. This process
meaning of the slangs used in Eminem’s song is being called word formation process.
lyrics.
Types of Word Formation
In the field of English linguistics, there
are some types of word formation in the
process of forming a new word. But in this

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section, I attempted to focus on five types of become shorter but the meaning is still the
word formation cited from (Wahyuni & Rosa, same (O’Grady and Guzman, 1996: 157) in
2013) and (Wulandari & Ardi, 2012), the Wahyuni, S. and Rosa, N.R. (2013).
following are: - Foreclipping is a process of making a
a. Acronym new word by cutting the first part of the original
Acronym is a process of forming a new word. For examples, burger for hamburger,
word in which the word will be formed from the phone for telephone, Uni for University, exam
initial letters of a set of words. It usually can be for examination, etc.
seen in the organizations names and some kinds - Fore-back clipping is a process of
of terminologies. The examples are NATO which making a new word by deleting the first part
stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the end part of the original word. But this
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency kind of clipping is rarely used. For examples, flue
Syndrome, and U.S stands for United State. In for influenza, jams for pajamas or pyjamas.
another hand, the acronym will be found in e. Coinage
daily conversations such as YOLO which means Coinage is a word formation process in
You Only Live Once, SMH means Shake My which a new lexeme or word will be created. In
Head, ASAP stands for As Soon As Possible, and the point, it adapts the words that already exist.
ILY stands I Love You. So, acronym will be used It is usually defined as the new words or terms
to form a slang word in which only the first invention. Coinage mostly indicates the name of
initials are used. products and company. The examples are as the
b. Back Formation followings: aspirin, nylon, Kleenex, Honda,
Back formation is a process of deriving a Vaseline, Xerox, Google, heroin.
word in which the actual affixes will be deleted f. Derivation
or removed to derive a new lexeme, but in Derivation is a process of creating a new
backwards way. For example as follows: lexeme or word by adding the affixes in which
- Peddle < Peddler the word will have a different meaning and be in
- Baby-sit < Baby Sitter different word class base. To derive the new
- Daydream < Daydreamer words, prefixes (the letters attached in the
- Greed < Greedy beginning of word) or suffixes (the letters
- Housekeep < Housekeeper attached in the end of a word) is usually
- Televise < Television needed. According to O’Grady (1996) in the
c. Blending research of Wahyuni, S. and Rosa, R.N (2013), in
Blending is a process of forming a lexeme linguistics this derivation process can be divided
in which there is a combination between two or into three kinds, such as prefix, infix, and suffix.
more words. Blending will take the beginning of But, infix is rarely seen than prefixes and
word then combine it with the end of the other suffixes. The following is the example of prefixes
word. It also can be combined by taking the and suffixes in English:
beginning of both words. The examples are the - Prefixes: re-, dis-, un-, anti-, in-, pre-, post-,
followings: ante-, and sub-.
- Smog = smoke + fog - Suffixes: -ation, -full, -able, -act. –ist, -ness, -ity,
- Motel = motor + hotel -ty, -ship, etc.
- Brunch = Breakfast + Lunch - Infixes: hallebloodylujah, fan-flaming-tastic,
- Wanna = Want + to me-bloody-self, etc.
- Kinda = Kind + of g. Onomatopeia
- Ain’t = Am/are/ is + not Onomatopeia is a process of word
- Pickpocket = Pick + Pocket formation in which it will represent an aspect of
d. Clipping the thing so later people can identify that thing’s
Clipping is a process of deriving a new name. For example, buzz (represent bee), meow
lexeme by reducing or deleting the parts of (represents cat), and cock-a-doodle-doo
word (one or more syllables) to make the word (represents male chicken). Therefore,

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onomatopoeic words may vary from language words as in English onomatopoeic. For example,
to language. It is because the onomatopoeic nya (represent cat in Japanese) and niyaw
words in other languages do not have the same (represents cat in Tagalog).

