Taboo Words in Rap Song Lyrics

Taboo words are always associated with
inappropriate language and it cannot be used in daily
conversations. Therefore, taboo words still manage as offensive
and savage words in most languages, such as English. However, it
seems that nowadays the attitude towards the function of taboo
words has already changed. The changes happened because the
legal sanctions were disappearing and there were tendency that
now in some society, people are getting more relaxed to accept
taboo words. The purpose of this study is todescribe the types of
taboo words in Eminem’s song lyrics. This study is a descriptive
qualitative research. The data collected by selecting and
analyzing containing taboo words in the lyrics and analyzed
using a theory of types of taboo words proposed by Batistella
(2005). Based on the data analysis obscenity is the most
appearing type in this research because it is considered to be the
most effective way to insult someone. The least frequently used
taboo word is profanity. Therefore, it can be noticed that
profanity is not effective enough to be used as an offensive word
to debase other people’s pride, because it is usually categorized as
religions coursing and includes the foul-mouthed use of what is
considered to be sacred.