This term paper explores the pragma-stylistic analysis of the language used within the realm of soccer fandom. The paper delves into the intricate interplay of pragmatics and stylistics within the linguistic expressions of soccer enthusiasts, shedding light on how language is employed to convey opinions, emotions, biases, and allegiances. Guided by Grice’s Cooperative principle and relevance theory by Sperber and Wilson, the paper investigates the ways in which fans utilize linguistic tools to articulate their perspectives on players, teams, matches, and the broader soccer culture.

1. A PRAGMA-STYLISTIC ANALYSIS
OF THE LANGUAGE OF SOCCER
FANDOM
By
DOSUNMU TEMITOPE MARIA

2. DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
• Pragma-stylistics, a specialized analytical approach that examines the
relationship between language usage, social context, and
communicative intent
• Soccer, known as football in many aspects of the world, evokes
passionate emotions and fervent discussions among its fans.
• RESEARCH QUES

3. INTRODUCTION
• For this assignment, the major case studies will revolve around the
fanbases of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These two players'
fans showcase the various linguistic elements that contribute to the
distinctive language within the soccer realm.
• Messi and Ronaldo are two great football icons in the history of
soccer worldwide

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• How do linguistic patterns in sports communication create unity and
zeal among fans?
• Does language-driven engagement enhance fan participation, loyalty,
and overall experience?
• What motivates the use of specific linguistic strategies in engaging
sports fans and fostering emotional connections?
• AIM

5. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
to unravel the nuanced linguistic and communicative intricacies present in
the discourse of passionate soccer fans within the digital landscape, with a
focus on the role of language in uniting and engaging sports fans in their
collective passion for the sport.
The objectives are:
a. Analyse the linguistic patterns employed in sports-related
communication to discern how language contributes to building a sense
of unity and shared enthusiasm among fans
b. Evaluate the impact of language-driven engagement on fan communities,
exploring how it enhances their participation, loyalty, and overall
experience.
THEORETICAL

6. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• Grounded in Cooperative Principle (Grice, 1975) and relevance
theory (Sperber & Wilson, 1981).
• Grice's cooperative principle and maxims provide insights into
how speakers convey meaning indirectly and efficiently, while
Relevance Theory emphasizes the cognitive aspect of
communication, where audiences seek information that
maximizes cognitive effects with minimal processing effort.
• LIT REVIEW

7. LITERATURE REVIEW
• Alolade (2020) studied speech act usage by sport presenters.
• Amusan Kayode's (2021) studied language in sports discourse within
Nigerian newspapers
• Akinrinlola, and Ajayi (2023) studied English Premier League fan
language.
• Many scholars have examined the language in sport discourse
• However, much has not been done on the pragma-stylistic analysis of the
language use by soccer fans on Twitter
• METHOD

8. METHODOLOGY
• Qualitative research is employed for this study,
• With a focus on the recent Saudi League (Ronaldo) and Major League
Soccer (Messi) matches.
• Utilizing Twitter trends and searches, a total of 8 data are collected—
comprising posts and comments from the past weeks’ matches.
• DATA ANALYSIS

9. DATA ANALYSIS
• The forms and functions of the language of soccer fandom are
context based.
• Since pragma-stylistics is a way of presenting language use,
communicative intent and social context,
• the selected soccer case studies have been found to reveal three key
things relevant to soccer; namely: comparison and contrast, rivalry,
and camaraderie.

10. DATA ANALYSIS
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
• The pragma-stylistic analysis of the
language use by the fan involves
examining the choice of words,
numerical comparisons, and implied
messaging to understand the fan's
perspective and the comparison
between Ronaldo and Messi.
• . The use of specific statistics adds a
sense of objectivity to the comparison
while promoting a favourable
perspective on Ronaldo's popularity
and significance.
The fan's caption implies that Ronaldo's
impact transcends the sport itself, suggesting
he has a significant influence beyond his
football performance. The phrase "bigger than
the sport" emphasizes Ronaldo's larger-than-
life persona and global appeal.

11. the pragma-stylistic analysis of the language use by the fan involves examining the
choice of words, rhetorical questions, and tone to understand the fan's perspective
and emotional response to the topic of Messi's football ability and the reactions of
others.
• "Budweiser sent drinks to all the keepers
Messi scored against. Did your club’s
keeper drink or not?" The fan uses a
rhetorical question to engage the reader and
provoke thought.
• The reference to Budweiser sending drinks to
keepers Messi scored against adds a touch of
humour and relatability to the discussion. The
question about the goalkeeper drinking plays
on the idea that Messi's skills are so
extraordinary that they might leave opposing
players in disbelief.
• The use of the laughing emoticon (😂) adds a
light-hearted tone, suggesting that the question
isn't meant to be taken too seriously.
"MESSI’S FOOTBALL ABILITY IS BEYOND
SOME OF YOU." The fan starts by asserting that
Messi's football ability is superior and perhaps not fully
understood by certain individuals. The tone suggests a
level of admiration for Messi's skills.
"YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU
STAN MEDIOCRITY." The fan implies that those
who do not appreciate Messi's ability are fans of
mediocre players or teams. The use of "stan" (referring
to obsessive fandom) implies that these individuals
blindly support less talented players or teams.

12. RIVALRY
the superlative assertion: "THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!", the
fan uses capital letters and bold language to emphasize Messi's
status as the greatest football player of all time. The
superlative "THE GREATEST" signifies the fan's strong belief in
Messi's exceptional skills and achievements.
• This fan also used an emphatic exclamation:
"MESSI IS FOOTBALL!!!". The use of multiple
exclamation marks adds an intense level of
excitement and passion to the statement. By
declaring that "MESSI IS FOOTBALL!!!," the fan
is implying that Messi embodies the essence of the
sport itself, becoming synonymous with it.
• Metaphoric Language is also discovered in the
caption: "MESSI IS FOOTBALL!!!". The
metaphor "MESSI IS FOOTBALL" reinforces the
idea that Messi's presence and impact on the sport
are so profound that he becomes a representation of
football as a whole. This metaphorical language
elevates Messi's significance beyond his individual
performances, implying that he encapsulates the
very essence of the game.

13. the fan uses the superlative assertion: "The Greatest
there is, the Greatest there was, the Greatest there
will ever be." The repetition of the superlative "The
Greatest" emphasizes Ronaldo's supreme status as a
football player. By using this superlative three times
in a row, the fan firmly asserts that Ronaldo is not
just one of the greatest, but the greatest across
time.
• By stating that Ronaldo is "the Greatest there
was," the fan implies that Ronaldo's greatness
surpasses that of players from the past. This
phrase positions Ronaldo as superior to
previous generations of footballers,
acknowledging his achievements in
comparison to historical figures.
• The statement "the Greatest there will ever
be" confidently asserts that Ronaldo's
greatness is unparalleled and will remain
unmatched in the future. This assertion
reinforces the idea that Ronaldo's impact on
the sport is so exceptional that no player in the
future will surpass him.

14. CONCLUSION
• This study has investigated the pragma-stylistic analysis of the
language of soccer fandom and has presented valuable insights into
the intricate dynamics of fan interactions on Twitter. The analysis has
unravelled the complex tapestry of linguistic interactions among
soccer fans, emphasizing the role of language in shaping collective
identities, shared sentiments, and the sense of belonging within this
passionate community. The study's findings contribute to our broader
understanding of the interplay between language, social context, and
communicative intent, showcasing the power of language to unite
and engage fans in their shared love for the sport.

15. THANK YOU