“I will say the picture of the background is not related to the words”: using corpus linguistics and focus groups to reveal how speakers of English as an additional language perceive the effectiveness of the phraseology and imagery in UK public health tweets during COVID-19

Health messaging is effective if it achieves audience adherence to guidance. Through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics, we examine the expression of obligation in poster-based health campaigns (4 posters) employed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK by considering whether differences in grammatical mood and modality values impact on public compliance toward the message content. Effects of mood and modality variations are examined through a quantitative-cum-qualitative analysis of results from a representative survey (N = 1,089), which included closed questions on self-predicted compliance to health guidance and open questions on the respondents’ understanding of messaging. The quantitative results favour medium values of obligation (“should” vis-à-vis “must”) and directives in declarative mood for self-efficacy messages, and expressions of certainty when the need to take action to prevent negative outcomes is conveyed. The qualitative results show that, communication context and linguistic features being equal, message types (i.e., self-efficacy, moralising, fear appeals) and visual cues prevail in conditioning public reception. Moreover, since directives employing modality allow for speakers’ inclusion among the targeted addressees, they appear to offer more favourable outcomes than those in the imperative mood. This study provides empirical insights into the effects of modality and mood on health guidance compliance.

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Enhancing Language Proficiency in Medical English Education Through Multimodal Corpus Integration

Kang,

Niu

2024

International Journal of Healthcare Information Systems and Informatics

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This study examines the effects of integrating multimodal corpus resources into medical English education on students' language proficiency. Using authentic medical English materials, the research assessed fluency, accuracy, and complexity. Data were collected through proficiency tests and feedback analysis, with statistical evaluations of proficiency changes. Ethical considerations were addressed, and limitations were acknowledged . Emphasizing transparency and reproducibility, the study highlights how multimodal corpus integration enhances language proficiency, contributing to innovative teaching practices in medical English education. The research underscores the transformative impact of corpus-based methodologies on language pedagogy and medical English education, setting the stage for future research in healthcare communication.

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“I will say the picture of the background is not related to the words”: using corpus linguistics and focus groups to reveal how speakers of English as an additional language perceive the effectiveness of the phraseology and imagery in UK public health tweets during COVID-19

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

Language of Pandemic Discourses

Language of Pandemic Discourses

The effects of modal value and imperative mood on self-predicted compliance to health guidance: the case of COVID-19

Enhancing Language Proficiency in Medical English Education Through Multimodal Corpus Integration

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