A iconicidade na perspectiva funcionalista: ordem sequencial, topicalidade e impacto informativo em manchetes jornalísticas no Instagram

This article investigates the manifestation of the principle of iconicity from a functionalist perspective, focusing on the subprinciple concerning the relationship between sequential order and topicality, in order to analyze its role in constructing informational impact in journalistic headlines published on Instagram. The study is grounded in the assumptions of Functional Linguistics, drawing on both European functionalist traditions and North American functionalism, and mobilizes contributions from scholars such as Bolinger (1977), Peirce (1940), Givón (2001) and contemporary researchers of iconicity. It adopts the premise that the linear organization of constituents reflects the informational status of discursive elements and guides the reader’s interpretation in authentic contexts of language use. Methodologically, a qualitative analysis of headlines posted on the social media platform is conducted, examining the position of constituents within the syntactic chain and their effects in terms of salience, focalization, and informational hierarchization. The analyses demonstrate that the initial placement of certain elements—such as direct speech, human referents, or locative adjuncts—is not arbitrary, but functionally motivated by pragmatic goals and the dynamics of digital circulation. It is concluded that sequential ordering operates as a strategy for managing attention and maximizing engagement, thereby confirming the correlation between form and function advocated by functionalism and reinforcing the dynamic and adaptive nature of grammar in the digital media environment.