"Miscommunication" and Problematic Talk

Language use and communication are pervasively and even intrinsically flawed, partial and problematic - this is the contention of this volume, which explores failures in interpersonal communication. Rather than approaching communication in terms of competence, effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction, the contributors reassess key social contexts in terms of mis communication rather than communication, failure rather than success. They provide an integrative overview of research in defined social contexts, highlighting particular social groups, social situations and communicative modes. The elderly, children, non-native speakers, medical personnel and the disabled are among those discussed.