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unintentional communication


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Compare intentional communication.

1. Meanings ‘given off’ (Goffman) by an individual’s body language through nonverbal leakage, or unconsciously signified by their appearance, dress, or behaviour, including whatever may be noticeable by its absence in a particular context (see also analogic communication). As Watzlawick observed, ‘one cannot not communicate’, regardless of whether an observer's inferences are warranted.

2. Meanings within a text discernible by an audience but of which the author was not aware: see also intentional fallacy.

3. See miscommunication.

Subjects: Media studies

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unintentional communication
in A Dictionary of Media and Communication Length: 83 words

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