Matakuliah : O0394 – Teknik Reportase dan News Caster
Tahun
: 2010
Words and Language used
in Broadcasting
Pertemuan 17 – 18
Learning Objectives
This section will discuss the kind of words and the language
that must be used during broadcasting. During the lecture, it is
expected that the students will understand why such words
and language must be avoided or must be obeyed.
It is also expected that students will understand that there are
rules on the words and the language and the act of breaking
the rules will obtain certain penalty.
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Words… Words… Words… (1/8)
 As for the name ‘broadcast’, the word means the
distribution of audio and/or video signals which
transmit programs to audience. The audience may be
the general public or a relatively large sub-audience,
such as children or young adults.
 The use of words depends on the media that
broadcast the program.
 There are the don’ts and the dos.
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Words… Words… Words… (1/4)
What are the requirements of words used in building sentences
for broadcasting purpose?
Soren H Munhoff stated: “… exact, simple, clear, and believable.”
According to Fang (1971): “… avoid the use of more than 20 words
in a sentence.”
John Hohenberg (1958): “… right words, right grammar.”
Use active instead of passive words;
Use efficient words;
Use non-technical words and terms.
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Words… Words… Words… (2/4)

Example of sentences that meet the easy-listening formula (ELF)
and the use of active words:
a.
“That’s news for today. We will be back at 21:00 for the World
News.”
b.
“The Government of Indonesia yesterday awarded the farmers in
Boyolali (Central Java) for their efforts to improve their farming
techniques.”
c.
“Fire that blazed 150 houses in Semarang (Central Java) last
night had caused hundred of people lost their shelters and
families. That’s the report from our reporter on the spot.”
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Words… Words… Words… (3/4)
 Example on the use of efficient words means that
if the unnecessary words are eliminated then the
elimination will not change the meaning:
Inefficient: “She was born in Jakarta city on the
month of October at the day 15th 1988.”
Efficient: “She was born in Jakarta on October 15
1988.”
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Words… Words… Words… (4/4)
 Example on the use of non-technical words and
terms :
“Due to bad weather, the pilot of DC-9 used the
instrument flight (one of flying techniques known by
the pilot).
The use of technical words and terms is allowed only
if the words and terms are followed with the word
explanation.
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Words… The Don’ts (1/7)
Are there ‘the don’ts’ words during broadcasting?
1. Forget the naughty words
The idea that naughty words are more horrible than
missing the opportunity to save lives is a strange
combination of values;
The words were considered highly inappropriate and
unsuitable for broadcast on the public airwaves all over
the world, whether radio or television.
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Words… The Don’ts (2/7)
2. FCC Chairman Michael Powell said the decisions
were simply intended to signal that "vulgar
language" will no longer be tolerated on the nation's
airwaves.
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Words… The Don’ts (3/7)
For example:
Most of the FCC's precedent-shattering moves were included
in a decision confronting an agency staff ruling that held that
rock star Bono's use of the expression, "F***ing brilliant," on
NEC's broadcast of last year's Golden Globes Awards had not
run afoul of indecency prohibitions.
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=595817761&S
rchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT
=309&VName=PQD&TS=1263428345&clientId=68814)
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Words… The Don’ts (4/7)
3. Blasphemy or divine curse are considered as highly
offensive as the 'F-word’.
What is that?
An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs;
impiously irreverent words or signs addressed to, or used in
reference to, God; speaking evil of God; also, the act of
claiming the attributes or prerogatives of deity.
(http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/B/63)
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Words… The Don’ts (5/7)
Is ‘blasphemy’ really one of the ‘to-avoid’ kind of words? Yes…
It is a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at
any time;
It is a violation of federal law to air indecent programming;
It is also a prohibition of federal law to use profane
language during certain hours.
(http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/obscene.html)
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Words… The Don’ts (6/7)
4.
Racial stereotyping or racial labeling is passé, buddy!
A stereotype is a commonly held public belief about specific
social groups, or types of individuals. The concepts of
"stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other
different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified
conceptions of groups, based on some prior assumptions.
A stereotype can be considered 'positive', or 'negative'.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype#Racial_and_ethnic_stere
otyping)
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Words… The Don’ts (7/7)
For example:
Whether Asian, Latino, Arab, Black, or White, we're all just
people whose diverse and individual characters cannot be justly
described by broad and sweeping racial terms. It's time to come
together as One Coalition of Asian, Latino, Arab, Black, and
White (Not of Hispanic Origin) people to demand the end of
stifling racial labeling and the ethnic divisions it inspires!
(Taken from Facebook: The Asian, Latino, Arab, Black, and
White Coalition against Racial Labeling)
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Rules of Words in Broadcasting (1/2)
Are there rules to the use of “the don’ts” words or
language during broadcasting?
Federal Communications Commission (FCC):
“Obscene, Indecent, Profane Words: Yes, It’s Against
the Law!”
(http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/obscene.html)
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Rules of Words in Broadcasting (2/2)
Are there penalties for broadcasting companies who
break the law?
Congress has given the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) the responsibility for administratively
enforcing these laws. The FCC may revoke a station license,
impose a monetary forfeiture, or issue a warning if a station
airs obscene, indecent, or profane material.
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How About the Language? (1/8)
What are the characteristics of (proper) language that
must be used in broadcasting?
Formal language
Informal language
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How About the Language? (2/8)
Formal Language
 Right and grammatically correct;
 Usually used by newsreader, newscaster, and anchor;
 Example on the use of formal language in broadcasting:
a. “The Government of Indonesia awarded a farmer, Amin,
in Sumedang.”
b. “Shrimp have become the most potential commodity in
East Java.”
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How About the Language? (3/8)
Informal Language
According to Julian Harris, Kelly Letter and Stanley Johnson (1985:
21):
“Two importance writing techniques mark the difference between
news prepared for radio and television and that written for
newspapers. One is the construction of sentences and the other is
the informal language used. Newscast writers tend to write as
people informally and with familiar words. The sentences are short,
simple, straight to the point, with emphasis upon ending. Complex
words and sentences are avoided… “
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How About the Language? (4/8)
So, are there characteristics for informal language as well?

