This paper focuses dimensions of human communication in social practices that can be characterised by the use of more than one language code, modality or register. Conceptual ideas that arise from explorations based upon empirical analysis of situated bi- or multilingual oral talk, signed talk and literacy communication are presented. The examples used to illustrate the theoretical ideas raised in this article are taken from the literature available on oral, signed and written communication. Thus the purpose in this paper is to juxtapose analytically derived findings from traditionally segregated fields of study – (hearing) bilingualism, visually oriented (deaf) bilingualism, (multilingual) literacies and (hearing so-called) monolingual communication.

The analysis of situated or context-bound mundane talk represents a perspective and interest in human communication in terms of meaning making semantic processes that can be distinguished from linguistic analysis of competencies or psychological measurements of cognitive resources or structures or the sociological analysis of attitudes or demographic patterns or analysis of competencies from a handicap or special educational perspective. Focusing social practices – what is communicated by human beings and the ways in which communication occurs – allows, it is suggested, for leaving behind a view of language as a static entity or a monological perspective on language.