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Chapter 10. Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations

  • Jan K. Lindström , Camilla Lindholm , Catrin Norrby , Camilla Wide and Jenny Nilsson
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Imperative Turns at Talk
This chapter is in the book Imperative Turns at Talk

Abstract

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.

Abstract

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.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Imperative turns at talk 1
  4. Part 1. Structure and use of imperative turns
  5. Chapter 2. A cline of visible commitment in the situated design of imperative turns 27
  6. Chapter 3. Precision timing and timed embeddedness of imperatives in embodied courses of action 65
  7. Chapter 4. Secondary and deviant uses of the imperative for requesting in Italian 103
  8. Chapter 5. Three imperative action formats in Danish talk-in-interaction 139
  9. Chapter 6. Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation 175
  10. Part 2. Sequences with imperative turns
  11. Chapter 7. In the face of resistance 215
  12. Chapter 8. Imperatives and responsiveness in Finnish conversation 241
  13. Chapter 9. Negotiating deontic rights in second position 271
  14. Part 3. Sequences with imperative turns in asymmetric situations
  15. Chapter 10. Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations 299
  16. Chapter 11. Assigning roles and responsibilities 325
  17. Chapter 12. Managing compliance in violin instruction 357
  18. Chapter 13. Adjusting the design of directives to the activity environment 381
  19. Chapter 14. Epilogue 411
  20. Appendix. Transcription conventions 425
  21. Name index 429
  22. Subject index 433
https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.30.10lin

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Imperative turns at talk 1
  4. Part 1. Structure and use of imperative turns
  5. Chapter 2. A cline of visible commitment in the situated design of imperative turns 27
  6. Chapter 3. Precision timing and timed embeddedness of imperatives in embodied courses of action 65
  7. Chapter 4. Secondary and deviant uses of the imperative for requesting in Italian 103
  8. Chapter 5. Three imperative action formats in Danish talk-in-interaction 139
  9. Chapter 6. Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation 175
  10. Part 2. Sequences with imperative turns
  11. Chapter 7. In the face of resistance 215
  12. Chapter 8. Imperatives and responsiveness in Finnish conversation 241
  13. Chapter 9. Negotiating deontic rights in second position 271
  14. Part 3. Sequences with imperative turns in asymmetric situations
  15. Chapter 10. Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations 299
  16. Chapter 11. Assigning roles and responsibilities 325
  17. Chapter 12. Managing compliance in violin instruction 357
  18. Chapter 13. Adjusting the design of directives to the activity environment 381
  19. Chapter 14. Epilogue 411
  20. Appendix. Transcription conventions 425
  21. Name index 429
  22. Subject index 433
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