Professional Communication as Phatic: From Classical Eunoia to Personal Artificial Intelligence

James E. Porter Miami University

Abstract

Phatic refers to the rhetorical function of creating effective communication channels, keeping them open, and establishing ongoing and fruitful relationships, all of which are vital in the age of digital rhetoric, social media, and global intercultural exchange. In this realm, the professional communicator functions less as an originator of new information and more as a space designer, a facilitator of others’ online interactions, a curator of user-generated content, and a communication leader. The phatic function—especially relevant to online interactions such as virtual teamwork, intercultural communication, and user help forums—deserves significant attention as a primary purpose for professional communication.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2017-06-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490616671708
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Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  3. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  4. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  5. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Show all 7 →
  1. Computers and Composition
  2. Rhetoric Society Quarterly

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