The Construction of Doctor-Patient Alignment: A Discourse Analysis of Epistemic Modal Verbs in Doctor-Patient Conversations

Abstract

In doctor-patient conversations, doctors and patients try to communicate efficiently through linguistic strategies to establish alliance and reach an agreed treatment plan. As modal verbs are linguistic resources that express the subjective views and attitudes of speakers,
and alignment is the basis for successful communication, the rational use of modal verbs can promote the establishment of alliance between
the two parties in communication. In this paper, we analyze the framework of English modal verbs, and based on the framework, we analyze
and statistic the use of cognitive modal verbs by doctors and patients respectively. It is found that doctors tend to use high and median modal
verbs, reflecting the doctors desire to make patients share the same knowledge and opinions as the doctors own through more affirmative
and confident expressions, and ultimately reach an alliance; whereas, patients use low and median modal verbs to make inquiries and describe
their illnesses in the hope that the doctors will give authoritative answers to their questions, and reach an agreement on their illnesses treatment plans. The use of cognitive modal verbs by patients and doctors reflects the efforts of both doctors and patients to build an alliance.