Part of
Corpus Pragmatic Studies on the History of Medical DiscourseEdited by Turo Hiltunen and Irma Taavitsainen
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 330] 2022
► pp. 251–272
Edited by Turo Hiltunen and Irma Taavitsainen
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 330] 2022
► pp. 251–272
Chapter 11Communicating authority
Self-mentions in Early Modern English medical narratives (1500–1700)
This sociopragmatic case study examines 31 narrative passages across 23 different early modern medical texts in order to determine how medical writers use the narrative discourse mode to construct their own authority as medical professionals. Based on how the authors present themselves through self-mentions, the narratives have been divided into two different types: treatment narratives and narratives of discovery. The findings of the study suggest that early modern medical writers take on different authoritative roles in these narratives based on the aims of their text. Overall, however, all of the narratives are used to highlight the medical practitioners’ professional skill and experience, which adds to the authoritativeness of their claims.
Keywords: Early Modern English medical texts, empiricism, narrative discourse, historical pragmatics
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Material and methods
- 3.Treatment narratives
- 4.Narratives of discovery
- 5.Discussion
- 6.Conclusion
-
Notes -
References
References
Electronic resources
Early Modern English Medical Texts (EMEMT). Taavitsainen, Irma, Päivi Pahta, Turo Hiltunen, Martti Mäkinen, Ville Marttila, Maura Ratia, Carla Suhr, and Jukka Tyrkkö
2010 In Early Modern English Medical Texts: Corpus Description and Studies, ed. by Irma Taavitsainen and Päivi Pahta Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. 
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