Comm 105-Pragmatic approach

It does make sense to think of communication as a patterned interaction.  Think about when you run into someone and you don't know what to say other than, "How are You?" or How have you been?

Then that person explains briefly how they feel, which is usually "good", then they tell you a little bit about what they are doing that day.  Next, the logical step is for them to ask you how you are doing.  Then without thinking, you become totally original and say you are good as well.  Then you tell them what you are doing or what you have been up to.  It's sort of like a dance.  You know what move has to come next, you just have to be prepared for it.  It's a pattern of steps that are taken to the end of the conversation.

Like Chess, there are the geniuses that know how many moves its going to take to beat their opponent.  In communication, someone may know exactly what they are going to say and when they are going to say it during an interaction such as a debate, or an argument.   The reason would be to shut down their rival in hopes that they have no response.  No response would mean that they would be done.   

But not all communication is like a game.  Ask yourself, what is communication like with people you care about?  How do you interact with them?  Is there really a pattern on how you interact with them?  It might be different because the drive of the conversation is different.  The reason for interacting is different.  And also the purpose of it is different.  If  you're the kind of person who is so busy that they very rarely have time to spend with their family, the motivation might be stronger to communicate.  When you do, the goal will be different because it's your family.  

I do understand that the pragmatic approach explains that one persons interaction affects the other's interactions but part of this approach feels like its talking too much about someone winning or losing an interaction.  Maybe because they throw in the chess aspect of it.  But it also explains how communication is a pattern of interactions, which is why the whole chess perspective may be relevant.  If  you know the person you are interacting with, you know how to respond.