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The impact of language style on consumers′ reactions to online reviews

Author

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  • Wu, Laurie
  • Shen, Han
  • Fan, Alei
  • Mattila, Anna S.

Abstract

The current research examines the novel impact of an online review's language style (figurative vs. literal) on consumers' attitudes towards a hotel and their reservation intention. Previous marketing research advocated for the use of figurative language to advertise hedonic consumptions. Yet, we found that, in the context of online hotel reviews, figurative language doesn't offer significant advantages in terms of persuasive power. Specifically, our findings indicate that, when a review is posted by a reviewer with low expertise level, consumers actually exhibit lower levels of attitude and reservation intention if the review is written in figurative (vs. literal) language. When the reviewer possesses high expertise level, the language style effect was attenuated. Finally, serial mediation tests show that the causal link between language typicality → perceived reviewer expertise explains the language style effect on consumers' pre-purchase evaluations.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Laurie & Shen, Han & Fan, Alei & Mattila, Anna S., 2017. "The impact of language style on consumers′ reactions to online reviews," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 590-596.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:touman:v:59:y:2017:i:c:p:590-596
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.09.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jie Chen & Wenjian Fan & Junlong Wei & Zunli Liu, 2022. "Effects of linguistic style on persuasiveness of word-of-mouth messages with anonymous vs. identifiable sources," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 593-605, December.
    2. Ruwan Jayathilaka & Thanuja Dharmasena & Nizamuddin Rezahi & Sukheetha Haththotuwegama, 2020. "The impact of online reviews on inbound travellers’ decision making," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 1005-1021, June.
    3. Beatriz Moliner-Velázquez & Maria Fuentes-Blasco & Irene Gil-Saura, 2021. "Segmenting customers according to online word-of-mouth about hotels," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 15(1), pages 103-130, March.
    4. Hui Zhao & Xiaoyuan Wang & Debing Ni & Kevin W. Li, 2023. "The Quality-Signaling Role of Manipulated Consumer Reviews," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 503-536, June.
    5. Hu, Hai-hua & Ma, Fang, 2023. "Human-like bots are not humans: The weakness of sensory language for virtual streamers in livestream commerce," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Viglia, Giampaolo & Dolnicar, Sara, 2020. "A review of experiments in tourism and hospitality," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    7. Zhen Liu & Shao-hui Lei & Yu-lang Guo & Zhi-ang Zhou, 2020. "The interaction effect of online review language style and product type on consumers’ purchase intentions," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Chen, Feier & Liu, Stephanie Q. & Mattila, Anna S., 2020. "Bragging and humblebragging in online reviews," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
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    10. Li, Meichan & Wang, Rui, 2023. "Chatbots in e-commerce: The effect of chatbot language style on customers’ continuance usage intention and attitude toward brand," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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