Language as Social Action – serie

This is an interdisciplinary resource guide for scholars, researchers, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates who study aspects of communication and relationships. It brings together essays by an array of scholars currently working in the areas of anti and pro-social communication to examine the theories, methodologies, and applied issues that define communication research broadly. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of communication, examining how and why it affects our perceptions, relationships, health, and social behavior.

The Dynamics of Intergroup Communication provides a timely and comprehensive review of work at the intersection of intergroup relations and communication. Chapters written by experts in the field overview current research and present directions for the future. The book is divided into sections addressing specific groups, intergroup communication processes, and core contexts in which intergroup communication occurs. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, and featuring short yet detailed chapters, the book should appeal to scholars looking for a broad overview of this growing area, as well as being appropriate for use as a text in undergraduate and graduate classes.

The book was awarded the 2011 NCA Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression.This book sets out to explore how hate comes alive in language and actions by examining the nature and persuasive functions of hate in American society. Hate speech may be used for many purposes and have different intended consequences. It may be directed to intimidate an out-group, or to influence the behavior of in-group members. But how does this language function? What does it accomplish? The answers to these questions are addressed by an examination of the communicative messages produced by those with hateful minds. Beginning with an examination of the organized hate movement, the book provides a critique of racist discourse used to recruit and socialize new members, construct enemies, promote valued identities, and encourage ethnoviolence. The book also examines the strategic manipulation of hatred in our everyday lives by politicians, political operatives, and media personalities. Providing a comprehensive overview of hate speech, the book ends by describing the desirable features of an anti-hate discourse that promotes respect for social differences.

Offering a historical and empirical account, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the socio-educational model of second language acquisition. This approach to understanding motivational variables that promote success in the learning of a second or foreign language – distinguishing between language classroom motivation and language learning motivation – is a major one in the history of this field of research. Chapters include a discussion of the definition and measurement of motivation; historical foundations of the model; recent studies with the International Attitude Motivation Test Battery for English as a foreign language in different countries; the implications of the model to the classroom context; and a discussion of criticisms and misconceptions of the model. The book provides graduate students and researchers with unique coverage of this research-oriented approach as well as serving as a source book for the area. It is ideal for courses on motivation in second language learning, or as a supplemental text for research-oriented courses in applied linguistics, educational psychology, or language research in general.

This is the first book devoted to the multidisciplinary study of feedback. It presents a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the make-or-break factors that determine the efficacy of criticism, praise, and advice. Its sections deal with fundamental processes of feedback; the problems associated with delivering feedback across social divides such as race; feedback in organizational settings; feedback in the helping professions; and feedback in personal relationships. With engaging and accessible contributions from leading scholars in communication, management, and social, clinical, and educational psychology, the editors conclude with an insightful synthesis of the chapters, extracting how-to principles of feedback that apply across environments and circumstances. A landmark in the study of feedback, the book stakes a claim for the recognition of the topic as a field of enquiry in its own right. Feedback will appeal to scholars and practitioners as a comprehensive review of the state of play in this field; it is also appropriate for use as a text for students in a range of disciplines including communication, psychology, management, health sciences, and counseling.

This is the first book devoted to the multidisciplinary study of feedback. It presents a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the make-or-break factors that determine the efficacy of criticism, praise, and advice. Its sections deal with fundamental processes of feedback; the problems associated with delivering feedback across social divides such as race; feedback in organizational settings; feedback in the helping professions; and feedback in personal relationships. With engaging and accessible contributions from leading scholars in communication, management, and social, clinical, and educational psychology, the editors conclude with an insightful synthesis of the chapters, extracting how-to principles of feedback that apply across environments and circumstances. A landmark in the study of feedback, the book stakes a claim for the recognition of the topic as a field of enquiry in its own right. Feedback will appeal to scholars and practitioners as a comprehensive review of the state of play in this field; it is also appropriate for use as a text for students in a range of disciplines including communication, psychology, management, health sciences, and counseling.

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.

Building on past research that includes prosocial-antisocial communication, positive psychology, as well as complementing the dark side of interpersonal communication, this groundbreaking volume brings together veteran interpersonal communication scholars to examine the bright, positive sides of communication in human relations. Together, they begin to frame a conceptual foundation for studies on the «positive» side of interpersonal communication, or in general terms, relational communication that promotes happiness, health, and wellness. In the process they examine moments of relational beauty, laughter and play, positive emotion, relational support, understanding, and forgiveness, as well as facilitation of positive character traits and positive relational communication values. The Positive Side of Interpersonal Communication is intended to serve as a starting point for future research as well as inspiring new areas of interpersonal communication scholarship.

