The Functions of Narrative Passages in Three Written Online Health Contexts
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21239747 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Franziska Thurnherr (University of Basel), Marie-Thérèse Rudolf von Rohr (0000-0002-6795-8243, University of Basel), Michael A Locher (0000-0002-4630-7388, University of Basel), Miriam A Locher (University of Basel, Englisches Seminar, Nadelberg 6, 4051 Basel, Switzerland) |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2016-10-20 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Open Linguistics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2300-9969 • E-ISSN: 2300-9969 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1515/opli-2016-0024 |
| OpenAlex | W2533558332 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 6 |
This paper investigates and compares the functions of narrative passages in three computermediated health practices centering on advice-giving: (1) email counseling at a UK university, (2) online forums providing peer support for quitters of smoking, and (3) anti-smoking websites by UK governmental, commercial and charitable institutions. We found that the functions of the narrative passages are manifold and often overlapping. They range from seeking advice, giving advice, indicating/seeking agreement, supporting a claim, showing compliance with advice given to reporting on progress and success. In a second step, these insights were linked to how the narrative passages were used for identity construction and relational work. The results show that narratives are employed to create various identities, such as authentic advice-seekers, active self-helpers, successful quitters and advice-givers. Our comparison reveals that narrative functions utilized in all three practices exhibit nuanced differences due to medium factors and interactional goals of the practices. Finally, in these contexts of self-improvement, narratives document stability or transformation in the sense of clients’ improved health and smokers’ change to becoming non-smokers respectively
Aesthetics · Linguistics · Medical education · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Political science · Public relations · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology
| Citations per year | 0.88 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2018 - 2025 (8) |
| Highly cited | No |