Language for Social Interaction

Language for social interaction requires consideration of:

a) the range of different social contexts of language:
  • formal,
  • informal,
  • familiar,
  • unfamiliar,
b) the range of cultural contexts of language:
  • local,
  • community,
  • institutional,
c) the possible interlocutors:
  • people who are known,
  • people who are unknown,
  • children,
  • peers,
  • teachers,
  • adults.

Then we must consider the particular function required of the language:
  • give/ask permission; greet; invite; accept/refuse; apologise; express feelings; request - something, someone to do something; request information; respond; negotiate; encourage; express needs; interrupt; give and receive messages/information; and thank.

Finally, we must include the skills to:

  • interpret paralinguistic features,
  • open and close conversations - face to face, telephone,
  • manage turn taking,
  • manage topic changes,
  • use non-verbal listening and speaking behaviours,
  • sustain conversations, and
  • repair communication breakdown.

All this shows language for social interaction to be highly complex.
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