Investigating the Language Styles: A Stylistic Analysis of Adult’s Expressions in Instagram Captions

Abstract

Language is primarily used as a tool for Interpersonal communication within a society. People can engage and communicate with one another through language in both spoken and written forms. This study delves into the range of linguistic terms individuals use in their regular Instagram captions, using the "Frozen," "Formal," "Consulting," "Casual," and "Intimate" styles all included in Martin Joos' framework. The researchers performed both qualitative and quantitative analyses using a mixed-methods methodology. Joos' theory-based content analysis was selected as the method for identifying language styles in Instagram captions. Thirty captions in all were gathered from different accounts, and the main study instrument was documentation. Certain language types were found to be more common than others, according to the analysis: informal (53.3%), formal (20%), intimate (26.6%), consultative (0%), and frozen (0%). The style that is employed the most frequently is casual. A closer look reveals that the study is dominated by the casual style, which makes up 53.3% of the sampled captions. There aren't many examples of Consulting or Frozen, which suggests that users on Instagram tend to communicate informally and intimately. Our comprehension of how adults express themselves online is enhanced by this discovery. This study emphasizes the value of the informal tone in adult Instagram captions, to sum up. A clear tendency for informal and personal expression is indicated by the lack of some styles. Subsequent research endeavors may encompass a more thorough examination of the societal ramifications and dynamic language use on social media sites.