An analysis of Identity Constructions through Language used by Main Actors in Avengers: Endgame

Abstract

This study investigates how language constructs identity and reflects power relations in Avengers: Endgame, focusing on six main characters: Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and Hawkeye. Employing a qualitative approach with discourse analysis, the research examines language styles and expressions of power in the characters’ dialogues. The data were collected from the film’s English subtitles and supported by repeated viewing to capture contextual meanings and interactions. The analysis applies Joos’s (1967) speech style theory, alongside frameworks of power in language proposed by Fairclough (1989), Foucault (1972), and van Dijk (1996). The findings reveal that characters shift across various speech styles, including casual, formal, and intimate, depending on situational context. Power is expressed through linguistic features such as commands, interruptions, and persuasive strategies. These results indicate that identity and power are dynamic and continuously negotiated through language use. This study contributes to sociolinguistic research by demonstrating how fictional dialogues reflect real-life communication patterns. It also provides pedagogical insights for language learners and educators in understanding how English is used beyond grammatical structures.