The Convergence of Nonviolent and Pragmatic Communication Exploring Theories of Communication in Conflict Resolution

Abstract

Interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in the conflict resolution process, being especially relevant in educational and organizational contexts. The present research investigates the interconnection between Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and the pragmatic theories of politeness and relevance, seeking to understand how these approaches can influence the choice of communicative strategies to promote a more respectful and efficient interaction. The main objective is to analyze how Sperber and Wilson's (1995) relevance theory and Brown and Levinson's (1987) politeness theory interact with Marshall Rosenberg's (2021) NVC in the context of conflict resolution. The methodology used was qualitative analysis, based on examples extracted from the work of Rosenberg (2021) and everyday situations, addressing communicative choices that impact interpersonal relationships. The results show that relevance theory helps to understand how communicative choices are processed and interpreted by interlocutors, while politeness theory suggests strategies that protect the "face" of individuals during interaction. The research concludes that the application of NVC, aligned with the pragmatic theories of relevance and politeness, can promote more empathetic and effective communication, essential for conflict resolution and strengthening interpersonal relationships.