Linguistic Style Research Articles

A Linguistic Analysis of United States Navy Orthopaedic Surgery Applicant Personal Statements.

Despite the importance of linguistic analysis, no systematic research has been explored in the form of linguistic analysis on personal statements for military orthopedic surgery residency programs. This study was conducted to analyze U.S. Navy (USN) orthopedic surgery applicants' personal statements using an automated textual analysis program to assess personal statements for linguistic styles. A retrospective analysis of USN orthopedic applicant personal statements from application years 2016 to 2019 was performed utilizing the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software. LIWC analyzed the text for summary variables: analytical thinking, clout, authenticity, and emotional tone. We compared this analysis with Step 1 and Step 2 scores and determined whether an applicant matched. A total of 94 personal statements (60,230 words) were analyzed using LIWC. The average word count was 640.7, with an average of 23 words per sentence. The average-matched applicant USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores were 240 and 250, respectively. When examining summary traits utilizing multiple logistic regression analysis, only analytical thinking demonstrated a statistically significant difference in matched versus unmatched applicants with a P = .011 (OR = 1.10). As the USMLE Step 1 exam transitions from a scoring system to Pass/Fail grading, programs will look at other characteristics to determine who would likely succeed in residency. From a linguistic analysis standpoint, matched applicants' personal statements demonstrated higher analytical thinking, clout, affiliation, power, and risk focus than unmatched applicants. Unmatched applicants demonstrated higher authenticity than matched applicants.

Terjemahan Ungkapan Slang dalam Novel To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before karya Jenny Han

The current issue in the translation process is the inappropriate choice of technique, which affects the accuracy and acceptability of the translation, as well as the need to identify slang expressions from the source language to the target language to ensure the style aligns with the target language's characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the techniques used to translate slang expressions from English (the source language) into Indonesian (the target language) using the theories of Butkuiviena and Petrulionē (2010), and Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) in the novel To All The Boys I've Loved Before, while also analyzing the linguistic style of the slang translation from English into Indonesian using Joos's theory (1967). The research method employed is qualitative, with document analysis for data collection. Meanwhile, the data analysis method uses thematic analysis. The results show that the most dominant technique used by translators for translating slang expressions is the literal technique. This finding suggests that the literal translation technique is generally capable of accommodating and sufficiently accurate in translating slang expressions in this novel, which features light and casual language use. Given that the novel narrates a simple teenage story, the dominant linguistic style in the translation of slang expressions is casual style. This finding reflects that the novel's style closely resembles the preferred linguistic style of young readers, who tend to be more relaxed, friendly, and open.

War, terror and mourning. Cultural memory in the inner dialogue

ABSTRACT This text compares four essays dealing with war, state terror in dictatorships, social violence such as racism, mourning and the avoidance of mourning. It shows that dictatorships share similarities in their techniques of manipulation, linguistic style and reference to history. They seek to exploit national myths through manipulative alienation. Myths are a central element of cultural memory, and their effect can be understood through a model of internal dialogue. This dialogue determines whether the regime's attempts at manipulation are successful.

Digital human calls you dear: How do customers respond to virtual streamers’ social-oriented language in e-commerce livestreaming? A stereotyping perspective

Social-oriented language as a linguistic style can improve customer experiences in various service contexts, involving both human employees and AI-enabled service agents. The emergence of digital human characters in e-commerce livestreaming, also known as virtual streamers, raises the question: Can social-oriented language used by virtual streamers increase the customers' purchase intention? However, the theoretical understanding of whether, how, and when the interaction effect between virtual streamers' social-oriented language and product type influences purchase intention remains far from conclusive. Based on the stereotype content model (SCM), we developed a theoretical model to explain the mechanism between virtual streamers' linguistic style and customers’ purchase intention. A multi-method study combining two online experiments, one lab experiment, and one focus group was conducted to explore the effectiveness of social-oriented language (Study 1: N = 321; Study 2: N = 292; Study 3: N = 120; Study 4: N = 9). Participants in both Study 1 and Study 2 were recruited online and were randomly assigned to a condition in 2 (linguistic style: social-oriented vs. task-oriented) × 2 (product type: experience vs. search) between-subjects experimental design. Participants were recruited in the university by three blind-to-hypothesis experimenters in Study 3 and were randomly assigned to a condition in 2 (linguistic style: social-oriented vs. task-oriented) × 2 (product type: experience vs. search) × 2 (virtual streamer type: human-like vs. animated) between-subjects experimental design in the behavioral lab. Participants in Study 4 were recruited from a large WeChat group specifically interested in online shopping discounts. The results of Study 1 indicate the effect of social-oriented language on purchase intention solely in the experience product condition. Study 2 demonstrates the mediating role of perceived warmth and perceived competence, and confirms a compensatory effect and a positive relationship between perceived warmth and competence. Study 3 verifies the moderating role of the virtual streamer type while a focus group Study 4 supports the findings from Studies 1–3. Our findings extend the livestreaming commerce literature by exploring the implications of social-oriented language and task-oriented language when the live streamer is a digital human rather than a human. Also, we provide fresh insights into the literature on human-AI interactions by unraveling both the cognitive mechanism and the boundary condition, deepening our understanding of a novel but under-investigated phenomenon. Furthermore, our findings provide practical implications for livestreaming commerce practitioners.

