Language Style Awareness Through Film Dialogue: Pedagogical Implications for EFL Learners

This study analyzes the differences between formal and informal language styles and focuses on casual and intimate speech in the film Eat Pray Love (Murphy, 2010). The purpose of this study is to help second language learners understand and distinguish between formal and informal English. A total of 1,784 lines were transcribed from the film, with single-word responses like “Yes,” “No,” “Wait,” and “Okay,” left out. The subtitles were transcribed from the film’s dialogue, and the movie was rewatched for contextual understanding, and to categorize the subtitles into formal and informal styles. Informal language styles were further classified into five categories: omission and fragmentation, non-standard and ungrammatical structures, colloquial and slang expressions, conversational emphasis and emotional expression, and humor, exaggeration, and figurative language. The results show that informal speech expresses relationships, the speakers’ emotions, and situational context. The study suggests that exposure to real media such as film can improve second language learners’ speaking ability, listening comprehension, and communicative competence. Teaching methods should incorporate informal expressions and emphasize the understanding of tone and context. Teachers should encourage second language learners to use both formal and informal styles appropriately. This research contributes to understanding how language style functions in real-life communication.