1.5p Interpersonal communication (chapter)

Kaija-Liisa Kivimäki

Interpersonal communication

The field of communication has developed and advanced along with technological advances since the World War II. It is a fact that effective communication is vital anywhere you go, anywhere you study or work at. Good communication skills form the foundation of professional skills in any line of work today. The following text is a description of the concept of interpersonal communication.

To complete the reading, please visit the online study module and slide material given on the current topic as well.

Communication involves verbal and non-verbal elements as well as voice tone and volume. In addition, the topic of communication, the participant’s personal communication traits and history all influence communication. Verbal and non-verbal communication are further discussed in chapters six and seven of this book. This chapter serves as an introduction to the more detailed chapters including verbal and non-verbal aspects.

Interpersonal communication involves more than one communicator which makes it a social action.

The field of interpersonal communication study is a separate academic field with a strong focus on certain aspects of communication and the interactions of those involved. Such aspects influence – and are influenced by- the prevailing culture, society and personal interpretations. The context has a significant role in it. Looking at interpersonal communication in an intercultural framework, we are often dealing with communication conducted in international English, or English as lingua franca. ( ern n e -Amaya, Lucia, 2012, p. 20). This text however deals with the topic on general level, not getting into the details of international English in particular.

What is interpersonal communication? According to Berger (2014, p. 9), it is a process involving the following elements: 1. message production (encoding), 2. message reception (decoding), 3. interaction coordination 4. social perception.

Berger (2014, p. 9) continues by addressing the specific functions of interpersonal communication originally introduced by Burleson (2010). The following functions are characterized as message-

centered which means the exchange of messages serves the pursuit of social goals. The functions are as follows:

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interaction management (conversational coherence),

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relationship management (relationship maintenance),

gaining compliance, acquiring information and entertaining.

All the above features establish and confirm the nature of interpersonal communication as social interaction.

To be involved in social interaction all our lives inevitably means we connect with social networks.

The study of social networks is called the study of relationships among relationships in the field of interpersonal communication.(Parks and Faw in Berger, 2014, p. 394). The introduction of social media has generated new ways in which people may form, maintain and adjust their personal networks. As a matter of fact, most of us have some experience of belonging to one or more networks operating on social media. Joining a network requires us to learn and adapt to a new set of rules defining the accepted interpersonal communication within the framework of that particular network.

Interpersonal communication is challenging in the sense that we are individuals who follow certain traits and patterns in how we choose to communicate. What we learn about communication is an outcome of belonging to a particular culture blended with our personality. To communicate in an intercultural context is even more challenging as we are mixing different cultures and personalities.

Nardon (2017, p. 23, 24) discusses the role of reflection in coping with such challenging communication situations. She suggests that reflection increases our awareness of certain, challenging communicative cues that might lead into discomfort, anxiety or confusion. By reflecting and re-evaluating our behaviour we may be able to develop alternative behaviours to manage the situations thus avoiding the somehow negative emotions as listed above.

Whenever we communicate with another person, we use certain techniques to define the level of common ground, claims Nardon (2017, p. 141, 142). There is a need for certain shared assumptions, beliefs and knowledge that are relevant in the particular context. We may, however, realize there is no common ground which may result into us creating some by explaining to others our ways of thinking and behaving. Further, we need to gain an understanding of how the others think and behave correspondingly. Even if the focus of the current ebook is intercultural communication, the same principles apply in any interpersonal communication framework.

The role of context was discussed earlier in the text. Nardon (2017, p. 44, 45) calls the process of making sense in a certain context intercultural sensemaking. The term refers to a shared understanding and interpretation in a certain context, or about a certain social and physical context of communication and interaction. At this point it is clear that a lack of intercultural sensemaking results into lack of communication, or miscommunication. Nardon (2017, p. 49) discusses how we think and act in a context even further as she introduces the concept of situational awareness. The thoughts, feelings and behaviours of all involved in a situation will be influenced by the contextual elements of the situation. With the help of situational awareness we may be able to define and redefine the situational context and enhance understanding. In terms of interpersonal communication, differences of interpretations as well as misunderstandings may lead into a conflict. Nardon (2017, p. 153) suggests that clearing the misunderstandings, developing acceptance and compromises may help to solve the situation of ambiguous intercultural interaction.

Building relationships has been a popular topic of study in the field of interpersonal communication. Researchers have come up with the term positive involvement behavior (Guerrero in Berger, 2014, p. 59, 60) to describe the degrees of liking and intimacy and how they are communicated in relationships, both romantic and platonic. There are certain nonverbal cues that signal positive involvement, liking, and intimacy, including: 

close proxemic distancing

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touch

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direct body orientation

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open posture

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increased or sustained gaze that is evaluated as friendly rather than intimidating

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smiling

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and vocal qualities that communicate warmth, expressiveness, and relaxation.

(Andersen 1985; Coker and Burgoon 1987; Patterson 1983 in Berger 2014, p 59) The cues listed above have been regocnized by several scholars and researchers as universally valid, yet there may occur certain variation between cultures. An interesting point is to consider your own culture in relation to the manifestation of the cues listed above. Can you come up with similarities and differences when making comparisons between your culture and some other cultures? Even if certain cues are universal, there will be variation between cultures and, naturally, between individuals.

A new aspect in the field of interpersonal communication has been facilitated by technological advances. The fact that people initially meet and get to know each other online sets new challenges as well as requirements for successful interpersonal communication. When online encounters are intercultural, it leads into even more complex settings of interpersonal communication. This creates demand for a new set of interpersonal communication skills, such as writing interpersonal messages online and appearing on a video. Such skills are needed in working environments as well. To manage workplace communication today requires a wide selection of interpersonal communication skills that did not exist 10 years ago.

How do we make sense of all the cultural information overwhelming us? To sum up what was said above, we need to develop inter-cultural awareness to be able to use the relevant information in a particular context in order to communicate successfully. In the following chapters both verbal and non-verbal communication are discussed in more detail. To gain a thorough understanding of interpersonal communication one should also study the respective online modules as well as suggested reading tips. The chapters of this ebook, along with the online study modules will provide the learner/reader with some theories as well as practical examples and advice about intercultural communication. To fully learn and develop on a personal level, we encourage the learner to conduct reflection throughout the learning process. That way you will become aware of your personal learning targets as well as the steps of the process.

SOURCES

Berger, C.R., ed. 2014. Interpersonal communication. Handbooks of communication science.

Volume 6. ern n e -Amaya, L. (2012). New Perspectives on (im)politeness and Interpersonal Communication. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Nardon, L. (2017). Working in a Multicultural World: A Guide to Developing Intercultural Competence. Canada. University of Toronto Press.