Syntactic and pragmatic code usage in interpersonal communication

Abstract

This research identifies and describes the nature of codes in interpersonal relationships. It derives from the linguistic mediation assumption, which holds that language reflects and mediates the social world. However, some intermediary organizing concept linking language to the social world is necessary, and a code is offered as this organizing concept. Three lines of literature are drawn on to establish the theoretical underpinnings for the codes: (a) the evolution of language from a predominantly oral medium to a textual one, (b) the differences between planned and unplanned discourse, and (c) the general developmental pattern of language in children. It is hypothesized that two codes, termed pragmatic and syntactic, should distinguish between relationship definitions of varying types. Results of quantitative and qualitative analyses support this hypothesis. The nature of the codes and their sensitivity to communicative requirements are discussed.

Notes

Donald G. Ellis is Chairperson and Associate Professor of Communication, University of Hartford, and Mark Hamilton is Assistant Professor of Communication, University of Hawaii.