Delivering reassurance in online medical consultations : the stance marker Hao-bu-hao (HBH) in spoken Chinese

Abstract

This article examines doctors' delivery of reassurance in online medical consultations. It focuses on the Mandarin A-not-A structure hao-bu-hao (HBH), equivalent to “alright” in English, and observes how it contribute to the delivery of reassurance. Data include typed texts and audio recordings. Using conversation analysis, we differentiate two environments where HBH is used: in delivering a no-problem diagnosis and an optimistic prognosis in the context of bad news. We argue that HBH allows the doctor to maintain control over the interaction while appearing less directive by acknowledging the patient's contingency without genuinely seeking their input.