Passion Talk: Professor Elena Semino - how we talk about cancer

Summary

This script discusses the impact of metaphors on our perception and experience of illness, particularly cancer. Metaphors like 'battle against cancer' are prevalent and can influence both public and personal understanding. Research at Lancaster University analyzed metaphors used by patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, revealing varied responses. Some find empowerment in 'fighting' cancer, while others feel disempowered or stigmatized. The study suggests a 'metaphor menu' to help individuals find a metaphor that resonates with their experience.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Metaphors play a significant role in shaping how we talk about and perceive complex, sensitive experiences, especially illness like cancer.
• 💼 Conferences are dedicated to the study of metaphor, recognizing their impact on various aspects of communication and perception.
• 💬 Common cancer metaphors include 'battle' and 'journey,' which are used frequently in patient, family, and healthcare professional discourse.
• 🔍 Linguistic research, such as the Lancaster study, analyzes large datasets of language used by patients, family carers, and healthcare professionals to uncover metaphor patterns.
• ⚔️ Violence-related metaphors (battle, fight, war) are often used, but they can have both positive and negative effects depending on the individual and stage of illness.
• 🏞️ Journey metaphors are also common, sometimes providing a sense of companionship and purpose, but not everyone finds them empowering.
• 🤔 Different people respond to metaphors in unique ways, with some finding strength in the 'fighter' metaphor, while others feel disempowered, especially when facing terminal illness.
• 🎨 Creative metaphors, like music and economic metaphors, are used by some patients to describe their cancer experience, illustrating the flexibility of metaphorical thinking.
• 🌍 Cultural differences influence metaphor usage, with Eastern traditions focusing on restoring balance rather than fighting illness.
• 📚 The researchers aim to create a 'metaphor menu,' offering a variety of metaphorical options for patients to choose from, helping them find language that resonates with their personal experience.

Q & A

What is the significance of studying metaphors in relation to cancer?

Metaphors such as 'battle against cancer' or 'cancer is a journey' are common ways to describe complex experiences like cancer. They can influence how people perceive and experience illness, affecting not only fundraising but also the patients' own perspectives.

How does the choice of metaphor impact the perception of illness?

The metaphors chosen can significantly affect how an illness is viewed and experienced. For instance, 'war against cancer' suggests a collective effort, while 'personal battle' indicates individual struggle.

What was the scope of the research conducted at Lancaster?

The research at Lancaster involved a two-year study analyzing metaphors used by cancer patients, family carers, and healthcare professionals in over 1.5 million words of data.

What are the common metaphors used to describe the cancer experience?

Common metaphors include 'violence' (fight, battle, war), 'journey', and various others like 'scary fairground rides', 'imprisonment', and 'sports'.

How do 'fight' and 'battle' metaphors differ in their usage with cancer?

'Fight' is used both collectively and individually, while 'battle' tends to be more personal, often referring to the patient's individual struggle with cancer.

What are the potential negative implications of using 'fight' and 'battle' metaphors?

These metaphors can lead to feelings of failure and disempowerment if the patient does not recover, as they imply a struggle against an enemy that must be defeated.

How does the 'journey' metaphor compare to 'fight' and 'battle' metaphors?

The 'journey' metaphor is less likely to induce negative feelings as it lacks the connotation of failure associated with not defeating an enemy, but it can still be empowering or rejected depending on the individual.

What role does individual variation play in the effectiveness of metaphors?

Individual variation greatly impacts the effectiveness of metaphors. What is empowering for one person might be disempowering for another, highlighting the need for a variety of metaphors.

What is a 'metaphor menu' and how could it be beneficial?

A 'metaphor menu' is a collection of various metaphors that individuals can choose from to find ones that resonate with them, potentially aiding in coping or understanding their experience.

How do cultural differences influence the choice of metaphors for illness?

Cultural differences can lead to different metaphors; for example, Eastern traditions might view illness as an imbalance to be harmonized rather than an invader to be fought.

What is the importance of providing a variety of metaphors for cancer patients?

Offering a variety allows patients to find metaphors that align with their personal experiences and feelings, which can be empowering and aid in coping with their illness.