Reflective Writing in Medical Practice

A Linguistic Perspective

By (author) Miriam A. Locher

Publication date:

05 June 2017

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781783098231

This book reports the results of a linguistic analysis of reflective written texts, produced during medical education or practice. It explores the topics and communication skills the authors write about, how the narratives develop, how these texts are shaped, what genres influence their composition, how relational work surfaces in them and how the writers linguistically create their identities as experts or novices. It is clear that both experienced and trainee medics grapple with the place of emotions in their communicative acts, and with the idea of what it means to be a doctor. The book makes a valuable contribution to genre analysis, interpersonal pragmatics and the study of linguistic identity construction, and will be essential reading for those involved in teaching doctor–patient communication skills.

1. Reflective Writing in Medical Practice

2. Context and Data

3. The Choice of Themes: On Communication Strategies and Challenging Situations

4. Communication Skills in Action: From Keeping Eye Contact to Creating Rapport

5. Reflective Writing as Genre: A Text Linguistic Perspective

6. Interpersonal Pragmatics in Reflective Writing

7. Interpersonal Pragmatics and Identity Construction

8. Conclusions

Appendices

References

Subject Index

Author Index

Bionote

Reflective Writing in Medical Practice is a theoretically engaging and nuanced examination of reflective writing by medical students and practicing physicians. Drawing upon numerous compelling and instructive text excerpts, Miriam A. Locher masterfully integrates insights from separate analyses of genre, interpersonal pragmatics, and linguistic identity construction – resulting in illuminating reading for students and practitioners who work at the intersection of discourse analysis and medical humanities.