Right and (not necessarily) grammatically correct;

Usually used by reporters when they provide live news;

There are important issues in conveying the informal
language:
a. informal sentence structure and the use of simple words;
b. the use the ELF to enable the audiences listen and
understand easily;
c.
not onto the very detail messages since the news only takes
seconds for the audience to watch.
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How About the Language? (5/8)
 Example of the use of informal language in
broadcasting:
a. “Again, the fire blazes hundred of houses in Semarang.”
b. “Amin, profile of the lucky farmer in Sumedang, …”
c. “The fire cracker ‘party’ celebrating the New Year’s eve
2010 that was conducted on the exact 23:59 o’clock
near Bengawan Solo river bank attracted about 23, 150
spectators… “
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How About the Language? (6/8)
The use of informal language can also be in the form
of ‘changing’ the noun into adjective:
“Jakarta is over-polluted now.”
Change into:
“The over-pollution of Jakarta has been the most
main consideration for the tourists to visit the city.”
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How About the Language? (7/8)
How the language ‘presented’ into news text:
Anchor/ Newscaster:
“The blazed in Semarang that destroyed hundred of
houses had increased the death toll from 29 to 60
people. It is noted that 215 families lost their shelters
and they are now in badly need of food, clothing, and
place to sleep during the nights. Here are our reporter
from the spot:…
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How About the Language? (8/8)
Reporter:
“… Again, the blaze in Semarang. This time a crowded
neighborhood is the target. The fire started from a
blown up stove in the house of the Sulaiman as
witness said …”
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Closing
At the end of this discussion, it is expected that the
students will be able to compose a good sentence
using the right words with the right sentence structure.
It will be very much better if students have the
mastery in grammar of the language they used when
writing the news scripts.
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