Common Ground

The shared knowledge, beliefs, and assumptions that conversation participants use to understand each other. In communication theory, grounding is the process by which speakers establish and maintain this mutual understanding through strategies such as referencing shared context, confirming comprehension, and elaborating when needed. Common ground is particularly challenging to establish in AAC-mediated conversations because the speed difference between speaking and AAC device use means the conversational context may shift before the AAC user can respond, making their contribution appear out of context to other participants.