| The purpose of this study was to describe the communication patterns of one augmentative communication device user and her family partners as they interacted with one another. To describe the natural occurrence of the communication patterns in this study ethnographic research methods were employed to capture the verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Those methods included naturalistic observation, fieldnotes, informal interviews, collection of artifacts, and videotaping.;Microanalysis of the participants' communication behaviors during various events indicated that each partner demonstrated a variety of partner characteristics.;Four partner characteristics were employed, namely: (1) communication attitudes of sensitivity, responsivity, and consistency, (2) communication functions, (3) communication styles, and (4) linguistic communication environment which encompassed the participant's communicative intents. These partner characteristics were utilized across partners and contexts.;The results of this study show that when communication behaviors are analyzed within natural contexts for an extended period of time, family partners demonstrate a variety of communication attitudes, functions, styles, and intents.;Analysis of these data revealed that Elizabeth, an active communication user, and the principal participant of this study was an active communicator during interaction with all family partners. She demonstrated the flexibility and adaptability necessary to actively participate in the communication episodes examined.;Dad utilized various communication intents. Nested within these intents were his communication functions of didactic talking, communication anteing, and communication terminating. From these communication functions and intents, the communication style of informing and directing emerged which facilitated Elizabeth's understanding of game rules during gameplaying episodes.;Mom utilized different communication intents than Dad. Nested in these intents were her communication functions of didactic talking, communication anteing, and communication terminating. From these communication function and intents, the communication styles of informing, co-participating, and initiating emerged to facilitate Elizabeth's learning of bookreading conventions during bookreading episodes.;The sister utilized a variety of communication intents. Nested in these communicative intents were the communication functions of didactic talking, communication anteing, and communication terminating. The communication style directing, emerged primarily to facilitate Elizabeth's script building during pretend play episodes.;Educational implications of these research findings for future research are discussed. |