"Nolite te bastardes carborundorum": Corpus Stylistics and Language of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale

This paper investigates the stylistic and linguistic characteristics of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, a novel of Canadian origin. Employing a corpus-based approach, the researcher aims to analyze its stylistic features in-depth, focusing on specific predetermined categories. Quantitative analysis was facilitated through WordSmith 8.0 software, enabling the identification of keywords in context, which serve as indicators of the linguistic style within the selected corpus. Results indicate that the novel employs simple language and concise sentence structures. Moreover, it demonstrates lexical diversity, encompassing various themes with a higher type-token ratio (TTR), indicative of a diverse vocabulary. Notably, there is a notable prevalence of first-person singular pronouns throughout the text. Regarding content word distribution, verbs are the most frequently utilized, followed by nouns, pronouns, adverbs, and adjectives—additionally, the analysis of keywords aids in uncovering stylistic and linguistic elements embedded within the text.

Are women entrepreneurs more androgynous than men entrepreneurs? A comparative content analysis of language used by Shark Tank India Judges

ABSTRACT Despite a significant increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in India, it remains a gendered profession. In this study, we aim to re-examine gender dynamics in entrepreneurship by using language as an interpretative tool to assess entrepreneurs’ psychological characteristics – motives, values, and linguistic styles. There has been a lack of academic research that focuses on successful women entrepreneurs. To address this, we specifically focused on seven entrepreneurs, who appeared as judges on Shark Tank India, Season One. Using computer-aided text analysis (LIWC software), we content-analysed 571 Tweets, 328 LinkedIn posts, and 13 media interaction videos (total 436:38 minutes), resulting in 912 individual observations. Results showed evidence of gender maturity in entrepreneurship, suggesting that women entrepreneurs had androgynous stable dispositions of both masculine and feminine characteristics. However, analysis of the media interactions showed that women entrepreneurs are significantly higher on affiliation motive as compared to their counterparts. This paradoxical situation validates the socio-cultural embeddedness where the perceptive portrayal of Indian women entrepreneurs as communal continues to be rooted in deep gender-bias. Interestingly, in terms of language usage, we found that women employed more masculine language than men, facilitating their entry and acceptance in a male-dominated profession.

Implicit relational aspects of the therapeutic relationship in psychoanalytic treatments: an examination of linguistic style entrainment over time

Objective: In an attempt to operationalize an implicit aspect of the therapeutic relationship, this study assesses reciprocal linguistic style entrainment (rLSM) between the patient and therapist. rLSM is defined as the dynamic adjustment of function word usage to synchronize or to be in rhythm with another person as they change over time. Method: In this exploratory study, levels of rLSM per talk turn were analyzed for 540 sessions of 27 long-term psychoanalytic treatments in relation to treatment outcomes. Results: Within sessions, rLSM appeared to decrease by the end of sessions and followed a negative linear trajectory, βlinear = −0.0002, SE < .001, t = −13.04, p < .001. Between sessions, rLSM showed significant variability such that neither a linear, nor a quadratic, nor a cubic trend line fit the session-by-session change over treatment. On average, therapist talk turns had significantly lower rLSM than patient talk turns, while accounting for the nested nature of the data using multilevel models βSpeakerT = −0.033, SE = 0.009, t = −3.65, p < .001. Levels of rLSM did not relate to treatment outcome. Conclusion: Most of the rLSM variance was at the within-patient and within-session level. rLSM was no indicator of psychoanalytic treatment outcomes.

