Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная
лингвистика
и
лингводидактика
–
Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
Metacommunicative features of interpersonal conflicts:
linguistic analysis and practical recommendations
Madina NAJMIDDINOVA
1
ALFRAGANUS UNIVERSITY
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received February 2025
Received in revised form
10
March 2025
Accepted 25 March 2025
Available online
25 April 2025
The article examines the main aspects of metacommunicative
conflicts from a linguistic point of view, their causes,
manifestations, and ways of resolution. Special attention is paid
to metacommunication, which plays a key role in managing
interpersonal interactions. Examples of dialogues are provided
to illustrate how metacommunication helps establish contact,
express willingness to interact, and demonstrate friendliness.
The article highlights the importance of metacommunication and
offers recommendations for improving interaction and conflict
resolution.
2181-3701
/©
2024 in Science LLC.
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol3-iss4
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
communication,
metacommunication,
metacommunicative conflict,
metamessage.
Shaxslararo
ziddiyatlarning
metakommunikativ
xususiyatlari: lingvistik tahlil va amaliy tavsiyalar
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar
:
kommunikatsiya,
metakommunikatsiya,
metakommunikativ konflikt,
metaxabar.
Maqolada metakommunikativ ziddiyatlarning asosiy jihatlari
tilshunoslik nuqtai nazaridan ko‘rib chiqiladi: ularning sabablari,
namoyon bo‘lish shakllari va yechim yo‘llari tahlil qilinadi.
Shaxslararo munosabatlarni boshqarish va muloqot muhitini
shakllantirishda
muhim
ahamiy
atga
ega
bo‘lgan
metakommunikatsiya hodisasiga alohida e’tibor qaratiladi.
Suhbatlar tahlili asosida metakommunikativ unsurlarning aloqa
o‘rnatish,
hamkorlikka
tayyorlikni
ifodalash
va
xushmuomalalikni namoyish etishdagi roli ko‘rsatib berilgan.
Aynan metakommunikatsiya muloqot ohangini boshqarish,
suhbatdoshning
maqsadlarini
tushunish
va
muloqot
uzilishlarining oldini olish imkonini berishi ta’kidlanadi. Maqola
samarali muloqotda metakommunikatsiyaning ahamiyatini
1
Teacher, Department of Foreign Languages, ALFRAGANUS UNIVERSITY, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
E-mail: m.nazhmiddinova@mail.ru
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
50
urg‘ulaydi hamda shaxslararo munosabatlar
sifatini oshirish va
yuzaga keladigan nizolarni bartaraf etish bo‘yicha amaliy
tavsiyalar beradi.
Метакоммуникативные особенности межличностных
конфликтов: лингвистический анализ и практические
рекомендации
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
коммуникация,
метакоммуникация,
метакоммуникативный
конфликт,
метасообщение
.
В
статье
рассматриваются
основные
аспекты
метакоммуникативных конфликтов с лингвистической точки
зрения: их причины, формы проявления и возможные пути
разрешения. Особое внимание уделяется феномену
метакоммуникации, играющему ключевую роль в управлении
межличностными взаимодействиями и формировании
коммуникативной среды. На основе анализа диалогов
показано, как метакоммуникативные элементы способствуют
установлению
контакта,
выражению
готовности
к
взаимодействию и демонстрации дружелюбия. Отмечается,
что именно метакоммуникация позволяет регулировать тон
общения, интерпретировать намерения собеседника и
предупреждать коммуникативные сбои. Статья подчёркивает
значимость
метакоммуникации
в
эффективной
коммуникации и предлагает практические
рекомендации по
повышению качества межличностного взаимодействия и
разрешению возникающих конфликтов.
The anthropocentric approach to studying interpersonal communication dictates a
careful attitude to communicants as sources of the communicative situation. This means
that researchers and practitioners pay special attention to the personal characteristics,
emotions, intentions and context of the participants in communication. In this context,
metacommunication plays an important role
–
the process of communication about
communication itself.
