Communicative Strategies are plans/ways/means of sharing information which are

adopted to achieve a particular social, political, psychological, or linguistic purpose.

There are Seven Types of Communicative Strategies:

1. Nomination – presenting a particular topic clearly, truthfully, and saying

only what is relevant;
2. Restriction – constraining the response/reaction within a set of categories;
3. Turn-taking – recognizing when and how to speak because it is one’s turn;
4. Topic control – keeping the interaction going by asking questions and
eliciting a response;
5. Topic shifting – introducing a new topic followed by the continuation of that
topic;
6. Repair – overcoming communication breakdown to send more
comprehensible messages; and
7. Termination – using verbal and nonverbal signals to end the interaction.

Nomination
When introducing a topic at the beginning of a Communicative Situation, what is being
used is the Nomination Communicative Strategy. It is a strategy that can also be applied
any time during the course of an interaction as a way of continuing the communication.
When this strategy is used, the topic is introduced in a clear and truthful manner,
stating only what is relevant to keep the interaction focused.

Example: Have you noticed the weird weather lately? Is this because of global
warming?

Example: I was late for class again! The MRT stopped midway. What is wrong with the
MRT?

Restriction
Restriction Communicative Strategy is a strategy that constrains or restricts the
Response of the other person involved in the Communication Situation. The Listener is
forced to respond only within a set of categories that is made by the Speaker.

Example: They say that the Philippine economy is getting better. Only the stupid think
that, right? (No one wants to be stupid.)

Example: That arrest move was a disaster waiting to happen. Do you agree? (Yes/No)

Turn-Taking
Turn-taking Communicative Strategy requires that each Speaker speaks only when it is
his/her turn during an interaction. Knowing when to talk depends on watching out for
the verbal and nonverbal cues that signal the next Speaker that the previous Speaker has
finished or the topic under discussion has been exhausted and a new topic may be
introduced. At the same time, it also means that others should be given the opportunity
to take a turn. Turn-taking Communicative Strategy uses either an informal approach
(just jump in and start talking) or a formal approach (permission to speak is requested).

Example: I agree with the point just made. But may l add that OFWs would rather be
home and work here so they could be with their families.

Example: May I have the floor, sir? The topic under discussion is the state of the
Philippine economy today. We want better lives for all Filipinos, whether they are
working here or abroad.

Topic Control
After the Nomination Communicative Strategy, the interaction is kept going by using the
Topic-Control Communicative Strategy. This is simply a question-answer formula that
moves the discussion forward. This also allows the Listener or the other participants to
take turns, contribute ideas, and continue the discussion.

Example: How often do you ride the MRT, Tony? How many times have you
encountered a stoppage in service?

Example: Your car may break down, too, Luna, right? So you have to find another
means of getting to school. We all do not want to be late for class, yes?

Topic Shifting
Topic-Shifting Communicative-Strategy is the strategy that is useful in introducing
another topic. This Strategy works best when there is follow-through so that a new topic
continues to be discussed. This is also used in Repair Communicative Strategy.

Example: This is a battle with corporations that continue to pollute the environment.
But this is also a battle with man himself, who continues to act as if there is another
Earth we can move to once this Earth dies.

Example: If we cannot use the Earth’s resources, our economies will die. We need to
choose: the economy or the environment.

Repair
We have already learned that communication almost always breaks down. When
miscommunication occurs, one can apply the Repair Communicative Strategy that
includes requesting clarification, not acknowledging, topic shifting, not responding,
repeating, recasting, and adding. One requests clarification by asking questions or using
eyebrows, eyes, head, or shoulders to show that the Message could not be understood.
By not acknowledging the new situation, the situation already in progress will continue.
Topic shifting can help direct the discussion to another topic or divert the attention of
the Listener from the topic that has become problematic.
Repeating is a good way of correcting oneself and gives the Speaker time to do just that.
Recasting means changing the form of a Message that could not be understood. It allows
the Speaker to say the Message in another way so that the Listener can understand what
was originally incomprehensible.

Example: I have ordered Colonel…uh…General Pano to look into this matter. He,
General Pano I mean, will report directly to me, as President of the Philippines.

Example: When we look at the World Wide Web, more popularly known as wwww…
excuse me, www, we find that this Information Highway or rather Superhighway is the
means toward becoming part of a globally economy, a global economy.

Termination
Lastly, Termination Communicative Strategy ends the interaction through verbal and
nonverbal Messages that both Speaker and Listener send to each other. Sometimes the
Termination is quick and short. Sometimes it is prolonged by clarifications, further
questions, or the continuation of the topic already discussed, but the point of the
language and body movement is to end the communication.

Example:

P1: So that’s it for our plans in the upcoming Student Council elections.
P2: Yes.
P3: Okay, all done.
P4: Finished.
P1: See you in class.
P2, P3, P4: See you later.