Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies
Vol 10, No 1 (2026): Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistics Studies (June 20

Identifying social class differences through speech style analysis in ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’

Fiolina Salsabila Maharani (English Department, Diponegoro University)
Dwi Wulandari (English Department, Universitas Diponegoro)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the relationship between speech style and social class in the film Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). This study employs a qualitative method to analyze the language style of the main characters Eggsy and Harry, who are from the lower social class and upper class, respectively. Through note-taking and thematic analysis, the writer gathered 489 total utterances from both characters. Harry’s speech consists of 226 utterances, and primarily consists of the Consultative style (124 utterances), and all employ standard grammar emblematic of his upper social class. However, Eggsy’s 263 utterances consist of the Casual speech style (153 utterances) the most and include speech that contains non-standard grammar (11 utterances), reflecting his lower social class. Additionally, the study finds that the Function social factor significantly influences both characters’ speech; Harry prioritizes message conveyance and sincerity, while Eggsy’s speech emphasizes self-expression and defense.  The study discovers that the difference in the dominant speech styles is indicative of their social class in the way they employ the speech styles in places and contexts that do not require it.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

culturalistics

Publisher

Subject

Humanities

Description

Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies is a peer-reviewed triannual scientific journal published by Department of Linguistics, Diponegoro University, Indonesia. It publishes articles in the field of cultural, literary, and linguistic ...