The concepts of communication and metacommunication, which originated in the
concept of dialogism [1, 3], have been intensively developing in various sciences, including
linguistics, since the second half of the 20th century. The modern understanding of
metacommunication was laid down by G. Bateson, according to whom communication and
metacommunication are distinguished as a “protocol,” or recording of transmitted
information, and a “command,” the “command” aspect of interaction, recording the
management of the communication process and the interpersonal relationships of its
participants [2]. The most famous modern model of metacommunication is the model of G.
Clark [4, p. 241].
According to this model, metacommunication in the process of conversation is
connected with communication, but has an additional, accompanying character. This
model explains communication and metacommunication as the implementation of
communicative and metacommunicative acts, that is, it postulates that communication and
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
51
metacommunication consist of their own structural units, unfolding in parallel to each
other.
Metacommunicative analysis of dialogue involves examining not only the content of
messages, but also their relational aspects, context, nonverbal signals, and other
metamessages. Let us consider these phenomena using the following dialogue as an
example:
–
Hello! (1.1)
Content level: greeting.
Relational level: establishing contact, expressing friendliness and willingness to
communicate.
Metamessage: “I am ready for interaction and open to communication.”
–
Hello! (1.2)
Content level: return greeting.
Relational level: confirmation of contact, expression of mutual friendliness and
readiness to continue communication.
Metamessage: “I am also ready for interaction and open to communication.”
–
How are you? (1.3)
Content level: a question about the state of affairs of the interlocutor.
Relational level: showing interest in the interlocutor, maintaining contact,
deepening interaction.
Metamessage: “I care how you feel and what’s going on with you.”
–
Normal. (1.4)
Content level: answer to a question about the state of affairs.
Relational level: maintaining contact but with minimal information, perhaps
signaling a reluctance to go into detail.
Metamessage: "I'm fine, but I don't want to go into details."
Metacommunicative aspects:
The first two messages (1.1 and 1.2) serve to establish and confirm contact. Both
participants express their willingness to interact and demonstrate friendliness.
The question “How are you?” (1.3) shows that one of the participants wants to
deepen the interaction and shows i
nterest in the other’s condition.
The answer “Normal” (1.4) may indicate several metacommunicative aspects:
–
the interlocutor may not be ready or willing to share details;
–
perhaps he doesn’t feel the need for deeper interaction at the moment;
–
this may be a signal that he does not want to continue the conversation on this
topic.
The following interpretations of communication are possible depending on the
speech situation:
–
context: if the participants in the dialogue are well acquainted, such an answer
may be the norm and not raise questions. In another context, for example, at the first
acquaintance, such an answer may seem insufficiently open.
–
non-verbal signals: in real life, non-verbal signals (intonation, facial expressions,
gestures) can significantly influence the perception of meta-messages. For example, a
smile when answering “Normal” can soften the perception of a minimal answer.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
52
Metacommunicative analysis helps to understand not only the explicit content of
messages, but also the hidden relational aspects that can influence the perception and
development of interaction.
As we have seen above, communication and metacommunication can unfold in
parallel, especially in conflict situations. For example, during a dispute, one of the
participants may not only express his arguments (communication), but also comment on
the behavior of the other participant (metacommunication), which can either aggravate
the conflict or help resolve it.
Metacommunicative conflict is a special type of conflict that arises in the process of
discussing and regulating the act of communication itself. Unlike ordinary conflicts, which
may be related to the content of the message, metacommunicative conflicts concern the
rules, norms, and interpretations of communication. Such conflicts may be caused by
differences in interpretation, expectations, cultural norms, communication style, or
attempts at dominance.
Let’s consider the main types of metacommunicative conflicts:
1. Conflicts at the level of metalanguage interpretation. For example, the
communicator uses an ironic tone to express sarcasm, but the recipient perceives it as a
serious statement. As a result, misunderstanding and conflict arise.
2. Conflicts related to differences in cultural contexts. For example, in one culture,
directly expressing disagreement may be considered normal, while in another culture it
may be perceived as rude. This can lead to conflict when representatives of different
cultures interact.
