Ritual and ceremonial, as formal modes of conduct, are equally ubiquitous appearing in everything from modes of talk and rules of politeness to elaborate protocols for events of state. Ritual and rite, ceremonial and ceremony are symbolic social actions, modes of communication that implicate individuals in the social order, creating realities whilst expressing ideas and attitudes about them. This book combines bibliographic essay and theory construction to provide a unique perspective on ritual as a special and powerful form of communication.