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Imperative Turns at Talk: The design of directives in action
Edited by Marja-Leena Sorjonen, Liisa Raevaara and Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen
[Studies in Language and Social Interaction 30] 2017
► pp. 299–324

Chapter 10
Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations

This chapter investigates the use of imperative-formatted directives in Swedish medical consultations. The specific focus of the chapter is the division of labor between straight, non-modulated imperative turns and imperative turns which are modulated with a discourse particle or some other verbal mitigating device. The results show that non-modulated imperative turns are embedded in diagnostic work, nominating subsequent actions in a series. Orientations to projected trajectories of action and the other participant’s expectations are clearly present when modulated imperative turns are produced; they are also frequent in the opening and closing routines of the consultations. Thus, there is a link between routinized and projectable actions and the use of imperatives with a pragmatic modulating element.

Keywords: Swedish, Finland Swedish, pluricentric languages, non-modulated imperative turns, modulated imperative turns, routine actions, series of actions, diagnostic activity, discourse particles, medical consultations
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data and method
  • 3.Overview of imperatives in the data
  • 4.Non-modulated imperative turns: The physical examination
  • 5.Modulated imperative turns: Projected routine actions
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 18 August 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.30.10lin
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