ABSTRACT
Institutionalized discourse is a broad term for a wide variety of discourse genres that share a set of factors and constraining features. Some instances of institutionalized discourse are the interaction between teachers and students, doctor-patient communication and the legal language in the court. This paper focuses on the interaction between physician and patient in the medical interview, one type of communication in the workplace which typically displays the major features of institutionalized discourse. This encounter will be examined to determine the role of language either in facilitating or hindering the achievement of interactional peace between the participants. Concluding comments will suggest how communication between physician and patient and, consequently, the patient’s health and life can be enhanced.
