Argues that by rereading Helene Cixous's "The Laugh of Medusa" as a rhetoric--that is, an essay which posits what can and must be done by women if they are to intervene effectively in the public sphere through written or oral discourse--both rhetorical and feminist theory and criticism are enriched. (SR)

Tests a communication accommodation theory explanation for the effects of college student speech rate on compliance with a request for help. Finds that speech rate similarity, though not directly related to compliance, was associated with greater intimacy, immediacy, and sociability/character interpretations; and that enhanced immediacy ratings…

Reviews prominent existential definitions of responsible communication. Examines the notion of "decorum" in the Roman rhetorical system. Integrates these systems to overcome practical deficiencies in existential communication. Concludes with a demonstration of the importance of decorum to existential dialogues and a demonstration that…

Shows that institutional conversations differ from natural conversations in their closings. Contrasts felicitous closings by both native and highly proficient nonnative speakers with felicitous closings by nonnatives. Shows that native speaker interviews are not reopened, but only followed by separate, limited postsession conversations. (SR)

Examines the content of president's letters of high and low performing firms to discover patterns in communication strategy. Finds six recurring themes: environment; growth; operating philosophy; markets and products; unfavorable financial reference; and favorable financial reference. Finds that high- and low performing firms can be correctly…

Compares 214 letters of inquiry written by native and nonnative speakers of English to test the assumption that cultural factors beyond language such as the knowledge of the business communication practices and cultural expectations greatly affect communication. Finds that native speakers' letters deviated less from U.S. business communication…

Reports on research into the communication of speech state anxiety between adjacent speakers in the speaking order in a public speaking setting. Finds, based on classical response contagion theory, that public speaking state anxiety in an educational setting is contagious. Discusses possible consequences, and advances suggestions for future…

Reveals that relationships between communication issues and conversational improvement strategies were stronger for African Americans than for European Americans. Finds that African Americans reported a predominant focus on conversational improvement strategies requiring joint actions of both interactants, whereas European Americans emphasized…

Proposes a synthesis based on persuasive argument theories but including a revised social comparison component to account for group polarization. Indicates that group members first lean toward risk or caution based on the proportion of arguments on "both sides" but henceforth argue for the "correct side" using their…

Examines findings from key studies into image and publics and proposes a new model integrating and collapsing both concepts. Notes that the model explains the process of attaining an image. Argues for a reconceptualization of image and for a reconceptualization of public. (SR)

Examines the relationship between public relations and marketing departments from the perspective of 262 public relations practitioners in the United States. Finds that domain similarity and resource dependence between the two departments was positively associated with the eventual take over of the less powerful department (public relations) by…

Surveys scholars of children's literature to investigate role of informal information channels in humanities research. Finds that, rather than working in isolation, more than 50% of all respondents indicated that at least 50% of the time they discussed their work in its early stages, discussed specific primary sources, and found ideas for their…

Seeks empirical data on whether communication is an essential element of effective decision making and whether the variance in group decision making is best accounted for by noninteraction or interaction sources. Shows that group communication is related to group performance independent of the influence of noncommunication factors like group…

Finds that zero quotatives (where direct speech is reported with neither a reporting verb nor an attributed speaker) are found when a speaker is clearly constructing attitude; where the omission of a quotative may serve some dramatic effect; and at sights where conversational partners are displaying strongly convergent behavior. (SR)

Reviews scholarly research (from journalism, communication, business, and the humanities) on the specialized business press. Notes the lack of theory building and ties across disciplines, and anticipates that new advances in CD-ROM technology may increase research into the field as well as strengthen ties across disciplines. (SR)