ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss cultural and linguistic competence in the context of healthcare professions and professionalization, and power and discourse patterns in clinical environments. We highlight research on health communication in diverse contexts, for example, between patients and healthcare workers, pointing out the disadvantages for minoritized communities. Using real-time examples of doctor-patient consultations, the chapter illustrates how specific language choices can impact the outcome of interactions and offers insights for promoting critical linguistic awareness in health care. Finally, we consider how medical schools are responding to the “bilingual skills gap” in the healthcare workforce (e.g., the teaching and assessment of physicians’ competence and Medical Spanish).
