Language, Discourse and Anxiety

Language is essential to how we make sense of anxiety, as linguistic techniques like catastrophization and anthropomorphization can result in different conceptualizations of anxiety. This book uses corpus-assisted discourse analysis to examine 23 million words of text posted to a forum for people with anxiety, showing how identity, age, sex, and cultural background can impact understandings of anxiety and how it ought to be managed. It tracks the changing identities of posters and incorporates corpus-based techniques to examine the language data, aiming to better understand different responses to anxiety and promote further engagement with applied linguistics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Language holds immense significance in shaping our understanding and management of anxiety. Through a comprehensive corpus-assisted discourse analysis, this book delves into a vast collection of 23 million words of text posted on a forum for individuals dealing with anxiety. By employing linguistic techniques such as catastrophization and anthropomorphization, it reveals how these linguistic patterns can lead to vastly different conceptualizations of anxiety. Moreover, it explores how aspects of identity, including age, sex, and cultural background, influence our interpretations of anxiety and shape our approaches to managing it. The study tracks the evolving identities of forum posters, from their initial posts to their final contributions, employing a range of corpus-based techniques to examine the language data. This analysis enables a deep exploration of the interplay between participants and the unique features of online communication, such as emoji. Ultimately, the book aims to advance our understanding of diverse responses to anxiety and foster further engagement with this critical topic within the realm of applied linguistics.

Language plays a pivotal role in shaping our perception and management of anxiety.

Through a comprehensive corpus-assisted discourse analysis, this book explores a vast collection of 23 million words of text posted on a forum for individuals grappling with anxiety.

By employing linguistic techniques like catastrophization and anthropomorphization, it unveils how these linguistic patterns can lead to vastly different conceptualizations of anxiety.

Moreover, it delves into how aspects of identity, including age, sex, and cultural background, influence our interpretations of anxiety and shape our approaches to managing it.

The study tracks the evolving identities of forum posters, from their initial posts to their final contributions, employing a range of corpus-based techniques to examine the language data.

This analysis enables a deep exploration of the interplay between participants and the unique features of online communication, such as emoji.

Ultimately, the book aims to advance our understanding of diverse responses to anxiety and foster further engagement with this critical topic within the realm of applied linguistics.

ISBN-13: 9781009250122