Convergence and Divergence in Telephone Conversations: A Case of Persian
People usually have a telephone voice, which means
they adjust their speech to fit particular situations and to blend in with
other interlocutors. The question is: Do we speak differently to
different people? This possibility has been suggested by social
psychologists within Accommodation Theory [1]. Converging toward
the speech of another person can be regarded as a polite speech
strategy while choosing a language not used by the other interlocutor
can be considered as the clearest example of speech divergence [2].
The present study sets out to investigate such processes in the course
of everyday telephone conversations. Using Joos-s [3] model of
formality in spoken English, the researchers try to explore
convergence to or divergence from the addressee. The results
propound the actuality that lexical choice, and subsequently, patterns
of style vary intriguingly in concordance with the person being
addressed.
[1] H. Giles, "Accent mobility: A model and some data," Anthropological
Linguistics, vol.15, pp. 87-105, 1973.
[2] J. Holmes, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. London: Longman,
1992.
[3] M. Joos, The Five Clocks. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World,
1961.
[4] J. L. Austin, How To Do Things With Words: The William James
Lectures Delivered at Harvard University in 1955, Oxford: Clarendon,
1962.
[5] P. Drew, and T. Curl, "Conversation Analysis," in Advances in
Discourse Studies, V. Bhatia, J. Flowerdew, and R. Jones, Eds.
London: Routledge, 2007, pp. 22-35.
[6] C. Gallois, T. Ogay, and H. Giles, "Communication accommodation
theory: A look back and a look ahead," in Theorizing about
International Communication, W. Gudykunst, Ed. CA: Sage, 2005,
pp.121-148.
[7] H. Tajfel, and J. Turner, "An integrative theory of intergroup conflict,"
in The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations, W. G. Austin, and S.
Worchel, Eds. CA: Wadsworth, Belmont, 1979, pp. 33-53.
[8] Bell, "Language Style as Audience Design," Language in Society, vol.
13, no. 2, pp. 145-204, 1984.
[9] W. Labov, Sociolinguistic Patterns. Philadelphia: University of
Philadelphia Press, 1979.
[10] J. Richards, J. Platt, and H. Weber, Longman Dictionary of Applied
Linguistics. Hong Kong: Longman, 1992.
[11] M. A. K. Halliday, Language as Social Semiotic: The Social
Interpretation of Language and Meaning. Maryland: University Park
Press, 1978.
[12] P. Trudgill, On Dialect: Social and Geographical Perspectives. New
York: New York University Press, 1983.
[13] R. Quirk, S. Greenbaum, G. Leech, and J. Svartvik, A Comprehensive
Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman, 1985.
[14] N. Coupland, Dialect in Use. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1980.
[15] C. Blanche-Beneviste, Le Francais Parle: Etudes Grammaticales. Paris:
Presse du CNRS, 1991.
[16] L. Kirk, "Communicative Competence and Proficiency Reconsidered,"
Paper presented at the Winter Statewide Foreign Language Conference
of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy, 1988.
[17] F. Heylighen, and J. Dewaele, Formality of Language: Definition,
Measurement, and Behavioral Determinants. Internal Report, Center
Leo Apostle, Free University of Brussels, 1999.
[18] S. Sarangi, and H. Slembrouck, Language Practice in Social Work:
Categorisation and Accountability in Child Welfare. London:
Routledge, 2006.
[19] H. G. Ladegaard, "Pragmatic cooperation revisited: Resistance and noncooperation
as a discursive strategy in asymmetrical discourses,"
Journal of Pragmatics, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 649-666, 2009.
[20] L. Beebe, and H. Giles, "Speech-accommodation theories: A discussion
in terms of second language acquisition," International Journal of The
Sociology of Language, vol. 46, pp. 5-32, 1984.
[21] H. P. Grice, "Logic and Conversation," in Syntax and Semantics: Vol.
3, P. Cole, and J. Morgan, Eds. New York: Academic Press, 1975, pp.
41-58.
[22] J. C. Richards, Teaching Listening and Speaking: From Theory to
Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
[1] H. Giles, "Accent mobility: A model and some data," Anthropological
Linguistics, vol.15, pp. 87-105, 1973.
