Interactional for Dummies

Interactional is a word that we use to describe how people communicate with and respond to each other. It's like when two people have a conversation, they interact with each other by listening, speaking, and sometimes even using gestures or facial expressions. So, interactional means that it involves people interacting with each other in some way.

Let's think about it this way: imagine you are playing a game with your friend. They roll a dice and you take turns. When it's your turn, you roll the dice and your friend watches. You're interacting with each other because you are both involved in the game and you're responding to each other's actions. You might even say, "Nice roll!" or "I can't believe I got a six!" during the game, which adds to the interaction.

In a broader sense, interactional can also describe how people communicate and engage with each other in different social situations. For example, when you have a class discussion and you raise your hand to share your thoughts, you are interacting with your classmates and the teacher. It's like a back-and-forth exchange of ideas, where everyone has a chance to participate and respond to each other's comments.

So, interactional ultimately means that there is some form of communication or exchange happening between people. It could be through spoken words, written messages, body language, or any other form of expression that allows people to connect and respond to each other. Whether it's a simple conversation with a friend or a group activity in the classroom, interactional describes the act of people engaging with one another in a meaningful way.