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Medical professionals and parents: A linguistic analysis of communication across contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Deborah Tannen  and
Cynthia Wallat
Deborah Tannen
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University
Cynthia Wallat
Affiliation:
Department of Reading and Special Education, Florida State University
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Abstract

The study is based on analysis of videotaped conversation that occurred in five different settings involving various family members and medical professionals in a single pediatric case. We examine (1) the elaboration and condensation of information through spoken and written channels; (2) the negotiation of information exchanged in interactions characterized by different participant structures; and (3) the methodological benefit of examining interaction across contexts. We find that (a) information is negotiated, as well as discovered, during the medical interviews; and (b) information exchanged is often less resilient than participants' cognitive schemas which precede and apparently outlive the exchange of information in the interaction. These findings contribute to an understanding of the negotiation of meaning as well as the creation of context in interaction. (Discourse, interactional sociolinguistics, context, doctor–patient communication, spoken and written language, schema theory)

Type
Articles
Information
Language in Society , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , September 1986 , pp. 295 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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