METHOD
Research Design
According to Mc Millar and Schumacher Data
(1993:31) in “Analysis on the Use of Slang on The kind of data in this study is in the
Eminem’s Lyrics” (Mukhtar, 2010), research forms of written data, such as song lyrics which
design is an investigation plan used in order to are focused on the slangs and the vocabularies
collect the evidences to answer the research found in the lyrics. So the main data will be
problem. To complete this research, I attempt gathered from five of Eminem’s song lyrics. The
to use the descriptive qualitative research songs are Love Me (2006), Rap God (2013),
design because this research only describes the Cleaning out My Closet (2002), Stan (2000), Cum
kinds of word formation of slang language used on Everybody (1999).
in Eminem’s song lyrics along with its meaning.
According to Gay (1987:11) in Mukhtar (2010), Procedure of Collecting Data
descriptive research is a research design which In order to complete this research, there
will answer the question related to the object of are four steps in collecting the data. I attempted
the study based on the data that has been to: (1) read and understand the meaning of the
collected. Besides, descriptive study only report lyrics, (2) find out the slang words in used in the
things and measure what already exist. It is song lyrics, (3) highlight the slang words which
including when, from whom, and how the data are found in the lyrics, and (4) classify the slang
is obtained. The objective of this research words into each types of slang words by using
design is to give the most valid answer for each word formation.
problem stated.
Data Analysis
Scoop and Limitation In order to analyze the collected data, I
The data which is analyzed in this reseach will use the descriptive qualitative research, in
is focused on the slangs in Eminem’s song lyrics. which this technique will answer the question
For the main source of the data is taken from related to the object of the study. Besides,
Eminem’s song lyrics in their album “Slim Shady descriptive study only report things and
LP” released in 1999 (Cum on Everybody) as the measure what already exist. The data analysis
data source. Then the second album entitled can be done by doing four steps of processing
“The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)” with the the data, such as: (1) organizing the slang words
songs “Stan” and “The Way I am.” The third which are already found in the lyrics, (2) finding
album entitled “The Eminem Show” released in the meaning of each slang words, (3) classifying
2002 with the songs titled “Cleaning out My the type of slang words by using word
Closet” and “White America.” Then, “Love Me” formation, and (4) making conclusion of the
from “Eminem Presents The Re-Up” album analysis.
which is released on 2006. The last is the song
“Rap God” which is taken from the album The FINDING AND DISCUSSION
Marshall Mathers LP 2 released in 2013. So the Slangs do not only exist in conversations
total of the song which will be analysed is five or dialogue, but slangs are also there gaining its
songs. The slangs which are found will be existence in literary works connected to the
analyzed based on the theories related to the daily life. One of that literary works is song. A
topic. song usually reflects the reality happened in
daily life and a way to express people’s feelings.
The concrete example of this case is the use of

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slangs in the lyrics of the song. This study onomatopoeia. There are 60 data which are
analyzes five lyrics of Eminem’s songs. From the already collected and it will be divided by its
data collected, the song lyrics contain many own word formation type by using tables.
slangs with its own word formation. The type of
word formations which are found in the lyrics
are blending, clipping, acronym, coinage and

Table 1. Love Me Lyrics


Word
Slangs Sentence Standard Word Formation
Ain’t And I ain't Is/am/are + not = Blending
here to meet ain’t. The best
a soul in this word for this
business sentence is I am
not

Y’all I can't let y'all You + all = Y’all Blending


derail me man

Gotta I got young Got + to = Gotta Blending


Kobe, homie,
you gotta let
go of Obie

Tourin' Soon as a Touring Clipping


nigga touch
down back
Nigga Soon as a
from tourin' Nigger, meaning Coinage
nigga touch an informal
down back offensive words
from tourin' representing
urban African-
American speech
Whateva It's whateva, Whatever Coinage
put that on
the chedda
man
Chedda It's whateva, Cheddar, meaning Clipping
put that on money, rich
the chedda
man

Motherfuckin’ Now I'm here Motherfucking. In Clipping


so shut your the sentence
motherfuckin term,
mouth motherfucking
mouth means
close your bad

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Wanna I just wanna Want to Blending


love you for
the rest of my
life

Sorta That you Sort of, combining Blending


notice that it's sort and of
sorta unique
Tryin You can't sit Trying Clipping
still, it's like
tryin to smoke
crack
Cockadoodle My noodle is Cockadoodle Onomatope
cockadoodle, means a male ia
my clocks chicken voice
cuckoo
Rollin I'm rollin with Rolling Clipping
a swollen
bowling ball in
my bag
Fag You need a Faggot, means an Clipping
fag to come extremely
and tear a offensive word
new hole in for a homosexual
my ass (gay) man.

