We propose a new model for agent communication in open systems that is based on the principle that the meaning of communicative acts lies in their experienced consequences. A formal framework for analysing such evolving semantics is defined. An extensive analysis of example interaction processes shows that our framework allows for an assessment of several properties of the communicative conventions governing a multiagent system. Among other advantages, our framework is capable of providing a very straightforward definition of communicative conflict. Also, it allows agents to reason about the e#ects of their communicative behaviour on the structure of communicative expectations as a whole when making decisions
