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Primary-concern solicitation in Chinese medical encounters

  • Zi Yang

    Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

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    , Xueming Wang

    Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

    und Tianzhu Li

    Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 6. Januar 2023

Abstract

Drawing on conversation analysis, this study examines primary-concern solicitation in Mandarin-speaking medical encounters in China. Based on the observation of naturally occurring solicitation sequences, we identify the major question formats and problem-solicitation patterns in China’s mainland. It is found that Chinese medical openings feature both the dominance of generic solicitation in primary-concern solicitation and the recurrence of phase-skipping business-specific solicitation. Chinese primary-concern solicitation tends to be both more permissive and restrictive than its English counterpart, driven by the same concern of consultation efficiency. The study contributes to a cross-cultural comparison of the medical activity and enriches the understanding of culture and language’s influence on performing social actions in medical encounters.


Corresponding author: Zi Yang [杨子], School of Foreign Studies, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083 Beijing, China, E-mail:

Award Identifier / Grant number: 20BYY070

About the authors

Zi Yang

Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

Xueming Wang received his doctor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Fudan University in China in 2008 and is professor at the School of International Studies in the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). His academic interests include linguistics and translation studies.

Tianzhu Li received her master’s degree in foreign linguistics and applied linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2011 and is a lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages in the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her professional interests include translation, interpreting, and conversation analysis.

Xueming Wang

Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

Xueming Wang received his doctor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Fudan University in China in 2008 and is professor at the School of International Studies in the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). His academic interests include linguistics and translation studies.

Tianzhu Li received her master’s degree in foreign linguistics and applied linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2011 and is a lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages in the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her professional interests include translation, interpreting, and conversation analysis.

Tianzhu Li

Zi Yang received her PhD in Linguistics from Fudan University and is currently a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her research interests include Pragmatics and Conversation analysis.

Xueming Wang received his doctor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Fudan University in China in 2008 and is professor at the School of International Studies in the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). His academic interests include linguistics and translation studies.

Tianzhu Li received her master’s degree in foreign linguistics and applied linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2011 and is a lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages in the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB). Her professional interests include translation, interpreting, and conversation analysis.

  1. Declarations of interest: None.

  2. Research funding: This work was supported by National Social Science Fund (China) [Grant number: 20BYY070].

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Received: 2022-05-25
Accepted: 2022-12-28
Published Online: 2023-01-06
Published in Print: 2024-09-25

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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