Like what?

Abstract

The study comprehensively analyses the interpersonal functions of like, to reflect the attitudes or thoughts of speakers. The subjects of the study were Singaporean Influencers. Their videos that they posted on YouTube, a public video-sharing website were analysed in a multimodal discourse analysis. Like was analysed taking into account its two forms: discourse marker (DM) and quotative like (be+like).

Within the study, interpersonal functions in its essence led to inexactness. Like let the hearers know that the influencers do not necessarily mean what they say or used the idea of inexactness to dramatise speech and express attitudes and opinions. In the case of quotative like (be+like), viewers were actively engaged through narrative performances which reflected the attitudes and opinions of the influencers. Events were narrated to be similar but dramatized to capture viewers and develop a greater sense of intimacy from understanding their feelings and values. DM like marked uncertainty, reduced the responsibility of the influencer and acted as a politeness device.

In a follow-up frequency analysis, DM like was also found to be used most frequently by the influencers.