Means of Communicative Manipulation Strategy Implemented by Teenage Characters (Based on American Film Discourse)

Abstract

This article examines the communicative strategy of manipulation in speech behavior of teenage characters, based on American film discourse. Manipulation is defined as a covert psychological influence aimed at shaping the interlocutor’s thoughts, intentions, or actions without their awareness, making them believe their decisions are self-determined. The study treats manipulation as a pragmalinguistic phenomenon realized through verbal and nonverbal means. The research is grounded in multiple theoretical approaches to communicative strategy, including pragmalinguistic, intentional, and communicative perspectives. A communicative strategy is understood as a planned sequence of speech actions aimed at achieving a specific communicative goal. Manipulation, in this context, may either support cooperative interaction or serve confrontational and aggressive purposes depending on a communicative situation. The empirical material consists of 872 dialogic fragments from 27 American films (1985–2017), covering genres such as comedy, drama, thriller, and adventure. Through discourse, pragmatic, and stylistic analysis, the study identifies key tactics and linguistic means used by teenage characters. Three main aspects of manipulative strategy are distinguished: cooperative, confrontational, and aggressive. In a cooperative aspect, dominant tactics are suggestion and distortion of information and insincere surprise. These tactics aim to harmonize communication and subtly influence an interlocutor. They are primarily realized through representative and expressive speech acts. Linguistically, they rely on modal words, hedging, epistemic constructions, rhetorical and elliptical sentences, and modal verbs. Nonverbal elements such as tone, facial expressions, and gestures enhance their effect. In a confrontational aspect, manipulation is mainly implemented through quasi-argumentation and fictitious indignation. These tactics create an illusion of logical reasoning or emotional reaction to influence an interlocutor. They are characterized by the use of vulgarisms, slang, epithets, reinforcing particles, and rhetorical constructions, often violating politeness norms and communicative maxims. In an aggressive aspect, the leading tactic is appealing to the interlocutor’s sensory sphere, aimed at exerting emotional pressure. This involves expressive language, imperative forms, modal verbs, and strong emotional vocabulary, supported by prosodic and kinetic cues. The study concludes that teenage manipulation in film discourse is multifaceted, combining linguistic, pragmatic, and psychological elements. It highlights prevalence of specific tactics and emphasizes the role of both verbal and nonverbal means in achieving manipulative goals.