Recent findings on the communicative functions of the left versus the right hemisphere of the brain may suggest that there is a distinction between the intentional use of symbols for the sending of specific messages or propositions (language, signing, pantomime) and spontaneous expressive behaviors that signal their meaning through a natural…

This survey of publications in speech and theatre interpretation briefly discusses current trends in the various publishing formats. An annotated bibliography is included, citing recent books, dissertations, and periodicals. Also included are tabulations of 1978 and 1979 speech and theatre publications interpretation activities offered at Speech…

Data on four infants between the ages of 12 and 20 months were collected to answer two questions about children's communication behavior. (1) Is there a correspondence between communicative intentions expressed in gestures and vocal utterances? If both spring from common organismic tendencies, it should be possible to discern an "indicating"…

Defining "idols of communication" as widely-held ideas that obstruct progress in the development of interpersonal communication theory, this paper identifies three principles deserving of the title. The identified principles are: (1) the idol of coorientation, the belief that mutual understandings are the essential grounds for the coordination of…

Both balance and reinforcement theories were used in an examination of the perceptual distortion of height among 146 college debaters. Balance theory predicted that losers would distort winners' heights upward; reinforcement theory predicted that winners would distort losers' heights upward. The results confirmed both predictions. The possibility…

Using a sample from a homogeneous population, a study was conducted to examine the distinction between intrapersonal and interpersonal issue agendas, and the use of open-ended questions, paried comparisons, and semantic differentials to measure respondent agendas. The study found measurable differences between intrapersonal and interpersonal issue…

To test whether verbal choices in a persuasive setting would show less diversity and more qualification than those in a nonpersuasive setting, a study involving 24 college students was undertaken. The subjects were divided into five groups and each group was asked to role play two situations: one calling for the subjects merely to be…

Arguing that, as a general principle, the most efficient, best organized and managed organization would have little duplication of work or of service to its markets or publics, this paper presents a method for assessing duplication among organizational components of work performed and of services to various publics and for determining the extent…

Users of the placement service at the 1978 Speech Communication Association (SCA) convention were asked to complete a questionnaire to determine overall interest in nonacademic employment, specific interest areas of nonacademic employment, and perceived employment skills. Of the 241 questionnaires handed out, 141 were returned and 100 were used in…

This report proposes that people often plan their speech acts to affect their listeners' beliefs, goals, and emotional states and that such language use can be modeled by viewing speech acts as operators in a planning system, allowing both physical and speech acts to be integrated into plans. Methodological issues of how speech acts should be…

This paper presents a new mathematical approach, fuzzy mathematics, for defining, classifying, and analyzing concepts within communications. Fuzzy mathematics is based on the premise that real world phenomena contain characteristics that overlap any artifically created category system or classification rules. Therefore, set membership is…

Describes the results of preliminary experiments to investigate the effects of communications medium (face-to-face and two-way closed circuit television) on the fundamental frequency of speakers in a dyadic communications situation. (JMF)

Reveals that an individual's information processing is affected by number of objects and differences in perceptual sets. (KS)

Compares previous findings regarding dimensions of organizational communication effectiveness with the results of interviews with 48 northwest corporate administrators. Lists six major dimensions of effectiveness: (1) coaching and motivating employees, (2) encouraging worker involvement and participation, (3) self-motivation, (4) problem-solving…

Indicated that (1) arguments perceived as strong by receivers generated both more favorable, supportive cognitive responses and attitude change than weak message arguments; and (2) perceived source expertise and attractiveness influenced cognitive responses, but not in a coherent fashion or to the extent that they effect attitude change. (JD)