Table 2. Rap God Lyrics


Word
Slangs Sentence Correct Word Formation
Pen’ll My pen'll go Pen + will = Pen’ll Blending
off when I
half-cock it

Motherfuckin I'll still be able Motherfucking. Clipping


to break a In the sentence
motherfuckin' term,
table motherfucking
table means a
bad or annoying
table.
N’ Into the And Coinage
motherfuckin'
Rock n' Roll
Hall of Fame
even though I
walk in the
church

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Fags You fags think Faggot, means an Clipping


it's all a game extremely
offensive word for
a homosexual
‘Til 'Til I walk a (gay) man.
Until Clipping
flock of
flames

D’you Hey, looking Did + you or Do + Blending


boy, what you = d’you
d'you say,
looking boy?
Outta Get outta my Out + of = outta Blending
face, looking
boy

Totin’ Immediately Toting, meaning Clipping


with these that the practice
bombs I'm of taking home
totin' food from an
employer by a
person engaged
in domestic
service, or the
food so taken
Wanna At least once Want to Blending
in a while so I
wanna make
sure

Gotta But I gotta Got + to = Gotta Blending


keep a few
punchlines
‘em Put 'em all in Them Clipping
a line

Morphin’ Morphin' into Morphing, Clipping


an immortal meaning that
coming addicted into or
through the addicted to
portal something
Singin’ At Singing Clipping
Mayweather's
pad singin' to
a man
Imma “Hey, Fab, I am + going + to Blending
I'mma kill = Imma
you”

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Hurtin’ It's curtains, Hurting Clipping


I'm
inadvertently
hurtin' you

Table 3. Cleaning Out My Closet


Word
Slangs Sentence Correct Word Formation
‘em Tempers Pen + will = Pen’ll Clipping
flaring from
parents just
blow 'em off
and keep
going

Ya Look at me Motherfucking. Coinage


now; I bet ya In the sentence
probably sick term,
of me now motherfucking
ain't you table means a
mama? bad or annoying
table.
Ain’t Look at me And Blending
now; I bet ya
probably sick
of me now
ain't you
mama?

Imma Imma make Faggot, means an Blending


you look so extremely
ridiculous offensive word for
now a homosexual
I’da 'Cause I'da I(gay) man.+ have =
+ would Blending
killed him; I’da
shit I would've
shot Kim and
him both

‘Til Hey, looking Until Clipping


boy, what
d'you say,
looking boy?
Gonna Get outta my Going + to = Blending
face, looking gonna
boy

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Table 4. Stan
Word
Slangs Sentence Correct Word Formation
It’ll And even if I It + will = it’ll Blending
could it'll all It + shall = it’ll
be gray, but
your picture
on my wall

Ain’t Dear Slim, I Is/am/are + not. Blending


wrote you but In this case, are
you still ain't not/ aren’t is
calling appropriate to
use

‘em I sent two Them Clipping


letters back in
autumn, you
must not-a
got 'em

Imma I'mma name I + am + going + Blending


her Bonnie to = I’mma

Gotta You gotta call Got + to = gotta Blending


me man, I'll
be the biggest
fan you'll ever
lose

This’ll This'll be the This + will = this’ll Blending


last package I This + shall =
ever send this’ll
your ass
Coulda That's kinda Could + have = Blending
how this is, coulda
you coulda
rescued me
from
drowning

Musta I'm sorry I Must + have = Blending


didn't see you musta
at the show, I
musta missed
you

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C’mon C'mon! How Come + on = Blending


fucked up is c’mon
you?

