TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of hyperbole in conveying emotionality: the case of victim speech.

AU - Desai, Shreyasi

AU - Bailey, Kate

AU - Filik, Ruth

PY - 2024/10/11

Y1 - 2024/10/11

N2 - Figurative expressions are commonly used in everyday language as a device for conveying emotion. Hyperbole (e.g. “It took ages for him to arrive”) specifically can provide linguistic emphasis; especially when speakers wish to convey emotional evaluations of negative situations. In sexual crime cases, the victim’s behavioural emotionality often enhances credibility, however, some research suggests that hyperbole-induced linguistic emotionality can be perceived negatively. In this study, we examined whether hyperbole impacts perceived emotionality and assessed the extent of this impact on measures of valence, intensity, and appropriateness. Participants were professionals (police officers) or jury-eligible laypersons who rated testimonies containing either hyperbolic or non-hyperbolic expressions. Results suggested that the use of hyperbole increased the perceived emotional intensity of the testimony, but made testimonies appear less emotionally appropriate than non-hyperbolic counterparts. In addition, regardless of the presence of hyperbole, laypersons judged the scenarios to be more unpleasant, and more emotionally intense compared to professionals. Findings suggest discrepancies between hyperbole usage and discourse goals, versus its perception. That is, hyperbole effectively enhances emotionality, but its role in victim speech may come with more caveats than anticipated, particularly when considering the proposed importance of victim emotionality in establishing credibility.

AB - Figurative expressions are commonly used in everyday language as a device for conveying emotion. Hyperbole (e.g. “It took ages for him to arrive”) specifically can provide linguistic emphasis; especially when speakers wish to convey emotional evaluations of negative situations. In sexual crime cases, the victim’s behavioural emotionality often enhances credibility, however, some research suggests that hyperbole-induced linguistic emotionality can be perceived negatively. In this study, we examined whether hyperbole impacts perceived emotionality and assessed the extent of this impact on measures of valence, intensity, and appropriateness. Participants were professionals (police officers) or jury-eligible laypersons who rated testimonies containing either hyperbolic or non-hyperbolic expressions. Results suggested that the use of hyperbole increased the perceived emotional intensity of the testimony, but made testimonies appear less emotionally appropriate than non-hyperbolic counterparts. In addition, regardless of the presence of hyperbole, laypersons judged the scenarios to be more unpleasant, and more emotionally intense compared to professionals. Findings suggest discrepancies between hyperbole usage and discourse goals, versus its perception. That is, hyperbole effectively enhances emotionality, but its role in victim speech may come with more caveats than anticipated, particularly when considering the proposed importance of victim emotionality in establishing credibility.

KW - forensic pragmatics

KW - victim language

KW - figurative language

KW - Hyperbole

KW - linguistic emotionality

UR - https://osf.io/rzvjx/?view_only=32ca1e99c7764af7b128971bd5f825bc

U2 - 10.1080/02699931.2024.2412611

DO - 10.1080/02699931.2024.2412611

M3 - Article

JO - Cognition and Emotion

JF - Cognition and Emotion

SN - 0269-9931

ER -