First Impressions are not the Last Impressions: A Phonetic Study Based on TER in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Abstract

This paper examines the role of phonetics and speech patterns in shaping characters' perceptions within Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Originally titled First Impressions, Austen's novel utilizes these elements to critique social prejudice, class expectations, and the risks inherent in hasty judgments. By employing Textual Emotional Recognition (TER) as a methodological framework, this research conducts a literary emotion analysis with a specific focus on phonetic features. Adopting this phonetic lens, the study uncovers the emotional architecture of Austen’s narrative, establishing a bridge between vocal speech patterns and readers’ perception of emotional shifts. Consequently, the findings reinforce the novel's central theme: that first impressions are not the last impressions, a concept that remains highly relevant in the modern social media era. Ultimately, identifying emotions within textual data demonstrates that emotion recognition is paramount to successful communication between individuals. That's because awareness of phonological emotional cues allows individuals to articulate feelings more clearly and mitigate the threats posed by first impressions.