Intention

Dr Vivek Murthy’s intention in the interview  “Business To Benefit From Addressing ‘Loneliness Epidemic,’ Doctor Says” is to inform the public about loneliness as a public health issue, and to persuade businesses to address the issue of loneliness in the workplace.

To persuade the audience that loneliness is a large-scale problem, which should be treated as a public health issue, Dr Murthy appeals to his authority as a medical professional. He speaks about his experience as a medical practitioner and as a Surgeon General, a time during which he noticed that many people struggling with loneliness (ll. 17-28).

Another intention that the speaker has is to inform the audience of the consequences that loneliness can have on an individual’s health. Dr Murthy uses scientific facts to achieve this intention:

(…) loneliness is associated with shorter lifespan. And, in fact, the reduction in ...