Teenagers’ Language Use in Batam: Language Variation

Abstract

This research is aimed to figure out the phenomenon of language variation that
is used among teenagers in Batam. The language variations which are created
by teenagers contrast to the standard language formula. The aplication of that
language can massively affect the standard language used in every formal
situation. Knowing the basic knowledge about the variation, how are the process
of constructing the non-standard language and the aspect of language can
help the teenagers to avoid the devastating of standard language. The result of
the research showed that in daily conversation among teenagers in Batam, the
teenagers mostly used the non-standard language in their interaction involving
the slang and colloquial languages. The use of these languages were frequently
mixed by other languages, such as English language and regional language that
teenagers imitated from Jakarta. Moreover, teenagers mostly used the slang and
colloquial languages in the informal situation.
Keywords: Language variation, slang, colloquial.