Eloquent silences: A musical and lexical analysis of conversation between oncologists and their patients

• Patient-centered communication requires lexical and musical elements of speech.
• The musicality of language contains many previously ineffable elements of connection.
• Silence defines a unique dialog rhythm in healthcare communication during connection.
• Silence can reflect interpersonal synchrony that facilitates emotional exchange.
• Connectional silence is rare which may reflect frequently divided attention.

ObjectiveSilences in doctor-patient communication can be “connectional” and communicative, in contrast to silences that indicate awkwardness or distraction. Musical and lexical analyses can identify and characterize connectional silences in consultations between oncologists and patients.MethodsTwo medical students and a professor of voice screened all 1211 silences over 2 s in length from 124 oncology office visits. We developed a “strength of connection” taxonomy and examined ten connectional silences for lexical and musical features including pitch, volume, and speaker turn-taking rhythm.ResultsWe identified connectional silences with good reliability. Typical dialog rhythms surrounding connectional silences are characterized by relatively equal turn lengths and frequent short vocalizations. We found no pattern of volume and pitch variability around these silences. Connectional silences occurred in a wide variety of lexical contexts.ConclusionParticular patterns of dialog rhythm mark connectional silences. Exploring structures of connectional silence extends our understanding of the audio-linguistic conditions that mark patient-clinician connection.Practice implicationsCommunicating with an awareness of pitch, rhythm, and silence – in addition to lexical content – can facilitate shared understanding and emotional connection.