Knowledge and identity construction in medical weblogs: A study of epistemic predicates

Abstract

Following the discourse-based, interactional approaches to modality and identity, and recognizing that knowledge is social, relative and contextual, this paper aims to explore epistemic predicates in a corpus of Polish medical weblogs run by healthcare practitioners. The focus is put on the role of epistemic predicates in identity work performed by the bloggers and their audience. The study reveals the variety of the usage patterns of epistemic verbs, the diversity of the roles which healthcare practitioners act out in their blogs and the numerous purposes for which they engage in blogging. To construct their professional identity, healthcare practitioners draw on discursive strategies of distancing-mitigation, legitimization and self-disclosure. In this way, they position themselves as expert specialists who follow their professional ethos, as researchers who extend their knowledge and advice givers who are willing to share knowledge with their non-specialist audience and to educate their patients. They authenticate their expertise through references to their own medical practice and experience. The bloggers also aim to minimize the distance between their readers and engage in conversation with them. In response, the audience actively participates in the co-construction of knowledge and experience-sharing, and contributes to community building.