EXPLORING LANGUAGE STYLE USE IN THE NOVEL “SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE” BY CLAIRE KEEGAN

• FITA KHUSNA LUFIA
• 2025

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Fita Khusna Lufia (33210164), Exploring Language Style Use in the Novel “Small Things Like These” By Claire Keegan

 

In recent years, growing interest in the intersection of language, identity, and social context in literature has emphasised the importance of language style as a tool to uncover how meaning and relationships are constructed in fiction. This research aims to analyse the language styles used by the characters in Small Things Like These, a novel by Claire Keegan. The analysis is based on the five language styles proposed by Martin Joos: Frozen Style, Formal Style, Consultative Style, Casual Style, and Intimate Style. In addition, the researcher uses Janet Holmes’s theory to explore how social factors such as participants, setting, topic, and function influence the language styles chosen by the characters. This research was conducted through a qualitative descriptive method. The data were collected by reading the novel and identifying utterances that reflect specific language styles. The researcher focused on conversations that illustrate shifts in style due to social relationships and emotional context. The findings show that all five language styles appear, with Casual Style being the most dominant (111), followed by Intimate (22), Consultative (17), Formal (11), and Frozen (4). These variations reflect the influence of social roles, emotional distance, power, and solidarity throughout the narrative.

 

Keyword: Language style, Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan

https://repository.bsi.ac.id/repo/73508/EXPLORING-LANGUAGE-STYLE-USE-IN-THE-NOVEL---“SMALL-THINGS-LIKE-THESE”---BY-CLAIRE-KEEGAN
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