Understanding Everyday Communicative Interactions

'Everyday communication is the cornerstone of research and clinical care across a number of disciplines (e.g., communication sciences and disorders, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience). Yet, paradoxically, training in these fields largely focuses on the deconstructed and decontextualized building blocks of communication (phonetics, syntax, discourse) with little consideration of how individuals weave this knowledge together across time, place, and communicative partners in everyday interactions. Hengst's Understanding Everyday Communicative Interactions fills a critical gap in the multidisciplinary training of future researchers and clinicians offering a rich theoretical framework and a practical set of tools and methods for observing, analyzing, and improving everyday communication across a range of settings and populations.' - Melissa C. Duff, PhD, CCC-SLP, Vanderbilt University, U.S.A. 'This forward-thinking volume represents a major theoretical, methodological, and clinical leap forward for the field of CDS. The robust conceptual framework Hengst develops, Situated Discourse Analysis, is astutely illustrated through case studies and innovative interventions that will greatly benefit clinicians, researchers, and ultimately, clients and their families.' - Steven L. Thorne, PhD, Portland State University, U.S.A., & University of Groningen, Netherlands. 'In this beautifully written book, Hengst brings situated discourse analysis to the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. By recognizing communication as a distributed accomplishment, which involves not just language, but all semiotic resources, the author presents an innovative lens for understanding where communication disorders reside, their dynamics, and how one might address them. Drawing on rich and relatable examples, she makes complex theoretical concepts and intricate analyses accessible and relevant. This book is a pleasure to read, and will benefit SLPs, teachers, and others who interact with and wishes to support someone identified with a communication disorder.' - Michiko Hikida, The Ohio State University, U.S.A.