Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

In this section, we’re going to delve more
deeply into the areas of synchronous and
asynchronous communication. In Figure 12.5,
Sam and Pat are in some kind of underworld,
fiery landscape. Pat is playing a witch character,
and Sam is playing a vampire character.
The two can coordinate their movements to
accomplish in-game tasks because they can talk
freely to one another while playing the game in
real time. As previously discussed, this type of CMC is synchronous communication, or communication
that happens in real time. Conversely, asynchronous communication is the exchange of messages with
a time lag. In other words, in asynchronous communication, people can communicate on their own
schedules as time permits instead of in real time. For
example, Figure 12.6 shows a conversation between two
college students. In this case, two college students are
using SMS, commonly called texting) to interact with
each other. The conversation starts at 2:25 PM. The
first person initiates the conversation, but doesn’t get a
response until 3:05 PM. The third turn in the interaction
then doesn’t happen until 5:40 PM. In this exchange,
the two people interacting can send responses at their
convenience, which is one of the main reasons people
often rely on asynchronous communication. Other
common forms of asynchronous communication include
emails, instant messaging, online discussions, etc….
Now, is it possible for people to use the same SMS
technology to interact synchronously? Of course. One
of our coauthors remembers two students on a trip
who were sitting next to each other and texting backand-forth
because they didn’t want their conversation
to be overheard by others in the van. Their interaction
was clearly mediated, and in real time, so it would be
considered synchronous communication.
Figure 12.5 Video Game Play
Text Message
Today 2:25 PM
Heading into class. Dinner Tonight?
Today 3:05 PM
Just got out of class myself. Had a midterm.
Did not go well. Dinner sounds great. 8ish?
Today 5:40 PM
That Sucks!!! Meet at my room around 7:45.
How does Mexican sound?
One issue related to CMC is nonverbal communication.
Historically, most of the media people have used to
interact with one another have been asynchronous
and text-based, making it difficult to fully ascertain the
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Figure 12.6 Asynchronous
Communication via SMS (Text Messaging)
Interpersonal Communication