Abstract
This article identifies broad shifts that the author terms megatrends in the development of speech communication theory and research. These megatrends refer to large scale movements that encompass smaller, related changes across the field. The essay outlines five such trends. The first is an intensified role for speech communication in bridging divisions among subfields, particularly the separation between interpersonal and mass communication that has emerged in the wider interdisciplinary study of communication. The second is a growing concern with policy implications, reflected in increased attention to social issues, applied research, and the needs of special populations. The third trend is heightened focus on technological developments that expand communication contexts and challenge traditional distinctions between interpersonal and mass communication. The fourth trend is the widening acceptance of diverse theoretical and methodological approaches, including critical, interpretive, developmental, and contextual perspectives. The fifth is the renewed search for general communication theories capable of explaining symbolic interaction across contexts. Together, these trends indicate a field moving toward greater theoretical maturity, methodological pluralism, and engagement with social and technological change.
Recommended Citation
Littlejohn, Stephen W.
(1985)
"Megatrends in Speech Communication: Theory and Research,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 53, Article 21.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol53/iss1/21