This book won the 2014 National Communication Association’s Diamond Anniversary Book AwardThis book received the 2014 Gerald R. Miller Outstanding Book Award from the «Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association» and the «National Communication Association – Communication and Social Cognition Division – 2013 Distinguished Book Award»Informed by a wide variety of academic disciplines and offering a unique interpersonal communication approach to the study of jealousy, The Communication of Jealousy examines, integrates, and informs research on jealousy experience and expression. The book’s integration and interpretation of academic jealousy research is through a jealousy expression lens, meaning that the focus will be particularly, but not exclusively, on jealousy research that includes a behavioral or communicative component that is drawn from a number of academic disciplines as diverse as communication, social and clinical psychology, sociology, criminology, forensic anthropology, and the biological sciences. To date, no academic book has considered jealousy primarily from an interpersonal communication perspective; in doing so, this book effectively connects jealousy research from related academic disciplines and develops a theory that advances the state of jealousy expression research.

This volume represents a unique contribution to the area of language attitudes research with its focus on how languages, dialects and accents induce us to form social judgments about people who use these forms.The essays attend to evaluations of speech styles across nations. No previous work has embraced this comparative perspective globally, but such a volume that situates language and attitude research in the 21st century is long overdue.The content is culturally diverse and showcases the work of eminent scholars across the globe. Each chapter brings its own theoretical interpretation to this field of study, and the book provides the reader with a plethora of models that extend our understanding of language attitudes.It is fitting that Cindy Gallois, who has incisively contributed to research on language attitudes over the past 30 years, provides an epilogue on the current state of language attitudes research.

This volume represents a unique contribution to the area of language attitudes research with its focus on how languages, dialects and accents induce us to form social judgments about people who use these forms.The essays attend to evaluations of speech styles across nations. No previous work has embraced this comparative perspective globally, but such a volume that situates language and attitude research in the 21st century is long overdue.The content is culturally diverse and showcases the work of eminent scholars across the globe. Each chapter brings its own theoretical interpretation to this field of study, and the book provides the reader with a plethora of models that extend our understanding of language attitudes.It is fitting that Cindy Gallois, who has incisively contributed to research on language attitudes over the past 30 years, provides an epilogue on the current state of language attitudes research.

While many women receive equal education, such equality is nowhere in sight when it comes to women’s and men’s career success: men still earn significantly more than women and are more likely to be promoted. In this book, the authors offer a state of the art review of applied social-psychological research on gender at work, shedding light on all the different ways that work-related perceptions, attributions, outcomes, and the like differ for women and men. Focusing on domains (e.g., engineering) and positions (e.g., leadership) that are marked by women’s underrepresentation, the first part of the book looks at gender at work in terms of stereotypes, attitudes, and social roles, including parenthood, while the second part takes a social identity and communication perspective, exploring the situations in which men and women interact at work. Many chapters focus on applied questions, such as career choice, effects of role models, and sexual harassment at work. Theories and findings are applied to these topics, with conclusions and recommendations drawn throughout the book.

While many women receive equal education, such equality is nowhere in sight when it comes to women’s and men’s career success: men still earn significantly more than women and are more likely to be promoted. In this book, the authors offer a state of the art review of applied social-psychological research on gender at work, shedding light on all the different ways that work-related perceptions, attributions, outcomes, and the like differ for women and men. Focusing on domains (e.g., engineering) and positions (e.g., leadership) that are marked by women’s underrepresentation, the first part of the book looks at gender at work in terms of stereotypes, attitudes, and social roles, including parenthood, while the second part takes a social identity and communication perspective, exploring the situations in which men and women interact at work. Many chapters focus on applied questions, such as career choice, effects of role models, and sexual harassment at work. Theories and findings are applied to these topics, with conclusions and recommendations drawn throughout the book.

Advances in Intergroup Communication is a timely contribution to the field. It reflects developments in older, more established intergroup settings (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, organizations) whilst introducing newer studies such as the military and political parties. It also pays attention to emerging trends in new media and social networks and considers the developing field of neuroscience of communication.The volume brings together authors from different geographical areas (North America, Europe, and Australia) and from different disciplines (particularly communication, linguistics, and psychology). Contributions are organized around five themes, corresponding to the five sections of the book: defining features and constraints; tools of intergroup communication; social groups in their context; intergroup communication in organizations; and future directions.

Advances in Intergroup Communication is a timely contribution to the field. It reflects developments in older, more established intergroup settings (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, organizations) whilst introducing newer studies such as the military and political parties. It also pays attention to emerging trends in new media and social networks and considers the developing field of neuroscience of communication.The volume brings together authors from different geographical areas (North America, Europe, and Australia) and from different disciplines (particularly communication, linguistics, and psychology). Contributions are organized around five themes, corresponding to the five sections of the book: defining features and constraints; tools of intergroup communication; social groups in their context; intergroup communication in organizations; and future directions.

