Week 10: Communications Accomodations Theory

Communications Accommodations Theory (CAT), formerly known as the Speech Accomodation Theory, is about how people communicate between intercultural interaction. When we meet different people from different cultures, we tend to accommodate their speech patterns or language in order to serve as a bridge throughout the conversation. According to Liana Bairros de Souza:

"CAT intends to analyze the discursive variations, which are the results of speech adjustments or accommodations done by the speakers according to their personal characteristics, speech style, and specific linguistic usage." (p1083)

For this theory, I will use a clip from 'The Big Bang Theory' where Rajesh Koothrappali got a call from his blind date. Because of Raj's inability to speech to women, Howard Wolowitz took care of the blind date for him using an Indian accent.

The Big Bang Theory - Howard's Indian Accent (Click link to watch)

The communication strategy used here is convergence, which explained by Griffin (2012), "... is a strategy by which you adapt our communication behaviour in such a way as to become more similar to another person."(p395) Howard uses an Indian accent to accommodate the other party into an agreement on behalf of Raj. Perhaps if Howard didn't use the fake accent, there would be no agreement and Raj would be humiliated for not speaking to his own blind date.

In this clip, accommodation is shown when two people who are strangers meet. Cristian D. N. M. and Michael G. and Susan D. states that "Also, with very few exceptions, accommodation was only tested in the initial phase of the development of relation between people." (Introduction) Indeed, the motivation for this convergence is to seek the approval from the other person.

Because it is a blind date, Raj and the woman on the phone have never met with each other before. Since the woman assumes the one talking on the phone is Raj, there is a mutual convergence, thus form an agreement on the date.

Communications Accommodation theory helps us to understand why we speak the way we do, in regards to the situation and the person we encounter. It also helps us to distinguish the difference between convergence and divergence and how it could affect the motivation of an individual.

References:
Liana, B. de S. Communication Accomodation Theory (CAT) and The Teaching of English as a Second Language. Retrieved 2012, April 12 from http://www.cce.ufsc.br/~clafpl/96_LianaBairrosde_Souza.pdf

Griffin, E. (2012) A First Look At Communication Theory (8th Edition). New York. McGraw Hill.

Cristian, D. N. M. & Michael, G. & Susan, D. (2011). Mark my words! Linguistic style accommodation in social media. Hyderabad, India.