Communication Styles and Speech Accommodation in Conversation in The Johnsons
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Date
2018-09
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English Scholars' Association of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Communication Styles and Speech Accommodation in Conversation in The Johnsons
Kifayat, GAMBARI OLUFADI
olufadi.k@unilorin.edu.ng
Abstract
In interaction, we adjust and adapt our communication to our fellow speakers. Sometimes these adjustments are done on purpose: we simplify explanations; change our speech rate, lexical choices and even syntax to be more or less similar to our interlocutor’s. These processes are simply regarded as accommodation. This paper sought to investigate how and why the characters in the African Magic Family Television drama series The Johnsons accommodate one another. The theoretical approach adapted for the analysis of the data was Howard Giles’ (1973) Communication Accommodation Theory. We discovered that some characters converged while others diverged during interactions. Communication Accommodation Theory projects every day situation in all forms of interaction in various social spheres. As long as people communicate, accommodation occurs. It is mostly an unconscious act but can be easily recognized.
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Keywords
Accommodation,, Convergence,, Divergence,, Over-accommodation