3. Conflicts caused by differences in communication styles. For example, one of the
communicators prefers direct and open communication, while the other prefers more
indirect and diplomatic expressions. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
4. Conflicts related to misinterpretation of nonverbal signals. For example, one of
the communicants may interpret lack of eye contact as a sign of disrespect or lying, while
the other may simply be shy or uncomfortable.
5. Conflicts caused by differences in expectations and norms. For example, in a
business meeting, one participant may expect formal address and protocol, while another
may prefer a more informal approach. This can lead to tension and conflict.
6. Conflicts related to differences in understanding of roles and statuses. For
example, in a work environment, a boss may expect subordinates to follow his directions
without question, whereas subordinates may expect a more democratic leadership style
and the opportunity to express their opinions.
Metacommunication conflicts can be complex and multilayered, as they concern not
only the content of messages, but also the rules, norms, and interpretations of
communication. To resolve them effectively, several key aspects must be taken into
account:
1. Awareness and recognition of the conflict. The first step to resolving a
metacommunicative conflict is awareness of its existence. Participants must recognize that
the conflict is not only at the content level, but also at the metacommunication level.
2. Metacommunicative discussion. Participants must discuss the communication
process itself, not just its content. This includes discussing the rules, norms, and
expectations that each participant brings to the communication.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
53
3. Active listening. Active listening helps you understand the other person’s point of
view. This involves paying attention not only to words, but also to non-verbal cues such as
intonation, facial expressions, and gestures.
4. Empathy and understanding. Empathy allows participants to put themselves in
the other person’s shoes and understand the
ir feelings and experiences. This helps reduce
tension and create an atmosphere of trust.
5. Clarity and precision in communication. Participants should strive for clarity and
precision in their statements. This includes avoiding ambiguity and using specific
examples to illustrate their points.
6. Feedback: Feedback helps participants understand how their messages are being
received. This may include questions like, “Am I understanding correctly what you mean
by...?”
7. Regulating the emotional background. Emotions can greatly influence the
perception of messages. Participants should strive to control their emotions and create a
calm and constructive atmosphere for discussion.
8. Cultural awareness. Understanding cultural differences in communication can
hel
p avoid misunderstandings. Participants should be aware of each other’s cultural norms
and expectations.
9. Communication skills training and development. Regular communication skills
training and development can help participants better manage metacommunication
conflicts. This may include training in active listening, empathy, and conflict management.
10. Mediator or facilitator. In difficult cases, it may be helpful to involve a neutral
mediator or facilitator who can help participants structure the discussion and find a
mutually acceptable solution.
These techniques can be adapted and applied in a variety of contexts to help
participants effectively resolve metacommunicative conflicts and improve the quality of
their interactions.
Metacommunication plays a key role in interpersonal communication, influencing
the perception and development of interaction. Metacommunication analysis helps to
understand not only the explicit content of messages, but also the hidden relational aspects
that influence the dynamics of communication. Conflicts arising from differences in
interpretation, cultural contexts, styles, and expectations require special attention to be
resolved effectively. Understanding the causes and manifestations of such conflicts and
using effective strategies helps to improve the quality of communication and build trust.
Recognizing and understanding metacommunication conflict is the first step to
resolving it. Metacommunication discussion, active listening, empathy, clarity in
communication, feedback, emotional regulation, cultural awareness, training and skill
development, and the use of a mediator can improve interactions and facilitate conflict
resolution. Every conflict is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Participants
must be prepared to be flexible and adapt to the specific circumstances. Continuous
development of communication and metacommunication skills is key to successful conflict
resolution.
Metacommunication conflicts can be successfully resolved with a conscious and
structured approach. The application of the described methods and strategies will help not
only to resolve current conflicts, but also to prevent them in the future, creating a
harmonious and effective communication environment.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
4 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
54
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Bakhtin M.M. Problems of Dostoevsky’s Poetics. Third ed. Moscow: Fiction, 1972. 471
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2.
Bateson G. Steps Towards an Ecology of Mind: Selected Papers on Evolution Theory
and Epistemology.
–
M.: ComKniga, 2005. 248 p.
3.
Buber M. Dialogue // Two images of faith. M.: OOO Publishing House ACT, 1999. P.
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4.
Clark HH Using Language.
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Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
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