A study of formal communication in 30 families each with a schizophrenic son and 28 families, each with a "normal" son was conducted in Germany. By means of factor analysis four types of formal speech behavior were identified using musical terminology: "staccato," a highly fragmented flow of conversation with high turnover rate; "solo" in which verbal inactivity dominated; "tutti," very lively conversation with frequent interruption; and "legato," long periods of simultaneous speech and a low turnover rate. "Staccato" was the only type of speech behavior showing a relationshiP with social class. It was much more strongly represented in the conversation of lower class than middle class families. The speech patterns that were examined showed no relation to the age of the family members. The families with the schizophrenic sons showed an excess of "solo" and a lack of "tutti." These were the only two factors that significantly discriminated between the two groups of families. Families with a schizophrenic patient who had to be readmitted within two years after the first discharge from psychiatric inpatient treatment showed a trend to a lower degree of "tutti." (MKM)