Explicatural Strategies the Language of Medical Case Notes in Nigeria.pdf

This research analyses the language of medical case notes (MCNs) produced by medical personnel in Nigeria. The study examines the explicatural strategies that help in the appropriate interpretation of the discourse. Twenty case notes were purposively sampled from two privately owned hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The data were subjected to a pragmatic analysis using Wilson and Sperber‟s Theoretical Concept of Explicature. The findings show the deployment of three explicatural strategies of enrichment in the discourse: gap filling, reference assignment and bridging by the medical personnel in the recovery of the propositional contents of case notes with linguistic peculiarities. The study reveals professional competence and concludes that the pragmatic implication of enrichment in the interpretation of such medical discourses enhances the appropriate diagnosis of diseases and treatment of patients which are the core tasks of the medical personnel. Keywords: Explicature, medical personnel, medical language, case notes, gap filling,