Linguistic Evaluation of Written Communication in Indian Construction Sector: A Review and Framework

Abstract

Effective communication plays a vital role in fosten·ng understanding and coordination among the members of any organization, irrespective of their positions in the organizational hierarchy. Along with transmission of information, organizational communication performs various other crucial functions like instructing, advising, guiding, motivating, negotiating, requesting and warning etc. It is therefore imperative to ensure that communication is clear, concise, complete, correct, concrete, courteous and considerate. As much of the significant communication is in the written form, it is essential to evaluate the overall efficacy of the language used in the written documents like reports, letters, circulars, memos, agendas, minutes and agreements etc. The language use does not merely determine the accuracy of information but also influence interpersonal relationship among the stakeholders. There have been numerous instances of misinterpretation of the message leading to interpersonal and organizational conflicts. In order to measure the effectiveness of written communication, the language used should be evaluated at various levels so as to understand its overall impact on communication. This paper attempts to carry out a systematic literature review in order to identify the research done so far on linguistic analysis in the areas apart from humanities and literature. It aims to explore if such analysis has been done in the context of the Indian construction industry. Upon a comprehensive review of literature, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for carrying out a linguistic analysis of the written communication in construction documents. The framework would also enable to measure the conformity of the language used to the seven Cs (Clan"ty, Conciseness, Completeness, Concreteness, Consideration, Courtesy and Correctness) of effective communication. Thus, not only some crucial insights about the language used will be gained but also the overall effectiveness of the written communication can be measured.