ADDRESS TERMS IN WERNER’S FRONT OF THE CLASS: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY

Abstract

This research is aimed at identifying the types, the functions, and the social factors that affect the use of address terms by the characters in Front of the Class. This research used a qualitative method because of its explanatory nature. The data  were  in  the  form  of  sentences  while  the  context  of  the  data  was conversations. The results show that firstly, all types of address terms are used by the characters with first name as the most common type since the scenes in the movie mainly portray the conversations among the ones closed to each other. Secondly, the function of address terms commonly used is to show intimacy. Thirdly, not all social factors of address terms are found. Particular occasion, age, family relationship, occupational hierarchy, transactional status, and degree of intimacy  are  the  social  factors  that  affect  the  use  of  address  terms  by  the characters. Degree of intimacy is the social factor that commonly affects the characters since the movie also tells the relationship between the main character and his closed ones. However, social status, gender and race do not affect the characters. The settings of the movie which are mainly a place that requires high level of education cause the absence of social, gender, and racial discrimination issues.

Keywords: sociolinguistics, address terms, Front of the Class