scholarly journals Linguistic Accommodation

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Language ◽  
Formal Semantics ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Dynamic Semantic ◽  
Communicative Behavior ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Linguistic Accommodation ◽  
Presupposition Accommodation ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
Language Accommodation

Accommodation is the process whereby a listener makes adjustments in response to behavior of the speaker. In the area of linguistics we might broadly label as theoretical pragmatics, within which we include much of formal semantics and philosophy of language, accommodation is the mechanism whereby hearers modify their representation of the conversational background so as to match assumptions that the speaker has made. The most pervasive type of accommodation involves presupposition, when a speaker takes some type of information for granted. Accommodation of presuppositions occurs when the listener adjusts their knowledge state in order to match the information that a speaker has presupposed. For example, if a speaker says, “I have to go pick up my sister from the airport,” there is a presupposition triggered that the speaker has a sister. If the listener is not already aware of the existence of the sister, they must accommodate this information by adjusting their information state accordingly. Two dominant approaches to modeling presupposition behavior have emerged in the past few decades, resulting in two broad understandings of accommodation. For a class of dynamic semantic theories, accommodation is a process that involves satisfaction in local contexts. On the other hand, a wave of research on presupposition as anaphora relies on a notion of accommodation as the creation of antecedents to enable anaphoric resolution that would otherwise fail. Within both understandings of accommodation, the particular mechanisms can also vary. Some accounts weigh the plausibility of material to be accommodated, some accounts weigh the alternative contexts within which material might be accommodated, and some weigh the amount of descriptive content contributed by the presupposition. Besides accommodation in theoretical pragmatics, a broader notion of accommodation is prominent in sociolinguistics, as well as further afield from linguistics in social psychology and anthropology. This notion includes not only the beliefs of the interlocutors, but also many other aspects of speech style and communicative behavior more generally. This literature primarily draws from communication accommodation theory (CAT), according to which a speaker adjusts their communicative behavior based on that of their interlocuter. Commonly, this adjustment involves mirroring, but interlocutors may also adjust to make differences salient rather than emphasizing similarity. While theoretical pragmatic and sociolinguistic accommodation are distinct notions with independent intellectual histories, presupposition accommodation can be seen as a special case of sociolinguistic accommodation. Both involve a hearer’s adjustment in response to a speaker. However, the former is more restrictive, concerning only adjustment to increase similarity, and only adjustment of aspects of what Lewis termed the conversational scoreboard, within which he includes the beliefs of the speaker and hearer.

Why to speak French to French speakers? Outgroup vitality, motivation and linguistic accommodation in the Aosta Valley

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laszlo Vincze ◽  
Jessica Gasiorek ◽  
Marko Dragojevic
Keyword(s):  
Language Choice ◽  
School Students ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Linguistic Accommodation ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City ◽  
Theory Framework

AbstractUsing a communication accommodation theory framework, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between perceived French vitality, cognitive and affective motivations for convergence, French skills, and convergence to French speakers among a group of young Italian speakers in the Aosta-Valley, Italy. Questionnaire data were collected among secondary school students in the city of Aosta (N = 169). The findings indicated that perceived French vitality resulted in greater cognitive motivation for speaking French, which, in turn, led to an increased use of French with French speakers. Additionally, and contrary to expectations, cognitive motivation had a greater impact on actual language use among those who reported poor French skills than among those reporting good French skills. At the same time, and also contrary to expectations, affective motivation did not predict language choice. Findings and implications are discussed in relation the bilingual accommodation.

scholarly journals KONJO-BUGINESE LANGUAGE ACCOMMODATION IN INTERACTION WITH THE IMMIGRANTS IN WEST SINJAI

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasminah Said ◽  
Tuti Bahfiarti ◽  
Muhammad Farid
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
Language Accommodation

This study aimed to identify the use of Konjo-Buginese language in West Sinjai, Sinjai Regency and the Konjo-Buginese language accommodation in interacting with the immigrants. This study employed the ethnography theory by Dell Hymes. The data were gathered using in-depth interview, observation, and documentation and analyzed using the communication accommodation theory by Howard Giles. The results showed that Konjo-Buginese language used in West Sinjai was adopted mostly from the Konjo Mountains language and the accommodation took the form of convergence. The divergent speech behavior was only performed by the elderly people and those who do not speak Indonesian.

