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An Anthropology of Indirect Communication

Edited by Joy Hendry, C.W. Watson

Published March 22nd 2001 by Routledge – 320 pages

Series: ASA Monographs

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Description

Sometimes we convey what we mean not by what we say but by what we do. This type of indirect communication is sometimes called 'indirection'. From patent miscommunication, through potent ambiguity to pregnant silence this incisive collection examines from a rare anthropological perspective the many aspects of indirect communication. From a Mormon Theme Park to carnival time on Montserrat the contributors analyse indirection by illustrating how food, silence, sunglasses, martial arts and rudeness call constitute powerful ways of conveying meaning. An Anthropology of Indirect Communication is an engaging text which provides a challenging introduction to this subject.

Author Bio

Joy Hendry is Professor of Social Anthropology at Oxford Brookes University. Her main area of interest is Japan and her publications include An Anthropologist in Japan (1999). C.W. Watson is Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Kent at Canterbury. He is a specialist on Indonesia and Malaysia and his publications include Multiculturalism (2000).

Name: An Anthropology of Indirect Communication (Hardback) – Routledge 
Description: Edited by Joy Hendry, C.W. Watson. Sometimes we convey what we mean not by what we say but by what we do. This type of indirect communication is sometimes called 'indirection'. From patent miscommunication, through potent ambiguity to pregnant silence this incisive...
Categories: Anthropology - Soc Sci, Language & Communication