Interpersonal Metafunction Analysis of Influencers’Life Journey Video: A Systemic Functional Perspective

This study investigated the interpersonal meanings constructed in Malaysian influencers’ life-journey videos through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Centring on the Interpersonal Metafunction, this research examined mood, modality and appraisal to express stance, evaluate experiences and negotiate relationships with the audience. The study adopted a qualitative discourse-analytic design where four publicly accessible life-journey videos of four Malaysian influencers were purposely selected. The analysis focused on identifying mood types (declarative, interrogative or imperative), modality (expressions of certainty, obligation or inclination) and appraisal resources (attitude, engagement or graduation) to explore how influencers construct interpersonal meanings. The findings of this research highlighted the domination of declarative clauses in all four videos, enabling influencers to present their experiences as personal testimony and to establish authority through lived experience rather than direct instruction. Modality expressions vary across the influencers, from uncertainty and experimentation, constructing future commitment and social responsibility, expressing aspiration, while another expresses little modality while emphasising audience support. Appraisal analyses revealed that success is commonly balanced by failure, struggle, gratitude, humility and contribution to others. By applying SFL to digital discourse, this study contributes to the understanding of contemporary digital discourse communication by demonstrating how Mood, Modality and Appraisal operate together in personal success narratives.

Discourse analysis, digital discourse, influencers, interpersonal metafunction, social media

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