Open AccessThe simplicity and emotionality of the language of patients in an online cochlear implant support group
Author(s) -
Magda Żelazowska-Sobczyk,
Magdalena Zabielska
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
oblicza komunikacji
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2083-5345
DOI - 10.19195/2083-5345.11.8
Subject(s) - simplicity , emotionality , cochlear implant , psychology , subjectivity , support group , continuation , developmental psychology , computer science , psychiatry , philosophy , epistemology , programming language , neuroscience
In the last couple of years online support groups have become one of the most important sources of information and support for people suffering from particular conditions. The goal of the present paper is to examine the language used by the participants of an online support group for people with cochlear implants. The study consists of a qualitative analysis of computer-mediated communication on the basis of the posts and comments made by patients, their families and relatives. The results show that the language used by the participants is characterised by simplicity, emotionality and subjectivity. These features allow one to classify the language as non-specialist, even though some of the forum authors have a long disease history as well as a broad knowledge concerning their condition. This paper is a continuation of the study on English language support groups for people with hearing impairment (Zabielska, Żelazowska-Sobczyk 2019).