Linguistic ways of expressing paternalistic relations in the modern discourse of a doctor and a patient

The article is devoted to the study of paternalistic relations in medical discourse. The material was the scripts of 69 records of medical consultations received in medical institutions. The aim of the work is to identify the communicative specificity of paternalism in modern medical discourse. The definition of the paternalistic type of discourse as a way of communication of unequal status subjects is proposed, in which the senior communicant uses speech to influence the cognitive sphere of the opponent and control his/her behaviour by means of subordination and control with simultaneous demonstration of care. The factors of identification of paternalistic relations in medical discourse are revealed. Linguistic indicators of the paternalistic type of discourse, main strategies and auxiliary strategies, tactics specific to the paternalistic type of discourse are established. It is concluded that in a number of cases these tactics are used justifiably as a traditional way of showing care. Tactics of instruction, permission, control are preferable for some categories of patients, allowing them to focus on important information, to be convinced of the correctness of actions, to feel supported. The disadvantages of the tactics of prohibition, exhortation, and control are their high ability to cause conflict or psychological discomfort for patients, which significantly degrade the communication. To effectively use the linguistic facilities of paternalistic discourse, the doctor needs to take into account the age, social and psychological status of the patient