Revealing the self in theories of interpersonal communication. A (meta)linguistic perspective

Abstract

The article shows the problem of revealing the self in the part of interpersonal communication that finds expression in words. In academic communication textbooks, more emphasis is placed on non-verbal presentation of the self and on cultural differences in this area. Meanwhile, the egocentric nature of language is evident throughout the whole system of language - the speaking and therefore the communicating 'I' is present in grammatical categories, thematic-rhematic structure or even in various types of metatextual units. The author postulates cooperation between linguists and communication specialists, showing how mutual respect of research results could, on the one hand, improve the lexicographic description of words that are important in communication and, on the other hand, make it more natural to talk about feelings and needs (the Polish version of Marshall Rosenberg's 'giraffe language').