Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English, Cordova Public College
Student Research
Swearing is a language activity often considered taboo in formal communication. It has increasingly become a prominent language in online media, particularly among content creators, like IShowSpeed. This study analyzed the types of swearing he uses in his travel vlogs, how such language depicts his identity as an influencer, and the audience's reception of his profanity. The researchers used a qualitative exploratory design to examine the selected videos from his Live Speedy channel. Findings showed that IshowSpeed's swearing is multifunctional and context-driven, aligning with Steven Pinker's Five Categories of Swearing. Dysphemistic and abusive swearing occurs when he is annoyed by his audience, while idiomatic and emphatic swearing occurs in moments of shock or excitement, used to emphasize emotions rather than to offend. The cathartic type is used to release frustration caused by culture shock during his international trips. As an influencer, his usage of swearing contributes to his authenticity and reinforces his bold and unfiltered vlogger brand image. However, this element in his communication further creates cultural tension, as a significant fraction of his audience, particularly those from conservative cultural backgrounds, detest his excessive swearing utterances. The findings ultimately revealed the critical role of culture, context, and language in shaping how swearing in the digital realm is created, interpreted, and received by a content creator and his audience.
Content Analysis, Swearing, IshowSpeed, Communication, Language Use
Cordova Public College
[1] M. G. REBUYON, H. S. S. HINOS, J. C. LOVITOS, P. D. J. MISA, J. P. NOYNAY, and R. T. PANTONIAL, “A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ISHOWSPEED’S YOUTUBE TRAVEL VIDEOS,” unpublished student research, Cordova Public College, 2025.
