This paper offers a tentative and exploratory discussion of the assumptive bases and ethical implications of a theory of interpersonal listening based on empathy. The first major section of the paper presents a brief historical overview of the empathic tradition, particularly as it relates to interpersonal communication study and to theory…

The purposes of this paper are to explore the relationship between dialogic communication and conflict analysis and to examine current assumptions about conflict and communication as described in the speech communication literature. The first part of the paper discusses dialogue, in particular that of Martin Buber, as a conflict method.…

Treating views of communication through consideration of contrasting conceptions of intersubjectivity is possible because the two domains are articulated in different terms and are at the same time closely identified. There are three images of intersubjectivity that reflect the dominant ways in which the dichotomy of the individual and the social…

The development of a child's social awareness is reflected in, and in part accomplished through, requests. Requests for action and information--such as the assistance of another, typically older person--require an important set of linguistic and social skills. Re-requests become necessary when the initial request is ignored or not adequately…

A "System for coding Integration and Differentiation messages" in group communication (SID) was developed, based on the theoretical and empirical work of W. C. Schutz, W. Bennis and H. Shepard, and A. Koestler. In SID, integrating messages are defined as those dealing with material internal to the group and having positive affect, or…

Perceptions of relational development were examined in this study. One hundred and five subjects designated and evaluated three relationships each--those with an acquaintance, a friend, and an intimate friend--producing a total of 247 existing relationships for study. The subjects' evaluations were assessed according to two main variables:…

Communicative adaptability differs from both P. Backlund's and J. M. Wiemann's definitions of communicative competence by stressing the importance of the communicator's ability to perceive contextual constraints and to adapt his or her interaction goals and behavior accordingly. Communicative adaptability produces more satisfactory answers to the…

It is suggested that the literature on communicative competence, replete with various formulations, mirrors the diversity of language outlined by Martin Joos in his essay "The Five Clocks." Three concepts of communicative competence are reviewed, in historical perspective. The first, promoted by Norm Chomsky, distinguished linguistic…

The traditional views of audience analysis and rhetorical strategy are examined in terms of modifications necessary for application to persuasion in interpersonal communication contexts. To obtain guidance for ways in which the traditional concepts may be modified, a framework consisting of selected work by Erving Goffman and Ernest Becker is…

This paper is designed for both experienced and novice educators who want to participate in lifelong learning programs. The various sections of the paper (1) explain the principles of communicative competence, (2) apply these principles to processes of lifelong learning, and (3) describe the benefits of effective communication for the teaching and…

The rapid growth in the field of interpersonal communication has outstripped educational planning in the field, resulting in the espousal of questionable methods of selecting and presenting the materials germane to interpersonal communication. One of the more recent directions of instruction in interpersonal communication has been toward a…

Communication competence has been approached primarily from three perspectives in the communication literature: (1) as cognitive understanding of communication, (2) as a capability of performing certain communication skills, and (3) as achieving effective communication. Most scholars who write about communication competence view competence either…

Communication competency research and theory would benefit from a conceptualization that emphasizes competent communication rather than competent communicators. Such a conceptualization recognizes that competent communication is inherently both contextually bound and necessarily dependent upon the particular combination of people involved in an…

Noting that communication skills are important for the processing of understanding between individuals and within the individual, this paper describes a principle and skill approach to understanding the processes of communication as background for teaching a number of skills used in interpersonal communication. The skills discussed in the paper…

Defining communication fidelity as the communication of ideas by one person in a way that results in the construction of congruent ideas by the recipient of that communication, this paper describes a model of basic communication based on this construct that will provide specific information about communication problems. The paper also discusses…