With more than 40% of people eventually facing a cancer diagnosis, Conversing with Cancer is a much-needed addition to understanding and improving cancer care through strong communication among providers, patients, and caregivers. Each person whose life is affected by a cancer diagnosis—patient, healthcare provider, caregiver—has information and needs information in order to make the best decisions possible under the circumstances. After studying and writing about the topics of communication and cancer for many years separately, authors Lisa Sparks and Anna Leahy combine their expertise in this new tour de force. Here, they apply principles from the field of health communication to the cancer care experience, drawing from a wide range of scholarship to offer a comprehensive view of cancer care communication and extend existing work into new insights. Engaging chapters cover all phases of the journey through cancer, from prevention to recovery or end-of-life; analyze the roles of the variety of cultural and social identities and relationships; and explore written, verbal, non-verbal, and electronic communication. In addition, this book draws from the real-life stories of cancer patients themselves to enrich the book’s unique discussions and to better understand how theory can be put into practice. Conversing with Cancer is ideal for use in health communication classes, medical and nursing programs, and formal caregiver training. In addition, it is useful for cancer patient and caregiver supports groups and for individual providers, patients, and caregivers.

With more than 40% of people eventually facing a cancer diagnosis, Conversing with Cancer is a much-needed addition to understanding and improving cancer care through strong communication among providers, patients, and caregivers. Each person whose life is affected by a cancer diagnosis—patient, healthcare provider, caregiver—has information and needs information in order to make the best decisions possible under the circumstances. After studying and writing about the topics of communication and cancer for many years separately, authors Lisa Sparks and Anna Leahy combine their expertise in this new tour de force. Here, they apply principles from the field of health communication to the cancer care experience, drawing from a wide range of scholarship to offer a comprehensive view of cancer care communication and extend existing work into new insights. Engaging chapters cover all phases of the journey through cancer, from prevention to recovery or end-of-life; analyze the roles of the variety of cultural and social identities and relationships; and explore written, verbal, non-verbal, and electronic communication. In addition, this book draws from the real-life stories of cancer patients themselves to enrich the book’s unique discussions and to better understand how theory can be put into practice. Conversing with Cancer is ideal for use in health communication classes, medical and nursing programs, and formal caregiver training. In addition, it is useful for cancer patient and caregiver supports groups and for individual providers, patients, and caregivers.

Winner of the Jake Harwood Outstanding Book Award (2022) and the NCA Outstanding Book Award from the Human Communication and Technology Division (2025). In Up to Date, Tong and Van Der Heide explore the spicy, unsettling—and sometimes just exhausting—universe of online romance. As dating platforms like Bumble, Tinder, and Grindr proliferate, scholars have had to stretch their understandings of how courtship works, often arriving at fascinatingly counterintuitive theories about how twenty-first century daters shape online identities, select mates, mediate conflict, and maintain or terminate romantic relationships. This book guides readers through an increasingly complex and extensive literature, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches, while establishing new avenues for the future. Written for both students and seasoned experts alike, the book also addresses the largely invisible underpinnings of what has become a multibillion-dollar industry, including proprietary algorithms and perverse economic incentives. Up to Date is a provocative and rigorous must-read for anyone who seeks to understand or conduct research regarding the social science of online romance.

Winner of the Jake Harwood Outstanding Book Award (2022) and the NCA Outstanding Book Award from the Human Communication and Technology Division (2025). In Up to Date, Tong and Van Der Heide explore the spicy, unsettling—and sometimes just exhausting—universe of online romance. As dating platforms like Bumble, Tinder, and Grindr proliferate, scholars have had to stretch their understandings of how courtship works, often arriving at fascinatingly counterintuitive theories about how twenty-first century daters shape online identities, select mates, mediate conflict, and maintain or terminate romantic relationships. This book guides readers through an increasingly complex and extensive literature, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches, while establishing new avenues for the future. Written for both students and seasoned experts alike, the book also addresses the largely invisible underpinnings of what has become a multibillion-dollar industry, including proprietary algorithms and perverse economic incentives. Up to Date is a provocative and rigorous must-read for anyone who seeks to understand or conduct research regarding the social science of online romance.

Winner of the Jake Harwood Outstanding Book Award (2022). What, exactly, is understanding? And how do people create, maintain, and manipulate states of understanding via communication? This book addresses these questions, drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship in cognitive science, communication, psychology, and pragmatics. Rejecting classic descriptions of communication as "sending and receiving messages," this book proposes a novel perspective that depicts communication as a process in which interactants construct, test, and refine mental modes of a joint experience on the basis of the meme states (mental representations) activated by stimuli in social interactions. It explains how this process, when successful, results in interactants' mental models aligning, or becoming entrained—in other words, in creating a state of understanding. This framework is grounded in a set of foundational observations about evolved human cognition that highlight people's intrinsic social orientation, predisposition toward efficiency, and use of predictive interference-making. These principles are also used to explain how codified systems ("codes") emerge in extended or repeated interactions in which people endeavor to create understanding. Integrating and synthesizing research across disciplines, this book offers communication scholars and students a theoretical framework that will transform the way they see understanding, communication, and social connection.

