Suzanne Eggins Knihy

Introduction to systemic functional linguistics explores the social semiotic approach to language most closely associated with the work of Michael Halliday and his colleagues>

The book presents a systematic model for analyzing casual conversation in English, revealing its underlying structure despite its seemingly aimless nature. Through authentic examples featuring diverse participants, it emphasizes the role of casual conversation in shaping social reality. By integrating insights from sociology, linguistics, and critical semiotics, the authors provide readers with analytical skills to uncover the complexities of conversation and understand its social functions.

Through detailed analyses of over 800 handover interactions, audits of documentation, and feedback from interviews and surveys, the authors identify key features of effective and ineffective clinical handovers across various hospital settings. They translate these findings into practical protocols, communication strategies, and checklists aimed at enhancing the safety and quality of clinical handovers for clinicians, managers, and policymakers. All contributors are associated with the International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare (IRCCH), a global organization of over 90 healthcare professionals from 17 countries dedicated to improving communication within healthcare systems. The authors have established a robust safety framework that, if implemented, can significantly reduce errors stemming from communication failures. Esteemed professionals praise the work for its rigorous research and practical application, noting its value in real-world clinical settings. The book serves as an excellent resource for training healthcare personnel, emphasizing clear communication and effective handover processes.