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In:Patterns of Context: Modelling cultural and contextual influence in utterance interpretation
Edited by Elke Diedrichsen and Frank Liedtke
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 356] 2026
► pp. 44–74

Integrating shared and individual realities in communication

A model of emergent aspects of common ground in interactive situations

 | Technological University Dublin
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
It is widely assumed that in communicative interactions, participants formulate utterances based on a backdrop of shared knowledge, including information provided by the situation of interaction. This view clashes with the reality of the individual mindsets, and the notion of egocentrism that has been found to be a significant factor in everyday interaction. Taking into account that approaches to a shared situation may differ and need to be converged, I will argue in this chapter that the interactive situation is an achievement of the ongoing interaction itself, and it is therefore emergent common ground. This is demonstrated by analyses of two original interactions from digital media, where situations are established independently of shared circumstances, from previous knowledge and available affordances.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1The situation as an interactive achievement
    • 1.2Communication in digital media resources
    • 1.3Instagram
    • 1.4WhatsApp
    • 1.5Affordances and literacy
    • 1.6Methodology, data, and ethics of data usage
  • 2.Assets and efforts for cooperation
  • 3.Individual access and impact
  • 4.Case study on an Instagram post
  • 5.Situational influences and outcomes in the Instagram sample “Girl Math”
    • 5.1Cooperation in the Instagram sample “Girl Math”
    • 5.2Individuality and egocentrism in the Instagram sample “Girl Math”
  • 6.Case study 2: A WhatsApp chat between two close friends
  • 7.Situational influences and outcomes in the WhatsApp chat
    • 7.1Cooperation in the WhatsApp chat
    • 7.2Individuality and egocentrism in the WhatsApp chat
    • 7.3Convergence of point of view in the WhatsApp chat
  • 8.Summary and conclusion
  • Author queries
  • Notes
  • References
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