Chapter 4. “Oh wow! We getting ready for my funeral?”

Abstract

This paper investigates the prosodic differentiation between self-deprecation and impoliteness targeting others in YouTube video product reviews by Jeffree Star, a well-known social media (hence SM) influencer. The results show that low pitch values, longer durations, and descending melodic patterns, which are associated with impoliteness, as well as rising pitch and faster speech rates, which are indicative of self-deprecation, distinguish these two functions in Star’s performance. The paper contends that the strategy of phonological distinction between different functions of impoliteness is critical to developing a relatable in-group relationship with the community of viewers. Thus, our findings shed light on the communicative strategies used by internet influencers, as well as the importance of the understudied feature of prosody in SM context.