Table 5. Cum on Everybody


Word
Slangs Sentence Correct Word Formation
Whattup Testing one, Shorten form Blending
two, um... from What’s up
twelve
(whattup
whattup
whattup)

Grabbin Women all Grabbing Clipping


grabbin at my
shishkabob

AIDS Shit I got full Acquired Immune Acronym


blown AIDS Deficiency
and a sore Syndrome
throat

Signin I'm in the Signing Clipping


fourth row,
signin
autographs at
your show
Freestylin I'm freestylin Freestyling, Clipping
every verse meaning a genre
that I spit of rap music
Doc I told the doc I Doctor Clipping
need a change
in sickness

Wanna You wanna Want + to = Blending


get high, here Wanna
bitch just sniff
this

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Cause Cause I don't Because Clipping


give a fuck,
like my
middle finger
was stuck
Wavin’ And I was Waving Clipping
wavin it at
everybody
screamin, "I
suck" (I
SUCK!!!)

Screamin’ And I was Screaming Clipping


wavin it at
everybody
screamin, "I
suck" (I
SUCK!!!)
Y’all All y'all get You + all = Y’all Blending
the hell out
now

Givin’ Fuck rap, I'm Giving Clipping


givin it up
y'all, I'm sorry

Execedrin One Excedrin Excedrin means a Coinage


tablet short of headache
a full medicine
medicine
cabinet
‘em I told em, Them Clipping
"Meet me at
Kid Rock's
next concert”

Tylenol Crushed up Tylenol means Coinage


the Tylenol paracetamol (a
and ate it with medicine which is
a dipstick used to decrease
the fever, anti-
body)

In this part of article, the author will author is successfully collecting the types of
represent the findings which have been slangs by using word formation. Those types
analyzed by using word formation type. Based are blending, coinage, clipping, acronym and
on the result of the findings, the author can onomatopoeia. The slangs found are mostly
conclude that there are 60 data of slangs used created by blending and clipping formation
and found in phrases of the five Eminem’s process. The slangs do not change the
song lyrics. From the analysis conducted, the meaning, but it only reforms the word itself.

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CONCLUSION Mathers , M., Zayas, B., Delgiorno, M., Hacker,


In conclusion, from the analysis of slang S., Davis, D., Walters, R., et al.
words in the lyrics of Eminem’s songs, there are (Composers). (2013). Rap God. [Eminem,
some slangs which can be found and exist in the Performer]
songs which have been analyzed. Mostly, slangs Mathers, M., & Bass, J. (Composers). (2002).
appear in hip hop or rap songs such as Cleaning Out My Closet. [Eminem,
Eminem’s. Performer]
Based on the analysis above, there are Mathers, M., Dido, & Harmon, P. (Composers).
five types of word formation which are used to (2000). Stan. [Eminem, & Dido,
analyze the slangs. The first type is clipping, Performers]
such as screamin’, wavin’, givin’, grabbin’, etc. McMillan, L., & Wagner, S. (n.d.).
The second type is acronym. In this type, there Dictionary.com. Retrieved December 11,
is one slang, AIDS. The third type of slangs is 2017, from 2017 Dictionary.com, LLC.:
blending such as, wanna, I’da, ain’t, gonna, www.dictionary.com
imma, gotta, y’all, etc. The fourth type of slang Mukhtar, A. (2010). Analysis on the Use of Slang
is back coinage such as ya, Tylenol, Excedrin, n’, on Eminem’s Lyrics. Thesis Master of art,
etc. The last type is Onomatopeia, such as Malang: University Of Maulana Malik
cockadoodle. Besides, from the analysis above, Ibrahim.
the slang words are mostly created by blending Oktavia, V. (2017). AN ANALYSIS OF SLANG
and clipping formation process. The slang words WORDS IN THE LYRICS OF FAR EAST
only reform the word, and the meaning of the MOVEMENT SONG AS THE FORM OF
slangs do not change the original meaning of LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND IT’S
the song. USED IN THE DAILY LIFE. The 1st
Education and Language International
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(1999). Cum on Everybody. [Eminem, TV ADVERTISEMENT. English Language
Performer] and Literature E-Journal, ISSN 2302-3546.
Jackson, C., King, S., Mathers, M., Resto, L., & Wulandari, P., & Ardi, H. (2012). THE TYPES OF
Trice, O. (Composers). (1999). Love Me. SLANG WORDS IN THE LYRICS OF
[Eminem, Performer] “JIGSAW” ALBUM BY LADY SOVEREIGN.
Padang: FBS State University of Padang.
Yanchun, Z., & Yanhong, F. (2013). A
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