The archetype of a surgeon is one who feels communication is "touchy feely" or merely grunts and throws things, when, in fact, surgery is reliant on the highest standards of communication. Communication forms a central part of clinical work for surgeons. However, it has only been in the past several years that the uniqueness and complexity of this aspect of surgeon competence has gained currency in research and education. This volume brings together new research from key international academics, who contribute a range of linguistic, sociological, and professional views on communication in surgical practice. The primary aim is to provide an insight into the complexity of surgeon communication, covering a variety of communicative activities required in the everyday work of surgeons. Through the selection of authors from a variety of interactive sociolinguistic disciplines as well as the contribution of clinicians, this book is able to encapsulate a broad range of topics in, and methodologies currently used to understand, communication in surgical practice. The intended audience for this book includes surgeons, surgical colleges, medical educators, communication researchers and educators, linguists, sociologists, and others with an interest in surgical and medical communication.