Analyzing Speech Accommodation Model in 1st Debate of the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Candidates

In Indonesia, candidates, especially presidential candidates, are busy crafting positive narratives to build a positive image. In this study, we will look at language use from the macro level, namely, the situation and function of communication, as well as at the micro level, which is how the verbal interactions of language users communicate their ideas in front of the public. The current article uses qualitative with descriptive and interpretative types. Analysis of the Speech Accommodation Model in the first debate of the 2024 Indonesian presidential candidates reveals several key insights into how candidates strategically adapt their language to connect with different audiences and achieve their communication goals. The analysis highlights the dynamic nature of accommodation, with candidates shifting their linguistic styles based on situational factors, such as the topic of discussion, the perceived attitudes of the audience, and the rhetorical strategies employed by their opponents. This research provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between language, identity, and power in political communication. By examining how candidates navigate linguistic diversity and negotiate their rhetorical stance, we acquire a deeper understanding of the strategies employed to engage, persuade, and mobilize voters in pursuing electoral success. And detail model used by all candidates is summed up as follows; inward convergence, outward convergence, divergence, con in dive accommodation, and over-accommodation.

Alienation, Ferocity, and Rhetoric of Confusion in Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party

Printer’s ‘The Birthday Party’ has received considerable recognition among literary critics over the last decade. This is mostly due to the fact that Pinter abandons the traditional portrayal of characters. Many critics, however, scarcely paid attention to the significance of the characters’ linguistic style, particularly, the extent the players’ rhetoric is used as a means for confusion and manipulation. As this research explains, Printer’s play exposes the ferocious and confusing functions of language beyond its normal function as a means of productive communication. To do so, the research concisely analyses the rhetorical style of the two main antagonists in The Birthday Party as they try to control and manipulate the main protagonist linguistically. The play also, as the research explains, reveals the link between the lack of communication among characters in a domestic space and the development of a sense of loss and alienation by the main protagonist.

Characterizing Developers' Linguistic Behaviors in Open Source Development across Their Social Statuses

Open Source Software (OSS) development has attracted numerous developers. As a typical complex sociotechnical system, an OSS project often forms a hierarchical social structure where a few developers are elite while the rest are non-elite. Differences in social status may result in distinct language use behaviors in interpersonal communication. Characterizing such behaviors is critical for supporting efficient and effective communication among developers with different social statuses. This study empirically compared elite and non-elite developers' language behaviors in their communication. We compiled a corpus of - 216,000 discourses collected from 20 large projects on GitHub. We investigated the linguistic differences in three aspects, namely, linguistic styles and characters, main concerns, and sentence patterns. Our findings reveal that elite and non-elite developers showed different linguistic patterns and had different concerns in their discourses. Their discourses also reflect the variation of the main focuses in the development process. Furthermore, elite and non-elite developers exhibited noticeable patterns in their linguistic behaviors in accordance with their roles and corresponding divisions of labor in the production process, no matter which semantic contexts. These findings provide implications for supporting communication that crosses social statuses in OSS development.

How do avatar characteristics affect applicants' interactional justice perceptions in artificial intelligence‐based job interviews?

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI)‐based job interviews are increasingly adopted in organizations' recruitment activities. Despite their standardization and flexibility, concerns about fairness for applicants remain a critical challenge. Taking a perspective on interface design, this research examines the role of avatar characteristics in shaping perceptions of interactional justice in AI‐based job interviews. Through a scenario‐based study involving 465 participants, the impact of avatar characteristics—specifically, appearance, linguistic style, and feedback informativeness—on applicants' perceptions of interpersonal justice and informational justice was investigated. The findings indicate that avatars characterized by a warm and cheerful appearance, coupled with an affective expression style and informative feedback, significantly enhance perceptions of interpersonal justice and informational justice. These insights offer valuable practical guidance for avatar design in AI‐based job interview systems.

Social media content strategy for DMOs: examining linguistic style in times of crisis

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically impacted destination marketing organisations’ (DMOs) communication and consumer engagement on social media. The study examines consumer engagement during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-COVID, lockdown, post-lockdown) based on the language used by DMOs in their social media communications. An analysis of 21,677 tweets recording 3.63 million impressions on 23 official Indian DMOs’ Twitter handles was undertaken. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count dictionary examined the tweets’ linguistic characteristics. Negative binomial regression was employed to test the hypotheses. Results show that 1) consumer engagement on Twitter, measured as likes and retweets, increased during lockdown; 2) the use of linguistic text features by DMOs has changed with the pandemic stages; and 3) while cognition significantly explained the changes in consumer engagement, positive emotion partially explained, and confidence failed to account for the changes. The findings provide operational guidance for DMOs on how to design social media content.

