communicational
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəmjˌuːnɪkˈeɪʃənəl/
US
- /kəmjˌuːnɪkˈeɪʃənəl/
Description
- about communication processes
- about message sharing
- involving information exchange
"Communicational" is an adjective for things related to the act or process of communicating—how people share ideas, feelings, and information. It is not common in everyday English, and many writers choose "communication" (as in "communication skills" or "communication problems") or "communicative" instead. Still, "communicational" can appear in more formal or technical writing when the focus is on the process or system of exchange. For example, a business might study communicational issues between departments to see why messages get lost or misunderstood. It is not about being talkative; it is about how communication works.
The word "communicational" pertains to anything involving the process of conveying information, thoughts, or emotions. It is uncommon in casual conversation, and it can sound a bit stiff or unusual to some readers. In many situations, English prefers the noun "communication" used like an adjective (for example, "communication training," "communication tools," or "communication problems") or the adjective "communicative." Still, "communicational" can be useful when you want to keep the focus on communication as a process—its patterns, limits, and structure—rather than only on what is being said.
You are most likely to encounter "communicational" in academic and professional contexts, such as communication studies, linguistics, sociology, psychology, and workplace research. A researcher might study communicational patterns in a family (who speaks, who listens, who interrupts), or a designer might evaluate the communicational effectiveness of an app (whether it helps users understand what to do next).
It can also be used when talking about the demands of a situation: communicational needs, communicational goals, or communicational breakdowns in a team. Importantly, it does not mean the same thing as "communicative." A communicative person is someone who talks easily or shares readily; communicational refers to communication itself—especially the way it is organized, carried out, and supported (or blocked).
If you choose "communicational," it usually signals a more analytical angle: you are pointing to the how of sharing information. If you want a more natural tone, "communication" or "communicative" is often the better choice.
Examples
- 1
Training
The training focuses on communicational skills such as clear listening and giving useful feedback.
- 2
Remote work
Poor internet connections can create communicational problems for remote teams.
- 3
Child development
The study looked at how children develop communicational strategies in group activities.
Phrase
communicational strategies
ways of getting ideas across to other people
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- communicationaladjective