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Communication Theory As a Field

Communication Theory As a Field. Prof. Robert T. Craig University of Colorado at Boulder Robert.Craig@colorado.edu Presented to the Russian Communication Association St. Petersburg – 13 June 2006. Introduction. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. It is a great honor.

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Communication Theory As a Field

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  1. Communication Theory As a Field Prof. Robert T. Craig University of Colorado at Boulder Robert.Craig@colorado.edu Presented to the Russian Communication Association St. Petersburg – 13 June 2006

  2. Introduction • Thank you for allowing me to speak today. It is a great honor. • My article, “Communication Theory as a Field” (1999; Russian translation, 2003) is available for you to download from the Web: • (English) http://comm.colorado.edu/craig/Craig-1999-CTasaField.PDF • (Russian) http://comm.colorado.edu/craig/Craig-2003-CTasaField(Russian).PDF • I will summarize the main points of that article and some current thoughts on the subject.

  3. Background • Although it draws on ancient as well as modern intellectual traditions, communication theory has only recently become a distinct field of study. • In the 20th century, “communication” became an important category in society: • The growing power of mass communication and propaganda raised many questions. • New professions and industries (media, advertising, public relations, etc.) developed. • “Better communication” became the answer to social problems and the key to personal success and happiness.

  4. Background • By mid-century, communication was a topic of interest in many academic disciplines. • “Communication research” was an interdisciplinary field of social science. • The term “communication theory” originated in the 1940s in electrical engineering (information and cybernetics). • Social scientists soon expanded “communication theory” to include ideas from cybernetics, social psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, semantics, etc. • Now, communication has been established as an academic discipline (courses, textbooks, journals), but “communication theory” remains largely as it was: a collection of ideas without unity.

  5. Thesis • Communication theory can and should become “a coherent field of metadiscursive practice, a field of discourse about discourse with implications for the practice of communication” • The goal is “dialogical-dialectical coherence”: not a unified theory, but rather a debate about the practical implications of different theories. • The field should be based on two principles: • The constitutive metamodel: Theories of communication constitute “communication” as an object of study. • Theory as metadiscursive practice: Theories of communication are ways of communicating about communication for practical purposes.

  6. Principle #1: The Constitutive Metamodel • The constitutive model of communication: Communication is not only the transmission of information. It is the process by which we constitute a common reality (factual truths, moral norms, group and personal identities, etc.) • The reflexive paradox: “Communication” therefore exists as an element of our common reality only as it is constituted in communication. • The constitutive metamodel: Theories of communication are specific ways of communicating about communication, thereby constituting the reality of communication.

  7. Principle #2:Theory As Metadiscourse • Practical metadiscourse (communication about communication) is a necessary element of communication. For example: saying “please explain” or “I understand” influences a conversation differently. • Theoretical metadiscourse: Communication theory is a technical practice of metadiscourse. • Theory is communication about communication, but more technically systematic than practical metadiscourse. • For example, theories of hermeneutics (interpretation) are systematic, technical extensions of metadiscourse like “please explain” and “I understand” • Theories are useful for reflecting on practical problems—that is, they are useful in practical metadiscourse—but only as they are relevant to practice.

  8. Theory As Metadiscourse (Continued) • A theory is “relevant” to practice if: • Plausible: conforms to common beliefs about communication • Interesting: challenges common beliefs about communication • For example, the theory of rhetoric is: • Plausible because it conforms to common beliefs like “communication is an art that can be learned,” and • Interesting because it challenges common beliefs like “the best communication is natural, sincere, and artless” • Theories differ practically when they are plausible and interesting in different (possibly contradictory) ways. • For example: Buber’s theory of “dialogue” assumes, in contrast to rhetoric, that the best communication is artless.

  9. Traditions of Communication Theory • There are several traditions of communication theory • Table 1: Traditions of theory are distinguished by: • Specific ways of defining communication and problems • Specific vocabulary for metadiscourse • Plausibility: popular beliefs confirmed • Interestingness: popular beliefs challenged • Table 2: Topoi (issues) for theoretical debate: How each tradition criticizes each tradition (including self-criticism from within the tradition)

  10. Seven Traditions • Rhetorical:Communication is the practical art of discourse. • Semiotic: Communication is mediation by signs. • Phenomenological: Communication is the experience of dialogue with others. • Cybernetic: Communication is the flow of information. • Socio-psychological: Communication is the interaction of individuals. • Socio-cultural: Communication is the production and re-production of the social order. • Critical: Communication is a process in which all assumptions can be challenged.

  11. Further Thoughts • Myers (2001) argued that this concept of theory is relativistic. • I replied that theories can be evaluated practically (Craig 2001). • Russill (2005) proposed pragmatism as an 8th tradition, and argued that my model of the field is essentially pragmatist. • I replied that I largely agree! (Craig 2006) • My current work investigates: • The interaction of theoretical and practical metadiscourse, for example in public arguments about “dialogue.” • Other traditions of communication theory that I failed to include, such as Asian traditions.

  12. References • Craig, R. T. (1999). Communication theory as a field. Communication Theory, 9, 119-161. • Craig, R. T. (2001). Minding my metamodel, mending Myers. Communication Theory, 11, 133-142. • Craig, R. T. (2006). Pragmatism in the field of communication theory. Paper presented to the International Communication Association, Dresden. • Myers, D. (2001). A pox on all compromises: Reply to Craig (1999). Communication Theory, 11, 231-240. • Russill, C. (2005). The Road Not Taken: William James's Radical Empiricism and Communication Theory. The Communication Review, 8(3), 277-305.

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