Table 6 Content analysis and linguistic analysis of interviews according to dimensions and levels slight, moderate and severe^a

Mobility

slight

Minimal problems

Maybe, I don’t know

Illustrations, moderate level of certainty

Pain is not strong

For example

Someone who limps

I would say that

I sprayed my ankle, but I can still walk

I don’t see any difference between moderate and severe

Something like that

moderate

Sprayed an ankle and need a clutch

A moderate problem

Repetition

His problem is slightly more severe, for example instead of limping the leg is paralyzed

For example

Illustration

Moderate is a bit more…[does not complete sentence]

Self-care

slight

People who have problems in washing their teeth

[long pause and difficulties in distinguishing slight and moderate]

Choice of imprecise qualifiers

Takes the toothbrush up to the mouth

To move is more complicated

moderate

They may need external help

May need

Low level of certainty

Usual activities

slight

Tiredness

Imprecise lexical choice

Can practically do everything

Can practically do everything

Generic pronouns

moderate

Some kind of deficiency

Maybe, possibly

Modalization

Is able to do some things

Some degree of certainty

Pain/Discomfort

Slight

Something that we can easily change

Illustration

It’s like a itch, we feel but we don’t give it too much thought

High level of certainty

I feel some discomfort right now ‘cause of my allergies

moderate

Some kind of illness, the flu

[no occurrence of modals, and mitigators]

High level of certainty

We feel it is hurting in a given place

Slight [discomfort] is more superficial it’s not so exaggerated

Moderate is like the name indicates the person can do some things and others can’t

Anxiety/Depression

slight

I’m slightly [anxious] during [school] tests

I’m slightly [anxious] during [school] tests

High level of certainty

A person has the notion s/he is anxious but it does not impacts on the way s/he acts and speaks

I’m slightly anxious to know my grade

Choice of lexical nouns specific

When we’re going to take a harder [school] test

moderate

On the day of the test I’m moderately anxious, it’s not severe

On the day of the test I’m moderately anxious may start to stutter

High degree of certainty

A moderately anxious person may start to stutter

Illustration with own feelings and own context

Choice of specific lexical items

severe

An extremely anxious person might even I don’t know have panic attacks

might even I don’t know

Moderate to high level of certainty

Choice of specific lexical items

The person shuts himself/herself at home doesn’t want to see anyone thinks only of committing suicide