Types of Communicative Strategy - Quick Reference

Overview

  • Communication is the heart of the community. Using various communicative strategies leads to achieving the speech purpose and a smooth information flow between speakers and listeners.

  • Poor strategies cause information blockages. Communicative strategies are plans or means of sharing information to achieve social, political, psychological, or linguistic purposes.

Nomination

  • Purpose: begin interaction and set the conversation's purpose; open a topic clearly and truthfully.

  • How: present a topic to the people being spoken to.

  • Example: Good morning, class. How are you today? Is it raining in your area?

Restriction

  • Purpose: constrain reactions within a defined set of categories; narrow responses to expected answers; keep the discussion on topic.

  • How: specify boundaries (limits on what is discussed).

  • Example: We will have 30 minutes of online discussion regarding Pandemic and Mental Health. An additional 10 minutes will be allotted for questions and concerns.

Turn-taking

  • Purpose: establish and sustain a productive conversation; prevent participants from talking over one another.

  • How: wait for one's turn; watch verbal and nonverbal cues signalling the next speaker; use signals like nods, gaze, or stepping back.

  • Example: (Raise hand) Can I please add something to the discussion?

Topic Control

  • Purpose: keep the conversation going by asking questions that require a response; allows others to take turns and contribute.

  • How: prompt for input and guide participation.

  • Example: That was an excellent point, Arlene! How about the rest of the class? You may put responses on the jam board link in the chat box, or raise your hand to share.

Topic Shifting

  • Purpose: introduce a new topic with continuation; works best with follow-through and transitions.

  • How: use effective conversational transitions to signal a shift.

  • Phrases:

    • By the way,

    • In addition to what I have already mentioned,

    • It is dangerous to go out, especially that the Delta COVID-19 variant is here! But even if we practice physical distancing, we should not stop socializing with friends and family via phone or social media.

Repair

  • Purpose: overcome communication breakdown to send more comprehensible messages.

  • Includes:

    1. Requesting clarification

    2. Not acknowledging the new situation

    3. Topic shifting

    4. Repeating

    5. Recasting

  • Example: We definitely should practice social distancing, I mean, physical distancing to become safe during this pandemic. Can anyone restate the difference between these two terms?

Termination

  • Purpose: end the interaction using verbal and nonverbal cues.

  • Nonverbal: handshake, leaving the scene.

  • Example: Thank you… Okay, all done… see you at our next online meeting schedule.