Language, end of life, death and bereavement: an interdisciplinary perspective

The workshop aims to initiate an interdisciplinary discussion by convening linguists along with scholars from other disciplines with an interest in language, such as philosophy or psychology, who share a common interest in end-of-life, death and bereavement issues. It will be informed by the following research questions: what are the linguistic representations of death and end of life? What are the similarities and differences between healthcare practitioners, patients and (bereaved) relatives in terms of their representation of death and end of life? To what extent can health care practitioners’ communication practices impact the process of bereavement? What linguistic resources can be put in place to avoid the silence that surrounds death-related topics?