Donald G. Ellis – författare

The study of communication, language, and discourse is at once simple, elegant, and complex. Each of these areas is informed by "micro" subjective experiences of individuals and the "macro" processes of a culture. Communication itself is thoroughly modern yet it seeks anchorage in the traditions of the humanities and social sciences. All of this creates a significant challenge.In this monograph, Ellis considers the study of communication as he discusses three key issues in communication theory: (1) the growing emphasis on meaning, (2) the importance of a mediated culture, and (3) the links between micro communication activities and macro social categories such as ethnicity and social class. In response to these three issues, this book deals with the way people use language and communication to construct their world; this world is not constructed purely but is influenced by attitudes, ideologies, and biases. In the modern world the medium of communication has an impact on consciousness and society, and Ellis shows how the media are responsible for some of the fault lines in society. The book also explores principles of medium theory and documents the impact of media on psychological and sociological phenomena. Finally, work of Goffman, Giddens, and Randall Collins is extended to show how micro communication behaviors are implicated in and by social conditions. ADDITIONAL COPY FOR MAILERExpanded features: * The chapters work out a logic connecting real communication patterns with the broad principles upon which societies are explored. Thus the title "Crafting" Society--the crafting is purposefully active to indicate the dynamic processes involved in creating what we call society. Society and culture have their roots and empirical bases in communication; that is, in the daily struggles of interaction. * Two chapters on two of the most important and controversial issues of the day--ethnicity and class. These two chapters are clear illustrations of the new theoretical principles discussed throughout the book. * A chapter on social class is very unique for a book devoted to communication processes. Communication theorists do not usually write about class, even though it is a highly symbolic process and rooted in communication patterns. Class is a difficult concept in America since so few people, other than sociologists, care to talk about it. * A chapter on medium theory takes the bold step of experimenting a little by summarizing basic causal statements and propositions. This device underscores the goal of a theory which is to come to grips with testable statements. The focus is on medium theory and how the media influence consciousness and social structure. * A unique chapter takes up the issue of how communication processes are constitutive of social structures. It draws on work by Giddens and others to return to a concept of structure based on actions that produce and reproduce structure.

This student-oriented book introduces and explains the dynamics of conflict and resolution_particularly in ethnic, ethnopolitical, and intercultural or intergroup conflicts. Providing a basic overview of the elements of group conflict, ethnicity, identity, and diasporas, the book also explores the role of the mass media and key ways of using communication principles to understand and resolve conflict. It focuses on how to resolve problems by changing relationships and building new patterns of communication, not just managing or settling problems through acceptable political agreements. Transforming Conflict is a valuable text or supplement for courses in conflict resolution as well as international, group, or intercultural communication.

This student-oriented book introduces and explains the dynamics of conflict and resolution_particularly in ethnic, ethnopolitical, and intercultural or intergroup conflicts. Providing a basic overview of the elements of group conflict, ethnicity, identity, and diasporas, the book also explores the role of the mass media and key ways of using communication principles to understand and resolve conflict. It focuses on how to resolve problems by changing relationships and building new patterns of communication, not just managing or settling problems through acceptable political agreements. Transforming Conflict is a valuable text or supplement for courses in conflict resolution as well as international, group, or intercultural communication.

Covering the field of language and communication, this text includes topics such as: the nature of language; modern linguistics; language and cognition; meaning; pragmatics and discourse; discourse and global organization; and sociolinguistics and communication.

The study of communication, language, and discourse is at once simple, elegant, and complex. Each of these areas is informed by "micro" subjective experiences of individuals and the "macro" processes of a culture. Communication itself is thoroughly modern yet it seeks anchorage in the traditions of the humanities and social sciences. All of this creates a significant challenge.In this monograph, Ellis considers the study of communication as he discusses three key issues in communication theory: (1) the growing emphasis on meaning, (2) the importance of a mediated culture, and (3) the links between micro communication activities and macro social categories such as ethnicity and social class. In response to these three issues, this book deals with the way people use language and communication to construct their world; this world is not constructed purely but is influenced by attitudes, ideologies, and biases. In the modern world the medium of communication has an impact on consciousness and society, and Ellis shows how the media are responsible for some of the fault lines in society. The book also explores principles of medium theory and documents the impact of media on psychological and sociological phenomena. Finally, work of Goffman, Giddens, and Randall Collins is extended to show how micro communication behaviors are implicated in and by social conditions. ADDITIONAL COPY FOR MAILERExpanded features: * The chapters work out a logic connecting real communication patterns with the broad principles upon which societies are explored. Thus the title "Crafting" Society--the crafting is purposefully active to indicate the dynamic processes involved in creating what we call society. Society and culture have their roots and empirical bases in communication; that is, in the daily struggles of interaction. * Two chapters on two of the most important and controversial issues of the day--ethnicity and class. These two chapters are clear illustrations of the new theoretical principles discussed throughout the book. * A chapter on social class is very unique for a book devoted to communication processes. Communication theorists do not usually write about class, even though it is a highly symbolic process and rooted in communication patterns. Class is a difficult concept in America since so few people, other than sociologists, care to talk about it. * A chapter on medium theory takes the bold step of experimenting a little by summarizing basic causal statements and propositions. This device underscores the goal of a theory which is to come to grips with testable statements. The focus is on medium theory and how the media influence consciousness and social structure. * A unique chapter takes up the issue of how communication processes are constitutive of social structures. It draws on work by Giddens and others to return to a concept of structure based on actions that produce and reproduce structure.

Originally published in 1986, the goal of Contemporary Issues in Language and Discourse Processes was to provide various perspectives on three key issues facing scholars interested in how language is used communicatively in discourse. The first issue had generated considerable interest among discourse scholars. How does knowledge guide the organization of discourse? More specifically, how do we use cognitive scripts and schemes to interpret strings of communicative acts and then formulate coherent attachments to these strings? The second issue addresses the problem of research methodology. How scholars ought to structure their accounts of communicative sequences and provide evidence for their claims had received very little attention as an independent subject of inquiry. The third issue presented considers the viability of focusing on interactants’ goals as the primary organizing feature of discourse sequencing and production.Each issue is extended and critiqued by relevant scholars who comment on the contributions, pull together the key arguments proposed by the authors and also give their own perspective on these issues. Today it can be read in its historical context.

Examining the close relationship between principles of deliberative democracy, communication, and conflict resolution, this book argues that the nature of deliberative processes is underappreciated for conflict resolution in ethnopolitically divided societies, and that the communicative nature of democratic deliberation is ripe for theoretical and empirical expansion. The book examines the potential of deliberative democracy to contribute to conflict resolution, including issues of argument, deliberation, and political communication. Attention is also paid to the role of media, technology, and the internet.Offering a fully developed understanding of democratic communication and the resolution of conflicts, this book is suitable for scholars as well as students in upper division and graduate courses in a range of areas including communication, politics and government, sociology, and conflict studies.