Description:
The theory of communication series is suggested as an alternative to discourse linguistics because it focuses not only on mass communications with reference to a thematic context, but examines every social communication including interpersonal communication between two persons or within a small group. Each element of communication is subject to three areas of level: (1) speech act and speech act sequences; (2) communication (conversations, text-based communication); (3) series as purpose-constituted consequences of communication. Series can be recursively embedded, extending as far as society-related and international series. Series are diachronic quantities with evolutionary levels. Sigurd Wichter,Universität Göttingen.