interactional

Interactional is an adjective derived from interaction, used to describe anything related to or arising from social interaction. In academic usage, it denotes processes, phenomena, or qualities that occur through the reciprocal action of two or more agents. The term is widely used across disciplines such as linguistics, sociology, education, and organizational studies to specify the relational and situated nature of activities rather than abstract, individual acts.

In linguistics, interactional refers to language as it functions in real social exchanges. Concepts such as interactional competence, exchange structure, stance, and repair are used to analyze how speakers manage turn-taking, alignment, and social meaning in talk. In conversation analysis, researchers examine interactional sequences to understand how meaning is co-constructed.

In education and classroom research, interactional patterns describe how teachers and students engage in dialogue, negotiate knowledge, and structure learning through talk. In sociology and anthropology, interactional processes are studied to comprehend social interaction, rituals, and norms in everyday life.

In organizational and management literature, interactional justice or interactional fairness refers to how individuals are treated in interpersonal encounters, including politeness, respect, and clear explanations, as part of perceived fairness.

Etymology: from the noun interaction plus the suffix -al. Related terms include interpersonal, interactivity, and interaction analysis. The term does not denote a stand-alone theory but serves as a descriptor indicating that a phenomenon is embedded in social interaction, with meaning shaped by context and participants.