Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations




Jan Lindström, Camilla Lindholm, Catrin Norrby, Camilla Wide, Jenny Nilsson

Marja-Leena Sorjonen, Liisa Raevaara, Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen

Amsterdam

2017

Imperative Turns at Talk. The design of directives in action

Studies in Language and Social Interaction

30

299

324

26

978-90-272-2640-2

978-90-272-6552-4

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.30

https://benjamins.com/#catalog/books/slsi.30/main

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/25160461



This chapter investigates the use of imperative-formatted directives in Swedish medical consultations. The specific focus of the chapter is the division of labor between straight, non-modulated imperative turns and imperative turns which are modulated with a discourse particle or some other verbal mitigating device. The results show that non-modulated imperative turns are embedded in diagnostic work, nominating subsequent actions in a series. Orientations to projected trajectories of action and the other participant’s expectations are clearly present when modulated imperative turns are produced; they are also frequent in the opening and closing routines of the consultations. Thus, there is a link between routinized and projectable actions and the use of imperatives with a pragmatic modulating element.


Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 14:13