Stance, style, and vocal mimicry

• Stance and mimicry are connected through the mediation of style.
• Mimicry opens up a space where the stylistic resources of the mimicked are juxtaposed with other semiotic forms, constituting shifts in stance.
• Two cases of mimicry of the same target are compared for their varying stances.
• Analysis of how stylistic resources are taken up in mimicry is necessary for a better understanding of its humorous effect.

This paper discusses the relationship between stance and mimicry by exploring the semiotic mechanisms by which speakers deploy indexical resources in mimicry of others. It argues that stance and mimicry must be seen as mediated through style. As a dialogic act of negotiating and reframing the meaning of style, mimicry opens up a space where the stylistic resources of the mimicked are juxtaposed with other semiotic forms, leading to subtle shifts in the interpretations of the original style. This point is illustrated through an analysis of two contrasting cases of vocal mimicry (commonly called seongdaemosa) on Korean television, both of which target a popular game show host, No Hyeonjeong, who is well known for her “refined female persona.” In these examples, the contrasting stances taken by the two performers lead to radically different interpretations of the same person, which underlines the fact that displays of stance are closely integrated into the performance of mimicry. Based on this analysis, the paper argues that detailed study of how stylistic resources are taken up in mimicry is necessary for a better understanding of its humorous effect.