“I’m A Magical Helping Guy”, Using Systemic Functional Linguistics to Examine Identity in a Virtual Table-Top Role-Playing Game After Brain Injury

Abstract

This work aims to examine the identities communicated prior to and during a role-playing game (RPG) for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Appraisal, an analysis tool of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), that allows one to examine the interpersonal metafunction, was applied to interview and RPG group treatment conversations. This allowed for the investigation of the evaluative language of five individuals with ABI. The analysis revealed that individuals were capable of using various resources of appraisal to communicate their identities and did so differently across contexts. SFL, specifically the analysis of appraisal, is a useful resource for examining the communication and negotiation of identity after ABI. This has implications for interventions that support and facilitate positive identity negotiation and thus, enhanced rehabilitation outcomes.