Communication Accommodation Theory Examples

Introduction

In this task you will continue to look at Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT). By using the qualitiative methodology of content analysis, you will look at a series of visual and written sources to analyse and interpret the themes to then make a judgement about whether the source is an example of convergence and divergence.

You will need to view the sources or the links to the sources and record your answer, whether or not they are examples of convergence or divergence. You will need to support your answers by referring to elements in the sources and how that refers to CAT.

You can work on the webquest in pairs or as an individual, but you must record your answers individually.

Enjoy!

Task

1. View the ten sources

2. Record your answers using a Word document.

3. Analyse the sources. Is the source an example of convergence or divergence? Why do you think so?

4. Explain what elements in the source can support your answer.

5. The creator of CAT, Giles (1971) believes that listeners (or viewers, in this case) regard convergence as positive and divergence as negative. Do these sources subsribe to that thought? Or are there any sources here where that may not be the case?

Process

Source 1.

Still shot from the tv show How I Met Your Mother (2008)

Source 2.

Clip from the movie Mean Girls (2004)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9H12xTl_98

Source 3.

An example from Holmes (as cited in Thanasoulas, 1999):

A number of people who were learning Welsh were asked to help with a survey. In their separate booths in the language laboratory, they were asked a number of questions by an RP-sounding English speaker. At one point this speaker arrogantly challenged the learners' reasons for trying to acquire Welsh which he called a "dying language which had a dismal future". In responding to this statement the learners generally broadened their Welsh accents. Some introduced Welsh words into their answers, while others used an aggressive tone. One woman did not reply for a while, and then she was heard conjugating Welsh verbs very gently into the microphone.

Source 4.

Clip from the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34MNClnEPLo

Source 5.

Clip from the movie Rush Hour (1998)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rl9Cxc7uZA

Source 6.

Watercolour painting by Larry Lombardo