ANALYSIS OF SLANG WORDS IN THE "OUTER BANKS" SERIES AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the use of slang in the Netflix series "Outer Banks" as a manifestation of social stratification between the working-class group and the upper-class group. Using a sociolinguistic approach and a qualitative descriptive method, this research analyzes dialogues from 20 episodes of the first two seasons. The findings identify seven main categories of slang that function as markers of group identity and instruments for maintaining social boundaries. The use of informal language not only reflects existing class hierarchies but also actively constructs and reproduces social structures through linguistic inclusion and exclusion mechanisms. This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between language, identity, and social stratification in the context of contemporary media representation.

Keywords: Sociolinguistics, Social Stratification, Linguistic Identity, Popular Media, Language Variation.