L2 Modern Communication Theories1

MODERN COMMUNICATION
THEORIES
1. Speech Act
2. Language Expectancy Theory
3. Framing
4. Social Cognitive Theory
5. Psycho-Linguistics Theory
6. Network Theory and Analysis
Speech Act
 “ A theory of language is a theory of action”- Greig E.
Henderson and Christopher Brown.
 the utterances have a different or specific meaning to
its user and listener other than its meaning according to
the language.
 there are two kinds of utterances: constative and
performative.
Speech Act
 Constative utterances describe states of affairs which are either true or false.
 E.g.: Snow is white. (true)
 Snow is red. (false)
 Performative utterances often take the form of declarative sentences with which the speaker performs the action
denoted by some performative verb (e.g. promise, declare etc.). In so doing, the speaker does not describe the world but
changes it. Performatives “ do not ‘describe’ or ‘report’ or constate anything at all, are not ‘true or false’; and the
uttering of the sentence is the doing of an action, which again would not normally be described as, or as ‘just’, saying
something”
 E.g.: I apologize for my behaviour.
Speech Act
 Categories:
 Locutionary- this is the act of saying
something. It has a meaning and it creates an understandable utterly to convey or

express.
 Illocutionary it is performed as an act of saying something or as an act of
opposed to saying something. The illocutionary utterance has a certain force of it. It
well well-versed with certain tones, attitudes, feelings, or emotions. There will be an
intention of the speaker or others in illocutionary utterance.
 Perlocutionary creates a sense of consequential effects on the audiences. The
effects may be in the form of thoughts, imaginations, feelings or emotions. The
effect upon the addressee is the main charactership of perlocutionary utterances.
Speech Act
Language Expectancy Theory
 In 1995 J.K.Burgoon provided a detailed version

of the formulation of the Language Expectancy
Theory.
 Language has a certain pattern of rules which
developed from the specific context and other factors.
 Theory views that the anticipated communication
behavior is grounded in the psychological and cultural
norms of the society. And this anticipated
communication behavior acts as a pattern in language
expectancies, where language has a rule governed
system.
Language Expectancy Theory -
 a formalized model about message

strategies and attitude and behavior
change.
The expectations of communication are derived from the
three factors:
 The Communicator – his personal factors such as credibility,

social status, appearances and gender. Even if what he said is based
on the basis of norms these factors plays significant role in the
process of persuasion.
 The Relationship - between the sender and receiver or listener and
communicator.
 Context of the Situation - the communication might have taking

place in office, home, train. The emotional status of the listener and
other environments are included in the context.
Language Expectancy Theory
 E. g.: Robert is a manager of a leading company and he is known for his

ability to complete the task before the deadline. He has rescued the
company many times from difficulties. And he is often appreciated for his
talents. On a fine day the general meeting was on process, and as usual
Robert was on his chair listening to the presentations. Suddenly Robert
moves towards the lady sitting next to him and says “I am bored let’s go
out and have some fun”. She was shocked to see such behavior from him.
Framing
 … is used to represent the communication aspect
which leads to the people’s preference by consenting
one meaning to another.
Social Cognitive Theory
 explains how people acquire and maintain certain behavioral

patterns, while also providing the basis for intervention strategies.
Evaluating behavioral change depends on the factors environment,
people and behavior. SCT provides a framework for designing,
implementing and evaluating programs.
 Environment refers to the factors that can affect a person’s behavior.

There are social and physical environments. Social environment
include family members, friends and colleagues. Physical
environment is the size of a room, the ambient temperature or the
availability of certain foods.
 Observational learning occurs when a person watches the actions of
another person and the reinforcements that the person receives. The
concept of behavior can be viewed in many ways.
 Behavioral capability means that if a person is to perform a
behavior he must know what the behavior is and have the skills to
perform it.
 Environment
Environment Observational Behavioral

and situation Learning Capability
Psycho-Linguistics Theory
 Language is a product of reasoning and therefore accessible to
general, rational analysis, i.e. in analogy to other cognitive
functions.
 A particular use of language in messages has more or less
persuasive power depending on the value system, the effort
and the motivation of receivers
Network Theory and Analysis
 Network analysis (social network theory) is the study of how the social
structure of relationships around a person, group, or organization affects
beliefs or behaviors.
 Structural features that can be distinguished and analyzed through the
use of network analysis techniques are for example the (formal and
informal) communication patterns in an organization or the
identification of groups within an organization (cliques or functional
groups). Also communication-related roles of employees can be
determined (e.g., stars, gatekeepers, and isolates).
Network Theory and Analysis
 Special attention may be given to specific aspects of communication

patterns: communication channels and media used by employees, the
relationship between information types and the resulting communication
networks, and the amount and possibilities of bottom-up communication.
Additional characteristics that could, in principle, be investigated using
network analysis techniques are the communication load as perceived by
employees, the communication styles used, and the effectiveness of the
information flows.

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MODERN COMMUNICATION

something. It has a meaning and it creates an understandable utterly to convey or

 In 1995 J.K.Burgoon provided a detailed version

 a formalized model about message

 The Communicator – his personal factors such as credibility,

 Context of the Situation - the communication might have taking

 E. g.: Robert is a manager of a leading company and he is known for his

 explains how people acquire and maintain certain behavioral

 Environment refers to the factors that can affect a person’s behavior.

Environment Observational Behavioral

 Special attention may be given to specific aspects of communication

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