This paper proposes the use of a rule-based computer programming language as a standard for the expression of rules, arguing that the adoption of a standard would enable researchers to communicate about rules in a consistent and significant way. Focusing on the formal equivalence of artificial intelligence (AI) programming to different types of human communication theories, the paper first discusses the natural language processing approach that explicitly tries to model human linguistic and cognitive processes. This discussion examines both AI models and communication-related theories that use allied knowledge structures and those that use contrasting knowledge structures. The paper then introduces PROLOG, the recommended rule-based programming language, and shows the advantages its adoption would have for theory construction and research for those interested in communication rules, and for those interested in developing precise theories from other perspectives. Examples of expressing communication propositions and developing a theory of conversational request structures in PROLOG are given, and approximately 70 references are listed. (DJR)