Image for the Speech Accommodation Theory

the Speech Accommodation Theory

The Speech Accommodation Theory suggests that people tend to adjust their speaking style—such as tone, speed, or vocabulary—when interacting with others. This adjustment can be to make communication more comfortable, to show similarity, or to build rapport. For instance, someone might slow down their speech when talking to a child or use more formal language with a boss. These adjustments help facilitate understanding and connection, and they often reflect an effort to either converge (be more similar) or diverge (highlight differences) in social interactions.