I do agree with the Pragmatic perspective to a certain extent. When the book discusses the interdependence of each other when communicating, I understand this analogy. I feel as though when communicating with one another we are dependent on the others moves. We read their moves, or cues, in order to continue the conversation or relationship, just as we read the moves of our opponent when strategizing for a game. Here our communication “consists of a system of interlocking, interdependent behaviors that become pattered over time (pg. 32).”
But there are more aspects to communication than just playing a game. A game is something we do to entertain ourselves for a certain length of time and than finish and continue with our every day life. We can use communication for the same way except the communication we use can affect our every day life in a greater way than winning or losing a game. This also brings me to the point of winning and losing a game. In life we are not communicating in order to win or lose, unless you have a goal such as a sales pitch, but we are communicating to understand or learn more about something or each other. How we communicate affects every aspect of our lives where winning or a losing a game does not. Communication may have some characteristics of a game but its long-term affects are much more broad.
I agree with you that there are more complicated aspects to communication than games. I like how you said communication is not about winning or losing but to understand and learn more about others. That's because when we play a game of basketball or football we are not interested in the other team personally, our goal is to win!! We can play games with anyone and anywhere, but when it comes to communication we are selective about who we talk to, when we talk, what we say and where we say it!!! Our communication is also influenced by culture. You are right when you say the long-term effects of communication are much broader than that of a game. Do you think we remember a game from long ago more than a conversation (good / bad) we had with someone?
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