Abstract

Don Ihde is an American philosopher specializing in phenomenology. In addition to historical-critical studies, Ihde's scholarly activity consists of original phenomenological investigations. The purpose of this dissertation is to make explicit those data from Ihde's phenomenological investigations that have implications for the study of human communication. ;A selective review of phenomenological literature by speech communication scholars situates Ihde's work and the present dissertation within the discipline of speech communication. A review of Ihde's historical-critical works establishes Ihde's position within the tradition of phenomenology. Ihde's phenomenological methodology is also outlined. ;After a detailed explication of Ihde's phenomenological data as they pertain to the study of speech communication, the dissertation specifies a series of propositions derived from Ihde's data. These propositions are grouped under six categories: The centrality of the spoken word; Inner speech; Voice; Spoken language: The said and the unsaid; An ethic of spoken language; and Technologies and spoken language. Applications of Ihde's data to human communication theory, speech communication research methodology, rhetoric, public speaking, organization and group communication, communication education, and homiletics are presented. Directions for future research as suggested by Ihde's work conclude the study