Paralinguistic Features in Social Media Discourse

Abstract. In the absence of traditional face-to-face interaction, social media users have developed innovative strategies to express politeness and manage interpersonal relationships. This article explores the role of paralinguistic features—non-verbal elements such as tone, rhythm, and emphasis—in conveying politeness within digital communication environments. While conventional vocal cues are missing online, users compensate through visual and textual elements including emojis, punctuation, text formatting, and expressive spelling. The study analyzes how these features function as digital proxies for politeness, examining their role in both positive and negative politeness strategies. It also considers the influence of cultural context on the interpretation and effectiveness of these cues. Ultimately, the article highlights the adaptive and nuanced ways in which paralinguistic features support politeness and social cohesion in online discourse.