Suhtluses

Suhtluses is a term used in Estonian-language literature on communication to denote the process and study of interpersonal exchange. Broadly, it refers to how people send, receive, and interpret messages within social interaction, including language, gesture, and technology.

Core concepts in suhtluses include sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback, and context. Communication is viewed as a dynamic system shaped by culture, power relations, and situational norms. Verbal and nonverbal cues, turn-taking, and repair strategies help maintain mutual understanding. The field also covers digital and mediated communication, where timing, text, images, and interface design influence interpretation.

Research methods in suhtluses include conversation analysis, discourse analysis, ethnography, and experiments. Key metrics include clarity, coherence, and perceived credibility, as well as relational outcomes such as trust and rapport. Contextual factors—setting, audience, and medium—are considered central to how messages are produced and understood.

Applications span education, workplace communication, public discourse, and the design of human–computer interfaces. By studying suhtluses, researchers and practitioners seek to improve collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and enhance media literacy. See also: communication studies, sociolinguistics, and human–computer interaction.