BACKGROUND Despite an expansive literature on communication in medicine, the role of language is dealt with mostly indirectly. Recently, narrative medicine has emerged as a strategy to improve doctor-patient communication and integrate patient perspectives. However, even in this field which is predicated on language use, scholars have not specifically reflected on how language functions in medicine. METHODS In this theoretical paper, the authors consider how different models of language use, which have been proposed in the philosophical literature, might be applied to communication in medicine. In particular, the authors contrast the traditional, indexical thesis of language with new models that focus on interpretation instead of standardization. RESULTS The authors demonstrate how paying close attention to the role of language in medicine provides a philosophical foundation for supporting recent changes in doctor-patient communication. In particular, interpretive models are at the foundation of new approaches such as narrative medicine, that emphasize listening to patient stories, rather than merely collecting information. CONCLUSION Ultimately, debates regarding the role of language which have largely resided in non-medical literatures, have important implications for describing communication in medicine. In particular, interpretive models of language use provide an important rationale for facilitating a more robust dialogue between doctors and patients.

中文翻译：

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重新考虑语言在医学中的作用。

背景技术尽管关于医学交流的文献很多，但是语言的作用大部分是间接处理的。最近，叙事医学已经成为一种改善医患沟通和整合患者观点的策略。但是，即使在以语言使用为基础的这一领域，学者们也没有具体思考语言在医学中的作用。方法在本理论论文中，作者考虑了如何将哲学文献中提出的不同的语言使用模型应用于医学交流。特别是，作者将语言的传统索引主题与侧重于解释而非标准化的新模型进行了对比。结果作者证明，密切关注语言在医学中的作用如何为支持医患沟通的最新变化提供了哲学基础。尤其是，解释模型是诸如叙事医学之类的新方法的基础，该方法强调聆听患者的故事，而不仅仅是收集信息。结论最终，关于语言作用的辩论主要存在于非医学文献中，对描述医学交流具有重要意义。特别地，语言使用的解释模型为促进医生与患者之间更健壮的对话提供了重要依据。解释模型是叙事医学等新方法的基础，该方法强调听病人的故事，而不仅仅是收集信息。结论最终，关于语言作用的辩论主要存在于非医学文献中，对描述医学交流具有重要意义。特别地，语言使用的解释模型为促进医生与患者之间更健壮的对话提供了重要的依据。解释模型是叙事医学等新方法的基础，该方法强调听病人的故事，而不仅仅是收集信息。结论最终，关于语言作用的辩论主要存在于非医学文献中，对描述医学交流具有重要意义。特别地，语言使用的解释模型为促进医生与患者之间更健壮的对话提供了重要的依据。