How to find Words for the Unspeakable? The Power of Language at Death's Door

Background: This contribution sheds light on the confrontation and management of the transience of life, of illness and death within private and professional circles. The author is interested in the power of language in social... [ view full abstract ]

Background: This contribution sheds light on the confrontation and management of the transience of life, of illness and death within private and professional circles. The author is interested in the power of language in social work based on autoethnography.
The aim is to point out the power of language in a critical way since language constructs, reconstructs and constitutes the world. Especially in hospice and palliative care social workers are confronted with sorrow, suffering and the finiteness of life. Often people are confused, do not understand medical terms and feelings of shame and blame are seldom mentioned. Nevertheless they are part of social work and research.
How to find words and which words to talk about the unspeakable, and not keeping it secret if not in medical-technical terms? This contribution will examine the discourse on death and dying from a professional viewpoint, and how this powerfully intersects with the complexity of disclosing personal vulnerabilities and in the world of work.

Methods: Autoethnographic research and writing is biographical research from the inside out and is concerned with an investigation into one’s own existence in a specific historical and cultural context. This contribution is based on the author’s journal entries and relevant literature. Observing and describing the everyday, particularly thoughts and emotions, and the written reflection of the personal being linked to professional issues are a substantial part of the reflective approach in social work.

Results, conclusion and implications: Being aware of the power of language, understanding the self and reflecting on life transitions are an essential foundation in order to work in social work. Showing personal vulnerability through the power of language by sharing a life-threatening diagnosis within work instead of keeping it secret was a liability that the system did not easily accommodate.
Symposium with Gupta Anna and Schulze Heidrun