Winner of the Jake Harwood Outstanding Book Award (2022). What, exactly, is understanding? And how do people create, maintain, and manipulate states of understanding via communication? This book addresses these questions, drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship in cognitive science, communication, psychology, and pragmatics. Rejecting classic descriptions of communication as "sending and receiving messages," this book proposes a novel perspective that depicts communication as a process in which interactants construct, test, and refine mental modes of a joint experience on the basis of the meme states (mental representations) activated by stimuli in social interactions. It explains how this process, when successful, results in interactants' mental models aligning, or becoming entrained—in other words, in creating a state of understanding. This framework is grounded in a set of foundational observations about evolved human cognition that highlight people's intrinsic social orientation, predisposition toward efficiency, and use of predictive interference-making. These principles are also used to explain how codified systems ("codes") emerge in extended or repeated interactions in which people endeavor to create understanding. Integrating and synthesizing research across disciplines, this book offers communication scholars and students a theoretical framework that will transform the way they see understanding, communication, and social connection.

The language utilized within health communication encounters has a direct influence on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In many ways, the difficulties associated with efficient, effective, and competent communication within the health care context can be the major determinant of successful health outcomes. Further, while many of the interactional contexts within health are intergenerational, communication encounters are challenged by ageism and a lack of appropriate intergenerational communication skills. While it may seem obvious that the nature of human interaction is constantly changing as individuals develop throughout their lives, few theoretical or empirical investigators within the general disciplines of Communication, Language, and Social Psychology ground their research within a life span developmental perspective.This book addresses communication events within health care institutions from a theory-rich, methodologically varied, and social action/positive communication orientation. Chapters in this book examine interpersonal relationships, the social environment, and culture to develop beneficial communication practices for healthcare professionals, individuals, families, and communities.

The language utilized within health communication encounters has a direct influence on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In many ways, the difficulties associated with efficient, effective, and competent communication within the health care context can be the major determinant of successful health outcomes. Further, while many of the interactional contexts within health are intergenerational, communication encounters are challenged by ageism and a lack of appropriate intergenerational communication skills. While it may seem obvious that the nature of human interaction is constantly changing as individuals develop throughout their lives, few theoretical or empirical investigators within the general disciplines of Communication, Language, and Social Psychology ground their research within a life span developmental perspective.This book addresses communication events within health care institutions from a theory-rich, methodologically varied, and social action/positive communication orientation. Chapters in this book examine interpersonal relationships, the social environment, and culture to develop beneficial communication practices for healthcare professionals, individuals, families, and communities.

This book investigates the miscommunication that occurs within diverse healthcare settings. It includes doctor-patient consultations, multi-disciplinary teams, and intercultural encounters; it also examines adverse patient events. It explores real life situations where communication failed either patients, health professionals, or both. The author applies a specific social psychological perspective to offer one particular explanation as to why communication fails. The complex nature of health communication is demonstrated through an in-depth analysis of the health system and its associated hierarchical structure. Developed throughout the book is the belief that health communication is a ‘wicked problem’ with no one solution.

Communication accommodation theory (CAT) explains and predicts when, how, and why different people engage in conversational adjustments with others (or not), as well as recipients’ responses to them. CAT has been studied with many methods across numerous languages, cultures, groups, disciplines, and contexts as well as with non-human species. This, besides journal special issues, is the third book devoted to CAT advancements. A 2023 journal issue of Language Sciences commemorated the theory’s 50th anniversary. Yet since, a plethora of studies and theoretical refinements have exploded onto the scene. Herein, these include sojourning, AI, safety in industries, policing crowd protests, metacognition, and biological underpinnings of CAT, underscoring the timeliness of this volume. With new vistas, this volume enhances CAT’s status as, arguably, the most robust framework for understanding interpersonal and intergroup adjustments in communication across new technologies."Over 50 years of Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) research has profoundly advanced our understanding of human interaction, yet this volume shows there is much still to learn. Giles, Markowitz, David, and a stellar set of authors provide a rich review of the latest advances in CAT and set forth an exciting agenda for scholars committed to understanding the complexities of human interaction. An invaluable, highly recommended resource." –Mary Lee Hummert, Ph.D. Professor Emerita, University of Kansas."Serving as a must-read for both established and early career scholars interested in communication adaptation, the edited volume provides relevant overviews and important insight into the processes, contexts, and outcomes of accommodation. Chapters address important conceptual and theoretical questions that will no doubt advance future research and theorizing further solidifying the heuristic and applied value of communication accommodation theory."–Jordan Soliz, Ph.D. Professor and Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Chair in Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.