ABSTRACT
Chapter 9 explores communication in relationships. It investigates preferred communication styles, politeness, emotional expressiveness, and instrumental language among men and women. Effectiveness of communication strategies is tied to valence and directness. The role of smartphones in relationships, including enhancement and displacement of face-to-face interactions, is examined. Strategies for navigating long-distance dating are addressed. Theoretical perspectives discuss gender-based skill sets and the Communication Accommodation Theory. Research reveals small yet reliable sex-based linguistic differences, contextual impacts on interruptions and linguistic features, emotional expressiveness distinctions, and the value of skills specialization.
