An interdisciplinary inquiry in the communicator: implications of relational social paradigm, practice theory, and biological science

ABSTRACT Communication research is interdisciplinary in nature. Many communication scholars have addressed the interdisciplinary nature of communication from diverse perspectives. While communication scholars have discussed the communicator, I propose introducing a sociological approach to the communication field, particularly drawing on relational sociology and practice/embodiment theory. And I discuss the link between the sociological theory and communication theories regarding identity and self. Finally, I suggest that communication research expand interdisciplinary collaboration with biological science, particularly neuroscience, for empirical research. Based on the discussion, I will conceptualize the communicator whose capacity and propensity for communicating (1) shift according to changing contexts and relationships, (2) are socially shaped and personally embodied throughout their life trajectory, and (3) can be empirically assessed through biological research. This theoretical modeling of the communicator also suggests pathways for interdisciplinary theoretical discussions and empirical inquiries about the ontology of the communicator in the field of communication.