An Analysis of Translation of Literary Texts under the Guidance of Adaptation Theory— A Case Study of White Teeth (Excerpt)

As an important part of cross-cultural communication, the significance of translating literary works accurately is self-evident. In specific translation practice, how to clear cultural barriers, resolve cultural misunderstandings, and faithfully convey meanings have always been challenges for translators. Literary texts often have a large number of long and difficult sentences while Adaptation Theory advocates conforming to the linguistic characteristics and style of the translated text, which has a certain guiding effect on the translation of English-Chinese literary texts. Based on the translation practice of White Teeth (excerpts), this paper analyzes the specific role of Adaptation Theory in translation practice, with a view to providing specific references for the translation of literary texts.

Revisiting the rhetorical construction of political consent

Abstract How political leaders construct consent is a constant theme of studies in political rhetoric and theories of persuasion. We explore how populist linguistic strategies combine with traditional consensus-building to align populations with the speakers’ messages. We observe similarities and differences in discourse strategies across two contrasting polities, the UK, a foundational modern representative democracy and Russia, which is considered more autocratic. The data comes from speeches given by Boris Johnson and Vladimir Putin during the Covid-19 crisis. They were analysed using Corpus Linguistics, compared in qualitative analysis that identities key lexico-grammatical features. The findings show a convergence in some of the strategies and linguistic styles, but also key differences which, we suggest, depend on cultural factors specific to the two nations. The results contribute to our understanding of the operation of these resources in modern political discourse, highlighting the way cultural factors influence rhetorical styles in very different political structures.

Does your style engage? Linguistic styles of influencers and digital consumer engagement on YouTube

As social media influencers have become a global phenomenon, brands are channeling substantial resources into influencer marketing campaigns. Researchers are keenly exploring diverse content factors that wield influence in online social spheres, including linguistic elements. However, uncertainties persist regarding their association with digital consumer engagement. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study takes a comprehensive approach to identify prevalent linguistic styles employed by social media influencers, integrating multiple linguistic variables. We collected data and audio transcripts from over 11,000 videos featuring 151 top YouTube influencers. Native language processing and automated coding were then employed to extract linguistic variables from the videos. Utilizing a data dimensionality reduction technique (t-SNE), we streamlined their complexity and categorized them to unearth patterns in linguistic style within the sample. Consequently, we proposed an original taxonomy comprising seven linguistic styles used by influencers: videos of expert advice, storytelling, intimate experiences, struggle and overcoming, motivation and guidance, coaching and mentoring, and middle-of-the-road videos. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that each linguistic style correlates with varying levels of digital consumer engagement. These findings not only enhance the existing body of knowledge on influencer marketing and social influence but also offer important insights for influencers and marketing practitioners on selecting the most effective linguistic style for content creation to drive consumer engagement.

Exploring Pragmatic Adaptation in Television News Translation: A Case Study of Moroccan National TV

The study explores pragmatic adaptation in translating foreign TV news, focusing on Moroccan National TV practices. Translation connects cultures, necessitating an understanding of pragmatics for effective communication. Investigating this complex process is crucial to ensure that translated discourse resonates with the target audience. Foreign news, following Baker's multifunctional approach, seeks to influence audiences, demanding meticulous adaptation of linguistic nuances by translators. The study examines three axes: TV news linguistic style, translation techniques, and their efficacy. Data from translated foreign news aired on Moroccan National TV in Arabic will be analyzed, focusing on language style and register. Pragmatic adaptations in TV news translation will be scrutinized, evaluating effectiveness in fidelity to the source. A qualitative approach will be used, aligning with the study's focus on pragmatic adaptation techniques. Primary sources include culturally rich English news broadcasts translated into Arabic by Moroccan National TV translators, supplemented by al-Oula TV news topics. Through this investigation, the study aims to deepen understanding of translating foreign TV news dynamics and illuminate pragmatic adaptations in the Moroccan context.

Realism at the Philosophical Level in Samuel Beckett's Selected Plays

The paper embarks on a fascinating journey into the intricate web woven between language and the human mind within the enigmatic world of Samuel Beckett's plays, specifically, Krapp’s Last Tape and Waiting for Godot. Beckett, celebrated for his exploration of existential themes and innovative linguistic style, provides a canvas that invites us to explore how language serves as a mirror to our innermost thoughts and emotions. The paper, primarily, seeks to answer the question: how are linguistic structure and mental structure are interrelated. This research adopts a multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from linguistics, psychology, and existentialism to dissect carefully chosen plays by Beckett. In doing so, the paper pays special attention to the tools of repetition, silence, and fragmented discourse that Beckett employs to craft his unique narrative. The findings of this research shed light on the remarkable parallels between linguistic and mental structures in Beckett's plays. Through this, I offer fresh insights into the characters' existential struggles and the profound implications of the interplay between language and human existence. Not only does this paper enrich one’s understanding of Beckett's literary genius but also makes meaningful contributions to the realms of literature, linguistics, and philosophy by revealing the profound human dimensions encapsulated within the linguistic labyrinth of existence as portrayed in Beckett's works.

