The Functions of Vulgar Language in Basa Suroboyoan During Social Interactions Within Urban Communities

Basa Suroboyoan is a subdialect of Javanese known for its rough language, characterized by its lexicon, idioms, and expressions. This study aims to describe the function of vulgar language in Basa Suroboyoan within social interactions among urban communities. It employs a qualitative approach using descriptive analysis method. The research data were obtained through Free-Participation-Observation technique conducted directly in locations where social interactions occur, specifically traditional markets, coffee shops, and bus terminals. The data were analyzed using Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) based on seven language functions. The findings revealed that vulgar language in Basa Suroboyoan serves as an effective communication tool in diverse urban social interactions. In traditional markets, vulgar language facilitates quicker transactions and emphasize negotiation. In coffee shops, the use of vulgar language generates humor, strengthens social relationships, and provides an informal avenue for criticism. At bus terminals, vulgar language contributes to controlling situations through assertive and direct communication. Furthermore, vulgar language significantly aids in expressing emotions, clarifying intentions, and aligning with the purpose of interaction. This study demonstrates that vulgar language in Basa Suroboyoan has an important role as an effective communication tool in various social interactions in Surabaya, Indonesia. It also contributes to SFL studies by providing insights into the use of language that can fulfill various communication functions in urban societies.