Language in Deddy Corbuzier’s Podcast Becomes Subject of Linguistic Research at Universitas Negeri Medan
Language that sounds rude in podcasts does not always mean hostility. That is the key finding of a recent study conducted by Universitas Negeri Medan, which examined the use of impoliteness strategies in Close The Door, the popular podcast hosted by Deddy Corbuzier. Published in 2026, the study explored how seemingly impolite expressions function in digital conversations, particularly in an episode featuring Fajar Sadboy and Indra Frimawan. The research was led by Atika Anjani, together with Khairunnisa Azzahra, Novani Elisabeth Lingga, Nurhikmah Siagian, Resa Aquilera Ramadhani, and Meisuri, all from Universitas Negeri Medan. Their findings suggest that rude expressions in digital media often serve as humor, spontaneous emotional reactions, or tools to create stronger audience engagement. The study is significant because podcasts have become one of the most influential forms of digital communication in Indonesia. Programs such as Close The Door are widely recognized for their direct, provocative, and sometimes controversial speaking style, making them a rich source for analyzing how language shapes entertainment and public discourse.
Rude Language in Digital Media Is Not Always Negative
In pragmatics, impoliteness refers to language strategies that threaten a person’s “social face,” including dignity, self-esteem, or acceptance in a social group. However, in entertainment media, the meaning of such expressions can shift depending on context. The researchers found that criticism, teasing, sarcasm, and direct insults in the podcast often functioned as playful banter rather than serious verbal attacks. The close social relationship between the host and guests softened the impact of many harsh expressions. According to Atika Anjani and her team, this shows that communication in digital spaces cannot be understood solely through the literal words spoken. Social context, speaker relationships, and the setting of the interaction all shape how meaning is interpreted.
Examining the Conversation Between Fajar Sadboy and Deddy Corbuzier
The study used a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected from spoken dialogue in a Close The Door episode uploaded on YouTube. The researchers transcribed the conversation and analyzed expressions that reflected impoliteness using the pragmatic framework developed by Jonathan Culpeper. Culpeper’s theory identifies five types of impoliteness strategies:
-Bald on record impoliteness
-Positive impoliteness
-Negative impoliteness
-Sarcasm or mock impoliteness
-Withholding politeness
From the selected episode, the researchers identified 14 utterances that contained these strategies.
Negative Impoliteness Appears Most Frequently
The study found that negative impoliteness was the most dominant strategy. This type occurs when a speaker pressures, intimidates, or forces another speaker to respond. The distribution of findings was:
-Negative impoliteness: 29.41%
-Bald on record impoliteness: 23.53%
-Positive impoliteness: 17.65%
-Withholding politeness: 17.65%
-Sarcasm/mock impoliteness: 11.76%
One example analyzed in the study was when Deddy Corbuzier called Fajar Sadboy “goblok” (stupid) while discussing his claim of being unconscious for 13 days. Linguistically, this expression qualifies as a direct attack. However, the researchers noted that within the context of the podcast, the phrase was interpreted more as spontaneous entertainment than as genuine insult.
Podcasts as a New Field for Language Studies
The research highlights that podcasts are not only entertainment platforms but also important spaces for modern linguistic study. Their unscripted, emotional, and spontaneous conversations offer authentic data for understanding real-life language use. Atika Anjani and her colleagues argue that impoliteness in podcasts can serve multiple communicative functions:
-expressing spontaneous emotions,
-creating humor,
-strengthening the host’s public persona,
-increasing audience engagement.
These findings are important because rude language is often automatically seen as negative behavior. In digital communication, however, context can transform it into humor, rhetorical strategy, or social bonding.
Implications for Media and Education
The study provides insights for the digital media industry, showing that direct and emotionally expressive communication can become a powerful content strategy. Hosts who appear spontaneous and unfiltered may create stronger audience interest. For education, the findings can help linguistics students understand how pragmatic theories apply to modern digital platforms such as podcasts, social media, and online interviews. In public policy and media literacy, the research suggests that audiences need stronger critical awareness to distinguish between rude language used as entertainment and language that genuinely harms or humiliates others.
Researchers’ Perspective
Atika Anjani from Universitas Negeri Medan explained that impoliteness strategies in modern podcasts are not always intended to create conflict. According to the authors, many expressions categorized as impolite in linguistic theory are actually used to create relaxed interaction, humor, and stronger audience involvement in digital conversations.
Author Profile
Atika Anjani, S.Pd. A researcher in linguistics and pragmatics at Universitas Negeri Medan. Her academic interests include digital media discourse, pragmatics, and language studies in online communication.
Co-authors: Khairunnisa Azzahra, Novani Elisabeth Lingga, Nurhikmah Siagian, Resa Aquilera Ramadhani, and Meisuri, all affiliated with the Faculty of Languages and Arts at Universitas Negeri Medan.
Research Source
Article title: An Analysis of Impoliteness Strategies in “Close the Door” Podcast by Deddy Corbuzier
Journal: International Journal of Integrative Research
Publication year: 2026
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