Verbal and non-verbal linguistic means of communication in shaping user choice in interactive film Detroit: Become Human

Abstract

Introduction. Modern forms of media content, in particular, interactive films, are a synthesis of traditional cinematography and video game mechanisms. One of the significant examples of this genre is the interactive film Detroit: Become Human, which allows the recipient not only observe the narrative, but also take an active part in its formation through moral choice. The relevance of this study is due to the insufficient elaboration on the issues of the influence of verbal and non-verbal linguistic means of speech influence on the recipients’ decision-making process in the context of nonlinear storytelling. It is also deemed important to study the ways of creating moral dilemmas that promote the recipient’s emotional involvement and encourage decision-making in polycode text comprehension.

Materials and methods. The study is based on the interactive film Detroit: Become Human. The selected microcontexts demonstrate the communicative mechanisms determining the recipient’s behavioral reactions in the context of nonlinear narrative in the interactive film.

Analysis. The conducted study demonstrates the interaction of verbal and non-verbal elements in the decision-making process in the non-linear narrative of the interactive film polycode text. The analysis of dialogues and cues revealed that the screenwriters of interactive films use certain language means to promote an emotional response and active involvement of the user in the situation.

Results. The study demonstrates that interactive film is a form of storytelling in which user behavior is modeled through a complex system of verbal and non-verbal means of speech influence. It is argued that the perception of the characters and the script directly depends on a combination of speech acts, non-verbal signals, and contextual conditions, which confirms the integral nature of impact in interactive films.