Engaging with the critical: Thinking through communication injustices
Abstract
In the paper, the authors argue for the importance of a critical onto-epistemological positioning to reframe our understanding of the concept of communication and how this could guide our practices within Speech-Language Pathology. Using power as a concept from which we ‘think from’ when using a critical social theoretical perspective, additional concepts are illuminated which will enable the profession to think otherwise in approaching its practices. These concepts include communication disadvantage and communication injustice. Taken together, they can be used to explain how colonial power structures that oppress certain social groups impact freedoms, and subsequently communication opportunities. Using an example from the first author’s doctoral study, we demonstrate how using such a critical onto-epistemological perspective can create practices that more appropriately engage contextually-embedded social realities.
Keywords: communication injustice, communication opportunity, communication disadvantage, critical theory, speech-language pathology
How to Cite:
Abrahams, K., Peters, L., Pillay, M. & Kathard, H., (2025) “Engaging with the critical: Thinking through communication injustices”, Journal of Critical Study of Communication and Disability 3(1), 9. doi: https://doi.org/10.48516/jcscd_2025vol3iss1.54
Rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Kristen Abrahams, Liesl Peters, Mershen Pillay, Harsha Kathard
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