Exploring Linguistic Style Matching in Online Communities: The Role of Social Context and Conversation Dynamics

TL;DR

This study investigates how linguistic style matching (LSM) varies in Reddit conversations based on social context, revealing its influence on community engagement and dynamics through analysis of large conversation datasets.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for measuring LSM in online conversations and explores its relationship with social factors and community status changes.

Findings

LSM levels vary with social factors like post features and user tenure.

Higher LSM correlates with more engaged and deeper conversations.

Loss of community status affects LSM levels significantly.

Abstract

Linguistic style matching (LSM) in conversations can be reflective of several aspects of social influence such as power or persuasion. However, how LSM relates to the outcomes of online communication on platforms such as Reddit is an unknown question. In this study, we analyze a large corpus of two-party conversation threads in Reddit where we identify all occurrences of LSM using two types of style: the use of function words and formality. Using this framework, we examine how levels of LSM differ in conversations depending on several social factors within Reddit: post and subreddit features, conversation depth, user tenure, and the controversiality of a comment. Finally, we measure the change of LSM following loss of status after community banning. Our findings reveal the interplay of LSM in Reddit conversations with several community metrics, suggesting the importance of understanding conversation engagement when understanding community dynamics.