The Educational Methods deducted from The Prophetic Discourse to the Muslim Child

أمدت السنة النبوية الشريفة التربية الإسلامية بمبادئ عظيمة، ووسائل متعددة، آخذة بعين الاعتبار بناء شخصية الطفل، ووقايته من المخاطر وحمايته، بل وزادت عليها طرقًا علاجية للتغلب على أوجه القصور فيها، وذلك بما روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) من أقوال وأفعال وسلوكيات. فقد سما الخطاب التربوي النبوي في كل حالاته وتميز في كل جوانبه، وكان لخطابه وتوجيهه المباشر لأطفال الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم أبلغ الأثر في تنشئتهم وصياغة شخصياتهم التي تأهلت بحق لأن تكون من خير القرون، لأجل ذلك اخترنا هذه الدراسة، لنتناول فيها الأساليب التربوية التي استخدمها الرسول (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) في خطابه مع الأطفال، وقد اقتضت البحث أن يكون في مقدمة وثلاثة مباحث رئيسة، هي: المبحث الأول: وقد جاء بعنوان: ((التربية الإسلامية)) مفاهيم ودلالات، وقد تناولنا في هذا المبحث بيان معنى التربية في اللغة والاصطلاح، وأهمية التربية الإسلامية، والعوامل المؤثرة فيها.&#x0D; والمبحث الثاني: فقد جاء بعنوان ((مفهوم الطفولة)) وقد تناولنا في هذا المبحث بيان معنى الطفولة في اللغة والاصطلاح، وأهمية الطفولة، واهتمام التربية الإسلامية بالطفولة.&#x0D; والمبحث الثالث: فقد جاء بعنوان:((الأساليب التربوية التي تضمنها الخطاب النبوي))، وقد تناولنا في هذا المبحث أبرز الأساليب التربوية التي تضمنها الخطاب النبوي، من أساليب فكرية، ونفسية، ولغوية.

Deception detection based on the linguistic style of honest and dishonest stories

PurposeThis study aims to describe and analyze the differences in the linguistic styles of honest and dishonest stories.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a descriptive study with a multivariate analysis of linguistic categories according to the story. The research analyzed 37 honest stories and 15 dishonest stories produced during actual legal proceedings through software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC).FindingsThe authors find that individuals who engage in deception use a different number of words when they narrate facts. The results suggest a need for additional investigation of the linguistic style approach because of its high applicability and detection accuracy. This approach should be complemented by other types of verbal, nonverbal and psychophysiological deception detection techniques.Research limitations/implicationsAmong the limitations, the authors consider length of the stories should be considered and scarce scientific literature in Spanish to compare with outcomes in English.Practical implicationsThis research highlights the relevance to include linguistic style in real contexts to differentiate honest and dishonest stories due to objectivity and agility to implement.Social implicationsUnderstanding deception as a social behaviour and its psychological processes associated are elements that contribute to people and justice to comprehend it.Originality/valueAnalyzing real statements and discriminate differences in linguistic style, contribute to understand deeply this important behaviour to propose new methodologies and theories to explain it.

Signaling theory in charity-based crowdfunding: Investigating the effects of project creator characteristics and text linguistic style on fundraising performance

This research investigates the influence of project creator characteristics and text linguistic style on the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns within the realm of environmental crowdfunding. Drawing on a dataset encompassing 2641 campaigns conducted on the Tencent Gongyi platform spanning from April 2012 to December 2022, the study employs stratified regression analysis to discern the factors that contribute to variations in fundraising outcomes. In terms of hard information, the outcomes reveal that organization size, registration date, prior project initiation experience, and the organization's rating wield a noteworthy influence over the ultimate crowdfunding performance. Conversely, when considering soft information, the presence of negative emotional signals in crowdfunding texts was found to positively correlate with fundraising success. However, emotional intensity exhibited a negative impact on fundraising performance. These findings have substantial implications for practitioners engaged in environmental crowdfunding endeavors. When initiating a project, the creator should demonstrate his or her competence as much as possible to enhance credibility and in addition, should try to show negative signals in the text.