Linguistic representation of the speech genre of explanation in medical discourse within the framework of a television educational programme (by the example of the programme “Med. expert”)

Abstract

The paper analysed the speech genre of explanation often implemented as a popular scientific description of a disease within the framework of the television genre of educational transmission of medical topics, that is, the researchers consider medical discourse. The aim of the study is to identify the differential features of explanation as a speech genre based on the material of television medical discourse. The study is novel in that it is the first to highlight the linguistic features that define the speech genre of explanation. As a result, it has been revealed that in the medical discourse in Russian, the genre of explanation is characterised at the pragmatic level by the adaptation of information for the audience of potential viewers. A trusting atmosphere is created by emphasising the status of the addresser. The pragmatic attitude toward explication simplicity is expressed in speech at all levels. The speech genre of explanation can be constructed according to the classical scheme on a “simple-to-complex” basis, but it is also possible to use the reverse technique.