Relational communication refers to the control or dominance aspects of message exchange in dyads--distinguishing it from the report or referential aspects of communication. In relational communicational analysis, messages as transactions are emphasized; major theoretical concepts which emerge are symmetry, transitoriness, and complementarity of control. Within the context of a brief review of existing interaction analysis techniques, new measurement procedures can be developed which capture both the control and time-varying nature of dyadic interaction. The first step yields a code based on the grammatical format of each sequential utterance (from a speaker). The second step gives a translation of each message format into a "control code." Control codes, when translated into"transactional codes," reveal the nature of manipulative communicational exchanges. The methodology thus developed deals with communication in dyads. Further work is required in the case of triadic and larger communicational relationships. (Author/CH)