Relational Dialectics between Parents and their Children with Mental Health Problems: A Contrapuntal Analysis

Abstract

Relational Dialectics is a theory that highlights and centers on contradictions taking place in everyday communicative activities between relational partners. In this study, the theory is utilized to scrutinize how parents and their children with mental health problems craft meanings from the struggle of different, often opposing discourses. The theory is aided by Contrapuntal Analysis, a type of discourse analysis which evaluates the utterance chain and interplay of discourses presented by relational dyads. The utterance chain showcases two types of links: 1) the proximal-already- spoken links which are classified as the utterances that are expressed by a relational other, and 2) the proximal-not- yet-spoken links which are classified as the utterances that are implied or not expressed. On the other hand, the interplay of discourses exhibits how voices or meanings are dominant or centripetally positioned, or marginalized or centrifugally positioned. Among the discursive struggles present between parents and their children with mental health problems are connection-autonomy, certainty-uncertainty, closedness-openness, and mental health as valued-mental health as neglected. Further, other discursive struggles emerge such as overprotection – tough love which is comprised of proximal-already-spoken utterance links and are positioned centripetally, and lack of concern – giving back to the care-providing other which includes proximal-not-yet-spoken utterance links and are positioned centrifugally. As the study capitalizes in analyzing discourses through a sociolinguistic lens, results are beneficial both for linguists and language educators in adopting English or any language courses which are suitable and relevant to address societal issues among familial contexts or within personal relationships.