Definition
This is a communication theory that analyses the interaction between different parties during a conversation taking into consideration the words and the actions of the participants. Third party perspective of the conversation conveys information about the interaction while a participant’s point of view conveys the communication patterns involved in the communication process (Leinaweaver 112).
Traditions used by the theory
The efficiency of the coordination management of meaning theory relies on three vital processes. These steps expound on how we mould social realities through participation in conversation. The first level of interpretation is coherence.
All participants unconsciously experience this feature. It refers to the description of how meaning is realized in any conversation (Pearce 47). In other words, we narrate to ourselves stories in order to comprehend the world around us better. For every dialogue we hold, there are our predetermined expectations that assist us in adjusting to each different situations in a unique way.
The constitutive rules that govern interactions are useful in interpreting the conversations. Coherence is influenced by different factors such as episode, ethnicity, affiliation or self-concept. The episode refers to the unwritten rules that govern each interaction while the affiliation refers to the relationship that exists between the parties interacting (Anderson 104).
Coordination forms another crucial element in an interaction. It recognizes the fact that the actions that take place during the interaction do not exist individually relative to the communication. The combination of different words and actions during the interaction process results in patterns referred to as stories lived.
These have an impact on one’s behavior during the interaction, which results in rules of the particular communication process. Coordination, therefore, deals with the set up of these rules, which steer the conversation to the desired direction.
The final process in the interaction is referred to as the concept of mystery. In other instances, it is referred to as the unexpressed stories since it refers to the actions or words that remain unexplained during the interaction period. It could be the strong feelings of hatred or attraction that are suppressed during communication (Gudykunst 114).
Though these experiences are restrained, they are a vital component of the communication process. Therefore, by applying coherence, coordination and mystery, the foundation for our interactions is attained. From the above, it is evident that the coordination management of meaning perceives communication as interconnections of events in which every participant plays an active role of influencing the other.
Illustration
The first encounter with a boyfriend or girlfriend’ parents may raise different expectations from the two parties involved. The process of coherence as explained above could help us understand the situation from the participants’ point of view either from one’s past encounters in movies or a friend’s occasion.
Consequently, there are our expectations of the parents that govern how we act upon arrival. The concept of coordination falls in place when we rely on the constitutive rules to gauge parent’s actions and arrive at conclusions. For instance, a warm welcome gives one the feeling of comfort.
These will influence how one acts and speaks during the entire process (Phillips 38). The regulative rules will guide us on the most appropriate way to act especially during the controversial topics for which the participants may differ.
On the other hand, the unexpressed feelings of disconnection or connectedness form the concept of mystery. It describes the initial reactions that the two parties might have towards one another. Though these feelings may remain suppressed, they have a direct bearing on the conversation during the interaction process.
Works Cited
Anderson, James. Communication Theory: Epistemological Foundations. New York: Guilford Publications, 1996. Print.
Gudykunst, William. Theorizing About Intercultural Communication. New York: SAGE Publications, 2004. Print.
Leinaweaver, Jeffrey. The Coordinated Management of a Culturally Diffused Identity: Internationally Adopted People and the Narrative Burden of Self. Universal Publishers, 2006. Print.
Pearce, Barnett. Coordinated Management of Meaning: Extensions and Applications. Kensington Consultation Centre, 2004. New Tork: Wisley & sons publishers.
Phillips, Gerald. Communication Incompetencies: A Theory of Training Oral Performance Behavior. Fulton: Southern Illinois University Press, 1991. Print.