Elysian Journal : English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2025): Elysian Journal: English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies

An Analysis of Expressive Functional Language in the Movie A Man Called Otto

Giska, Ni Putu Ayu Ngurah Giska Anjani (Unknown)
Ni Wayan Suastini (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Aug 2025

Abstract

With an emphasis on how the characters' speech reflects their emotional states and the dynamics of their relationships, the current research attempts to analyze the usage of expressive language functions in the 2022 movie A Man Called Otto. Using information from the speech of the main character, Otto Anderson, as well as the speech of the supporting characters who affect Otto's emotional reactions, the current research uses a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through repeated observation of the film, involving transcription and contextual note-taking that captured setting, interlocutors, and emotional tone. Content analysis was used to categorize the data according to Halliday’s (1973) theory of language functions, with particular emphasis on the expressive or personal function. The findings reveal that Otto’s dialogue predominantly features emotive, affective, and assertive expressions, while supporting characters provide empathetic and encouraging utterances that influence the emotional progression of the narrative. The study contributes to linguistic and cinematic discourse analysis by offering a detailed account of how expressive functions are structured both syntactically and contextually within film dialogue.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

elysian

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

ELYSIAN JOURNAL is a journal with the scope of literary studies, linguistics and English translation published by the English Study Program, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Mahasaraswati Denpasar University (FBA UNMAS Denpasar). This journal is published four times a year accommodating articles ...