Metacommunicative competence is the ability to intervene (in a guiding or constructively controlling way) within difficult conversations and to correct communication problems by utilizing the different ways of practical communication:

• verbal communication: by words or their meaning
• paraverbal communication: loudness of speaking, manner of speaking, when keeping silent, meaning of interrupting or interfering the conversation
• nonverbal communication: body language (facial expression, eye contact, gestures), messages without words
• extraverbal communication: time, place, context, orientation towards target groups, tactile (feeling by touching) and olfactory (smelling) aspects

Within the metacommunicative competence the aforementioned ways of communication can be used in a balanced and therefore credible, authentic way as well as simultaneously observed (Meta-analysis), if necessary corrected and adapted to an evolvement, a new influence or a new situation.

See also

• Communication, Communication theory
• Interpersonal communication, Interaction
• Intercultural competence, Intercultural relations, Cross-cultural communication
• Kinesics, Proxemics
• Perception, Sense
• Sign language