Exploring Types of Slang Words in the Movie Neighbors (2014): A Sociolinguistic Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v14i2.12024Keywords:
Allan and Burridge, Movie dialogue, Neighbors (2014), Slang words, SocialinguisticsAbstract
This study analyzes the types and meanings of slang words used in Neighbors (2014) from a sociolinguistic perspective. The study aims to identify the types of slang based on Allan and Burridge's (2006) classification and analyze their meanings based on Leech's (1981) theory of meaning. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method. The data were collected from the movie dialogues and its script, then classified and analyzed based on the selected theories. A total of 43 distinct slang expressions were identified and classified into five types: Fresh and Creative, Flippant, Imitative, Acronym, and Clipping. Fresh and Creative was the most dominant type, accounting for 32 expressions (74.42%). The findings also show that slang expressions serve various social functions, including solidarity, social identity, interpersonal relationships, cultural tradition, emotional attachment, and conflict resolution. The study demonstrates that slang in Neighbors is not only used as informal vocabulary but also functions as a resource for expressing social relationships and identities within different interactional contexts.
References
Adams, M. (2009). Slang: The People's Poetry. Oxford University Press.
Aini, N., & Abdullah. (2024). Slang Language Used in Sing 2 Movie. ELITERATE. https://doi.org/10.26858/eliterate.v3i2.44601
Allan, K., & Burridge, K. (2006). Forbidden Words: Taboo and the Censoring of Language. Cambridge University Press.
Apriliani, W., Ruminda, & Ardiansyah, E. A. (2024). Function and Representation of Slang Word in Film Mid90s (2018): A Synchronic Approach. Journal of English Development. https://doi.org/10.25217/jed.v5i1.5238
Budiasa, I. G., Weddha Savitri, P., & Dewi, A. A. S. (2021). Penggunaan Bahasa Slang di Media Sosial. Humanis. https://doi.org/10.24843/JH.2021.v25.i02.p08
Christian, I. B., Dewi, P. C., & Agustia, K. T. S. (2023). An Analysis on Slang Words in 8 Mile Movie: A Sociolinguistics Study. JAKADARA. https://doi.org/10.36002/jd.v2i3.2682
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dewi, N. P. A. A., & Ariyaningsih, N. N. D. (2023). Types of Slang Words in The Kissing Booth 3 Movie. ELYSIAN Journal. https://doi.org/10.36733/elysian.v3i2.4967
Eble, C. (1996). Slang and Sociability: In-Group Language among College Students. University of North Carolina Press.
Herman, Asanti, C., & Setyowati, R. (2022). Slang Words in Grown Ups 2 Movie. Jurnal Ilmu Budaya. https://doi.org/10.30872/jbssb.v6i2.6232
Holmes, J. (2013). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (4th ed.). Routledge.
Jaya, S. C., Tawakkal, A., & Dewi Max, J. I. S. (2025). An Analysis of Slang Words on TikTok by Gen Z. Jurnal Ilmu Budaya, 9(2), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.30872/jbssb.v9i2.16995
Mattiello, E. (2008). An Introduction to English Slang: A Description of Its Morphology, Semantics and Sociology. Polimetrica.
Mayuni, N. K. M. A., & Ayomi, P. N. (2025). Exploring Slang Words Used by the Male and Female Main Characters in Anyone but You Movie. IDEAS Journal. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v13i2.7627
Namira, A., Wardana, M. K., & Geubrina, M. (2024). Slang Words in Free Guy Movie: Sociolinguistics Approach. Fonologi. https://doi.org/10.61132/fonologi.v2i1.403
Oktaviani, N. P. E., & Agung, I. G. A. M. (2023). Slangs Used in the Movie Lady Bird. Wanastra: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra. https://doi.org/10.31294/wanastra.v15i1.13721
Pramana, I. K. Y., & Santika, I. D. A. D. M. (2025). A Slang Analysis Used in the Movie Fast Five. ELYSIAN Journal. https://doi.org/10.36733/elysian.v5i2.10529
Putra, P. W. T., & Winarta, I. B. G. N. (2023). Types of Slang Found in Raya and the Last Dragon Movie Series 2021 by Walt Disney. EDULIA. https://doi.org/10.31539/edulia.v3i1.4697
Putri, N. K. A., & Pratiwi, D. P. E. (2023). Analysis of Slang Words Used by Main Character in Senior Year Movie. Jurnal Penelitian Mahasiswa Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.36663/jpmi.v3i3.632
Rahma, N., & Moetia, M. (2024). An Analysis of Using Slang Word in Social Media X. Syntax Idea, 6(8), 3562–3570. https://doi.org/10.46799/syntax-idea.v6i8.4307
Raihan, K., Netra, I. M., & Mulyana, N. (2024). Contextualizing the Use of Slang Words With References to Venom: Let There Be Carnage Movie. Sintaksis. https://doi.org/10.61132/sintaksis.v2i4.880
Sitohang, D. P., & Damanik, B. A. R. (2025). A Semantic Analysis of Slang Words Used by Gen Z on Social Media. Young Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(2), 141–150. https://doi.org/10.66867/yjssh.v1i2.147
Syahputra, P. S., & Syafitri, D. (2022). Slang Words Analysis in the Movie Ralph Breaks the Internet. EDULIA. https://doi.org/10.31539/edulia.v2i2.3939
Wardhaugh, R., & Fuller, J. M. (2021). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (8th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Wina, N. K., & Marantika, I. M. Y. (2024). A Slang Analysis Used in the Die Hart Movie. Proceedings of the Linguistics, Literature, Culture and Arts International Seminar (LITERATES), 96–103.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 I Gede Dio Praja Ananta, I Made Perdana Skolastika
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access)
