Vulgarity and Art: Making Sense of Indecent Words in Iraqi Romantic Folk Songs

Abstract

Offensive language is frequently encountered in daily life, especially in casual communication, as it is often seen as a more effective way to express emotions and various situations. This study explores the use of vulgar language in the lyrics of Iraqi nightclub songs, applying Wardhaugh’s (2006) theory of offensive language to analyze the collected data. The research examines the functions of vulgar words in folk singers’ songs ‘Lovers Evening’. The data was sourced from TikTok song lyrics, with the singers' statements serving as the primary material. The findings identify four key functions of vulgar language, with the most common being to attract attention, convey crudeness, and ridicule authority. The paper also offers insights and recommendations for future research on the use of vulgar language.