[2] J. Holmes, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. London: Longman,
1992.
[3] M. Joos, The Five Clocks. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World,
1961.
[4] J. L. Austin, How To Do Things With Words: The William James
Lectures Delivered at Harvard University in 1955, Oxford: Clarendon,
1962.
[5] P. Drew, and T. Curl, "Conversation Analysis," in Advances in
Discourse Studies, V. Bhatia, J. Flowerdew, and R. Jones, Eds.
London: Routledge, 2007, pp. 22-35.
[6] C. Gallois, T. Ogay, and H. Giles, "Communication accommodation
theory: A look back and a look ahead," in Theorizing about
International Communication, W. Gudykunst, Ed. CA: Sage, 2005,
pp.121-148.
[7] H. Tajfel, and J. Turner, "An integrative theory of intergroup conflict,"
in The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations, W. G. Austin, and S.
Worchel, Eds. CA: Wadsworth, Belmont, 1979, pp. 33-53.
[8] Bell, "Language Style as Audience Design," Language in Society, vol.
13, no. 2, pp. 145-204, 1984.
[9] W. Labov, Sociolinguistic Patterns. Philadelphia: University of
Philadelphia Press, 1979.
[10] J. Richards, J. Platt, and H. Weber, Longman Dictionary of Applied
Linguistics. Hong Kong: Longman, 1992.
[11] M. A. K. Halliday, Language as Social Semiotic: The Social
Interpretation of Language and Meaning. Maryland: University Park
Press, 1978.
[12] P. Trudgill, On Dialect: Social and Geographical Perspectives. New
York: New York University Press, 1983.
[13] R. Quirk, S. Greenbaum, G. Leech, and J. Svartvik, A Comprehensive
Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman, 1985.
[14] N. Coupland, Dialect in Use. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1980.
[15] C. Blanche-Beneviste, Le Francais Parle: Etudes Grammaticales. Paris:
Presse du CNRS, 1991.
[16] L. Kirk, "Communicative Competence and Proficiency Reconsidered,"
Paper presented at the Winter Statewide Foreign Language Conference
of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy, 1988.
[17] F. Heylighen, and J. Dewaele, Formality of Language: Definition,
Measurement, and Behavioral Determinants. Internal Report, Center
Leo Apostle, Free University of Brussels, 1999.
[18] S. Sarangi, and H. Slembrouck, Language Practice in Social Work:
Categorisation and Accountability in Child Welfare. London:
Routledge, 2006.
[19] H. G. Ladegaard, "Pragmatic cooperation revisited: Resistance and noncooperation
as a discursive strategy in asymmetrical discourses,"
Journal of Pragmatics, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 649-666, 2009.
[20] L. Beebe, and H. Giles, "Speech-accommodation theories: A discussion
in terms of second language acquisition," International Journal of The
Sociology of Language, vol. 46, pp. 5-32, 1984.
[21] H. P. Grice, "Logic and Conversation," in Syntax and Semantics: Vol.
3, P. Cole, and J. Morgan, Eds. New York: Academic Press, 1975, pp.
41-58.
[22] J. C. Richards, Teaching Listening and Speaking: From Theory to
Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:63408", author = "Anna Mirzaiyan and Vahid Parvaresh and Mahmoud Hashemian and Masoud Saeedi", title = "Convergence and Divergence in Telephone Conversations: A Case of Persian", abstract = "People usually have a telephone voice, which means
they adjust their speech to fit particular situations and to blend in with
other interlocutors. The question is: Do we speak differently to
different people? This possibility has been suggested by social
psychologists within Accommodation Theory [1]. Converging toward
the speech of another person can be regarded as a polite speech
strategy while choosing a language not used by the other interlocutor
can be considered as the clearest example of speech divergence [2].
The present study sets out to investigate such processes in the course
of everyday telephone conversations. Using Joos-s [3] model of
formality in spoken English, the researchers try to explore
convergence to or divergence from the addressee. The results
propound the actuality that lexical choice, and subsequently, patterns
of style vary intriguingly in concordance with the person being
addressed.", keywords = "Convergence, divergence, lexical formality, speechaccommodation.", volume = "4", number = "3", pages = "318-7", }
