Dr. Jenny Wan presented her conference paper, “Grieving in the Digital Space: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Study of Anticipatory Grief in Hospice Narratives,” at the 51st International Systemic Functional Congress (ISFC) held at Hong Kong Metropolitan University on 14 July 2026.

The study examines how terminally ill patients and their caregivers express anticipatory grief in online hospice narratives from Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Using Systemic Functional Linguistics and corpus-based methods, the research reveals how language reflects emotional experiences, interpersonal relationships, and cultural values in digital grief communication.

Findings indicate that Hong Kong narratives emphasize family connectedness and collective resilience, while UK narratives highlight individual reflection and agency. The study contributes to health communication research and informs culturally responsive hospice care practices.

This presentation is a deliverable of the RGC Faculty Development Scheme (FDS) 2026–2027 project, “Anticipatory Grief in Digital Communication: Narratives in Hospice Care Center Websites and Support Group Forums” (UGC/FDS15/H04/25), for which Dr. Jenny Wan serves as Principal Investigator.

Photo: Dr. Jenny Wan with Professor Gail Forey, Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Bath. Together, they have collaborated on a URG-funded research project examining communication practices and digital support strategies in hospice care settings in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.