Vol. 14:6 (2023) ► pp.824–843
Examining the use of reflexive metadiscourse in the construction of affiliative communication in group email requests
This qualitative study examines how male-identified and female-identified individuals use reflexive metadiscourse in the construction of affiliative communication, i.e., a mode of communication traditionally coded as feminine. Specifically, it examines requests made in the public context of group email. Both reflexive metadiscourse and affiliative communication are analysed with the concept of indexicality, and two novel sub-categories (i.e., directing and committing) are added to an existing taxonomy. The findings show that whether communicating to institutional subordinates, equals, or superiors, female-identified and male-identified senders displayed great similarity in their use of reflexive metadiscourse in the construction of affiliative communication. Amongst other things, reflexive metadiscourse indirectly indexed the following communicative behaviours associated with affiliative communication: sharing contextual information, expressing supportive feedback, constructing diminutive personas, and suppressing personal agency. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings and directions for future research.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Reflexive metadiscourse
- 3.Gendered communication
- 4.Indexical dimensions of reflexive metadiscourse and affiliative communication
- 5.Data and approach
- 5.1Taxonomy of reflexive metadiscourse
- 6.Findings and analysis
- Downwards communication
- Horizontal communication
- Upwards communication
- 7.Conclusion
- Notes
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References
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.21006.mck