Act of Communication

A Act of Communication is a cognitive act of a communication task by a communicating agent.

• Context:
  • It can be evaluated through Measures: such as message delivery rate, feedback response time, understanding index.
  • ...
  • It can (typically) have a Communication Duration, from Brief Communication Act to Extended Communication Act
  • It can (typically) have a Communication Frequency, from One-Time Communication Act to Recurring Communication Act
  • It can (typically) have a Communication Timing, from Scheduled Communication Act to Spontaneous Communication Act
  • It can (often) facilitate the transfer of information or intentions between agents.
  • It can (often) involve a sender, message, and receiver as core components.
  • It can (often) be a part of a Communication Session.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Linguistic Communication Act to being a Non-Linguistic Communication Act.
  • It can range from being a Direct Communication Act to being an Indirect Communication Act.
  • It can range from being a Synchronous Communication Act (e.g., a live conversation) to being an Asynchronous Communication Act (e.g., an email).
  • ...
  • It can be preceded by a Choice to Communicate.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • System User Communication Action.
  • Act of Apology.
  • Greeting, which establishes social connection.
  • Command, which conveys an imperative intention.
  • Negotiation Action, which facilitates agreement between parties.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a Thinking Act, which does not involve communication between agents.
  • a Reflex Act, which is a non-cognitive physical response.
  • a Noise signal, which lacks intentional communication content.
• See: Communicating Agent, Dereferencing Agent, Message, Information Exchange.

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References

2024

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_act
  • NOTES:
    • Action-Oriented Nature
      • Communication Acts, like Speech Acts, involve not just transmitting information but performing an action. Examples include making requests, issuing commands, or apologizing, reflecting the dual role of conveying meaning and achieving intent.
    • Core Components: Locutionary Act, Illocutionary Act, and Perlocutionary Act
      • Communication Acts often align with the Speech Act theory’s components:
        • Locutionary Act: The actual utterance and its surface meaning.
        • Illocutionary Act: The intent or function behind the utterance (e.g., requesting or promising).
        • Perlocutionary Act: The effect on the listener (e.g., persuading, informing, or inspiring).
    • Direct vs. Indirect Communication
      • Communication Acts can be direct (explicitly stating intent, like “I apologize”) or indirect (implying intent, such as “I regret that happened,” which suggests an apology). Indirect Acts depend on context and shared understanding between agents.
    • Rules and Context Dependency
      • Similar to Speech Acts, Communication Acts are governed by both regulative rules (guiding how acts are performed in a given context) and constitutive rules (defining the act itself). For example, a greeting in a formal setting differs from an informal context, illustrating the dependency on shared norms and situational cues.

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