Research on Identity Construction in Doctor-patient Conflict Discourse in Emergency Department

Abstract

Based on pragmatic identity theory and linguistic adaptation theory, this study, with data drawn from doctor-patient conflict discourse happened in the emergency department, explores how doctors and patients dynamically construct and adjust their respective identities in the context of conflict, and further analyzes the restricting contextual factors in the interaction. The result shows that in doctorpatient conflict discourse, doctors construct identities of the medical expert, the elaborator, the companion, the comforter, the threatener and the doubter; patients construct identities of the requestor, the defier, the submissive and the doubter. The construction and adjustment of the identities of both parties are the result of adapting to the different stages of conflict development in the physical context, the emotional expression and face-saving needs of communicators in the psychological context, as well as the power relation and cultural norms in the social context. This study reveals the interactive characteristics of doctor-patient conflict discourse from the perspective of pragmatic identity, which is helpful for doctors and patients to examine their verbal behavior and promote effective communication and harmonious relationships between doctors and patients.