Language barriers in healthcare delivery

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Akrofi Ansah ◽  
Mercy Adzo Klugah
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Doctor Patient Communication ◽  
Accommodation Theory

The relevance of language for quality healthcare delivery cannot be overemphasised. Within the framework of communication accommodation theory, this paper discusses language barriers in expatriate doctor–patient communication in three state-owned hospitals in Ghana, and the strategies employed by the medical personnel to bridge communication gaps. The study design is qualitative and the data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 16 expatriate doctors, three nurses and three patients. Furthermore, observation of five patient–doctor interactions was undertaken and notes taken. Both datasets were then analysed using the qualitative conventional content analysis approach. The findings revealed that the expatriate doctors employed convergence strategies such as ad hoc interpreters, gestures, picture charts and electronic dictionaries to deal with language barriers. The study is expected to stimulate further research into innovative ways of dealing with language barriers in expatriate doctor–patient interactions.

scholarly journals Managing patient aggression in healthcare: Initial testing of a communication accommodation theory intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-81
Author(s):  
Rachyl Pines ◽  
Howard Giles ◽  
Bernadette Watson
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Initial Test ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Patient Cooperation ◽  
Accommodation Theory

Abstract Patient-perpetrated workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare is common. Although communication skills trainings are helpful, they may be strengthened by having a theoretical framework to improve replicability across contexts. This study developed and conducted an initial test of a training framed by Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) using longitudinal mixed-methods surveys of healthcare professionals in an American primary care clinic to increase their self-efficacy, patient cooperation, and use of CAT strategies to de-escalate patient aggression. Results of the intervention indicate that the CAT training significantly increased professionals’ efficacy and reported patient cooperation over time. Findings showed that those who reported using more of the five CAT strategies also reported situations that they were able to de-escalate effectively. This initial test of a CAT training to prevent WPV demonstrates promise for the applicability of CAT strategies to de-escalate patient aggression, and the need to scale and test these trainings in settings that experience high WPV levels.

scholarly journals The Applicability of Communication Accommodation Theory and Empathy Strategy in Speeches ——A Case Study from Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai in 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhuan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Communication Practice ◽  
Accommodation Theory

This paper is mainly based on the topic of whether the theory of Communication Accommodation (CAT) is applicable in speeches and how the Empathy strategy is applied in speeches. A case study from a speech by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the Welcome Dinner Hosted by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is analyzed as a sample of intercultural communication practice. The research analyzes and explores the origin of the CAT and its related theories as well as elaborates on similarity-attraction theory, social exchange theory, causal attribution, social identity theory and some major strategies such as convergence, divergence and over-convergence for the purpose of the applicability of CAT in speeches. What is more, empathy as an important strategy is illustrated in detail. After a careful analysis, it has been proved that it is effective and practical for the application of CAT in speeches. Furthermore, the application of Empathy strategy in speeches will create a rewarding outcome.

“Look me, hwε ha, ofainε kwεmɔ biε aha mi fioo!!”: Codeswitching at inter-ethnic traditional marriage ceremonies in southern Ghana

Multilingua ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-311
Author(s):  
Anastasia Nuworsu ◽  
Grace Diabah ◽  
Evershed Kwasi Amuzu
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Ethnography Of Communication ◽  
Linguistic Distance ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
Traditional Marriage ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
Social Messages ◽  
University Of Ghana

AbstractThis paper investigates the use of codeswitching at traditional inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies in the southern part of Ghana. The study site is Accra, the multilingual capital of Ghana which is located in the south of the country, and was selected due to the high frequency of inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies which take place there. The data analysed were audio-visual recordings of interactions at such ceremonies, collected, by (Nuworsu, Anastasia 2015: Language use in inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies in Greater Accra. MPhil. thesis, Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Legon.). They were complemented with observations made at the event grounds, as well as follow up interviews with key actors during and after the events. The theoretical framework employed is based on a combination of Giles’ Communication Accommodation Theory, Hymes’s Ethnography of Communication and Myers-Scotton‘s Markedness Model. It is found that bilinguals who speak on behalf of families participating in the ceremonies often use codeswitching in innovative ways to convey various social messages. Significant uses were: (i) speakers use codeswitching to converge toward the speech of their in-laws in a bid to decrease the social and linguistic distance between the two families and (ii) they use it as a divergence strategy to, for instance, increase the social and linguistic distance between them when they wish to accentuate an ideological, or any other, difference between them. Overall, the study contributes towards insights about inter-group language practices in multilingual African settings, especially in urban areas.

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