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Running Head: LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC IN THE REALM OF MENTAL HEALTH

Language and Rhetoric in the Realm of Mental Health

Lauren Parquette

University of Central Florida

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LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC IN THE REALM OF MENTAL HEALTH
Language and Rhetoric in the Realm of Mental Health

Whether we consciously comprehend it or not, language and rhetoric are integral parts

of everyone’s day to day lives. We use them daily—in conversation, communication, and even

in art. These concepts play crucial roles in everything that we do; from basic verbal

communication to writing to merely sending a text message. And we use it with everyone—

friends, family, bosses, professors, colleagues; no one is exempt from the use of rhetoric.

Language and rhetoric are the basis of interaction of any capacity. Though it may often remain

subliminal, these concepts seep through into all forms of human communication. Doug Downs

(n.d.) even said something to a similar effect himself in his piece Rhetoric: Making Sense of

Human Interaction and Meaning-Making with the statement that “rhetoric [is] a set of

principles for human interaction that most people know unconsciously but don’t think much

about.” These are the pillars with which we use to articulate our thoughts, be they incredibly

deep or shockingly shallow. One may be more apt to notice these language nuances within a

specific group to which they belong, seeing as we all inevitably use more particular language

with those we know will understand it. In the article Discourse Communities and Communities

of Practice: Membership, Conflict, and Diversity, Ann M. Johns (1997) articulates that in these

discourse communities there is a “focus… on texts and language, the genres and lexis”. This

then includes unique jargon and phrasing typified in the groups, as well as necessary formats.

Bearing this in mind, I have recognized these types of rhetorical interactions within a

discourse community to which I belong; this being the realm of mental health. I have lived

with mental illness from a very young age. Due to this, I have attended therapy and extensively

focused on the betterment of my mental health for a long period of time. Subsequently, I have

become very well acquainted with the discourse and the rhetoric used within it. As I stated

earlier, within any group of people there will be specificities in regard to their communication.

Within this domain, I have decided to assess the usage of language within the discourse as well
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LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC IN THE REALM OF MENTAL HEALTH
as the impact of perpetuated stigmatic language surrounding the topic of mental health. As a

longstanding member of this discourse, I have been able to first handedly assess and witness

the affects had by language. I aim to examine the effects of language and why these are so

important to my specific community. There are uses of these concepts that expand far beyond

that which is typically thought of, including “incorporating the language of recovery” and the

uses of “Recuperative Ethos and Agile Epistemologies” (2009 and 2015).

In my research I plan to use a few different methods to collect my primary data. Textual

analysis will be my main form of research collection within the project, as it can provide me

with physical artifacts to dissect. With this method I can look at articles or texts valued within

the discourse. I specifically intend to use textual analysis to examine the rhetoric used in a

Dialectal Behavioral Therapy workbook. This will allow for an in-depth textual interaction. I

will look through different sections of the workbook including the introduction, possibly some

activities, and the conclusion. I will also be taking a multi-modal approach to analyze the

language in phone applications, such as Sanvello and Moodpath, that are commonly used to

aid and monitor mental health. I believe it will provide an interesting lens with the use of

modern technology in this area. Through this research I additionally can find repeated usage

of language and how that can carry over into patient-led treatment outside of sessions. A lot

of people within the discourse use these kinds of apps to monitor themselves and keep up with

necessary tracking. I may also use autoethnography from my own notes from sessions or bullet

journals to explore the use of repeated phrasing and use of positive language, including the use

of language in tactics like reframing. When in therapy, I would often write down phrases and

terms used by my own therapist that would be particularly helpful to me or something I should

bear in mind in the future.

I will try to abide by the following schedule in order to achieve these aims in a timely and

effective manner:
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LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC IN THE REALM OF MENTAL HEALTH
 Complete Multi-modal Analysis by 10/15

 Complete Autoethnography by 10/20

 Complete Textual Analysis by 10/25

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LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC IN THE REALM OF MENTAL HEALTH
References

Downs, D. (n.d.). Rhetoric: Making Sense of Human Interaction and Meaning-Making.

Writing About Writing: For the University of Central Florida, pp. 457-481.

Johns, A. (1997). Discourse Communities and Communities of Practice: Membership,

Conflict, and Diversity. Writing About Writing: For the University of Central Forida,

pp. 319-341.

Kranke, D., & Floersch, J. (2009). Mental Health Stigma among Adolescents: Implications

for School Social Workers. School Social Work Journal, 34(1), 28–42. Retrieved

from https://search-ebscohost-

com.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ893727&site=ehost

-live&scope=site

Linhorst, D., & Eckert, A. (2003). Conditions for Empowering People with Severe Mental

Illness. Social Service Review, 77(2), 279-305. doi:10.1086/373909

Molloy, C. (2015). Recuperative Ethos and Agile Epistemologies: Toward a Vernacular

Engagement with Mental Illness Ontologies. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 45(2), 138–

163. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-

com.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mzh&AN=2015872456&site=e

host-live&scope=site

Ramon, S., Shera, W., Healy, B., Lachman, M., & Renouf, N. (2009). The Rediscovered

Concept of Recovery in Mental Illness: A Multicountry Comparison of Policy and

Practice. International Journal of Mental Health, 38(2), 106-126. Retrieved from

http://www.jstor.org/stable/41345286