Concept Of Communication Theories

Two kinds of accommodation process are defined in the conversation theory, which are convergence as well as divergence. Convergence is the method in which individuals will be adapting to the communication traits of another individual for reducing the social differences. Divergence is the process that is contradicting the adaptation process and in this regard, the individual is emphasizing on the social difference as well as non-verbal differences amongst the interactants. Communication Accommodation Theory does the elaboration of the human tendency for adjusting their behaviour while making interactions. Individuals do the accommodation of their communication activities for getting approval as well as for setting a positive image before the interactants (Haslam 2014).

I had been to a shopping mall with a friend of mine to purchase a laptop from a well-known electronic goods dealer. After reaching the place, I zeroed in on three laptops that were within my budget. However, I got confused which one to select. Then, my friend suggested me to take the help of one of the sales person present there. Since, I was hesitating about what to say, my friend approached one of the sales person on my behalf. Then an interaction ensued between the salesperson and my friend. I listened very carefully to their interaction. The salesperson had a very good knowledge of the products and discussed very specifically about the pros and cons of the three laptops that I have finally selected. My friend was also asking him everything in details and he wanted to be convinced about the product that will be being purchased. Finally, after a broad interaction between my friend and the salesperson, I purchased a laptop. I was very satisfied with the purchase since, all the features that I wanted were there in the laptop, and the salesperson affirmed as well that it was the best amongst the three.

The conversation in between the salesperson and the friend of learner can well be evaluated with the help of conversation theory. Conversation theory is something, which helps make decisions based on a complex but a detailed conversation. Such conversation can also help make decision by just listening to it carefully. In the above example, the same thing had happened, as the learner was confused on which laptop to buy from the three selected. However, the conversation in between the learner’s friend and one of the salesperson there have made learner enabled in making decisions (Peters et al. 2014). Evaluating an event with the help of conversation theory does not require to be indulging in the conversation itself. In the above-mentioned example of conversation, the learner was finally able to make decisions. However, the learner was just concentrating on the conversation in between the learner’s friend and the sales person (Brummans et al. 2014). When an interaction takes place, there occurs the exchanging of individual concepts as well as evolving of the shared concepts.

The event can also be evaluated with the help of Communication Accommodation Theory, which states that people can reduce their social differences by having some communication or by just observing ad paying gesture to the communication. In the above example, the learner hesitated to have some talk with the salesperson. This is nothing but the social differences, which is stopping someone; however, at the same position, the learner’s friend was fluent and approachable to the salesperson. These social inequalities because of several reasons such as family background prevent the assimilation with the socially active groups (West and Turner 2013). Two kinds of accommodation process are defined in this theory, which are convergence as well as divergence. Convergence is the method in which individuals will be adapting to the communication traits of another individual for reducing the social differences. Divergence is the process that is contradicting the adaptation process and in this regard, the individual is emphasizing on the social difference as well as non-verbal differences amongst the interactants (Communication Theory, 2017).

In the above-mentioned example of events, the learner has concentrated on the conversation in between the learner’s friend and the salesperson. This attitude is nothing but the convergence on the communication, which enables the assimilation with the different kinds of social differences as that happened with the learner. The learner eventually tried tom vanish its inbuilt social differences by concentrating on the conversation. If the learner had not concentrated on the discussions in between the learner’s friend and the salesperson, it would have termed as divergence communication. This is because that the learner would have preferred the social differences to the convergence communication (Tofanelli 2012). Communication accommodation theory is affected by social psychology and is guided by four significant assumptions that are,

• To communicate there will be similarity as well as difference in the speech as well as behaviour. The traits that individuals are exhibiting are depending on our experiences as well as cultural backgrounds that individuals are growing up in
• There will happen the evaluation of conversation by acknowledging the perception relating to the speech as well as other’s behaviour. With the help of evaluation, individuals are deciding to accommodate as well as fitting in (Lantolf 2015)
• The determination of social status as well as belonging is done through language as well as behavioural aspects. When individuals are communicating they are required accommodating the behaviours of those that are in the higher social status than they are (Keyton 2017).
• Norms are guiding the process of accommodation that is varying in the degrees of suitability. Norms are defining the individual behaviours as well as they are anticipated in taking actions accordingly (Earley 2015).

In this assignment, communication theories are being used concerning the aspect of communication within two individuals at an electronics goods dealer shop. The theories that are influencing the conversation are conversation theory as well as communication accommodation theory. A conversation generally occurs in a contractual or normative structure. A person will be agreeing to take part in the conversation in respect of learning something. The two participants in an interaction are representing the cognitive knowledge structures and each is having a different perspective as well as role to perform.

Reference

Earley, A., 2015. Critical Theory in Consumer Research: Advancing the Conversation. In Consumer Culture Theory (pp. 77-87). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Gallois, C. and Giles, H., 2015. Communication accommodation theory. The international encyclopedia of language and social interaction.

Haslam, S.A., van Knippenberg, D., Platow, M.J. and Ellemers, N. eds., 2014. Social identity at work: Developing theory for organizational practice. Psychology Press.

Keyton, J., 2017. Communication in Organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4(1).

Lantolf, J.P., Thorne, S.L. and Poehner, M.E., 2015. Sociocultural theory and second language development. Theories in second language acquisition: An introduction, pp.207-226.

Markee, N., 2015. Overview of the Conversation Analysis Tradition. The Handbook of Classroom Discourse and Interaction, pp.369-372.

Miller, K., 2014. Organizational communication: Approaches and processes. Nelson Education.

Stacks, D.W. and Salwen, M.B. eds., 2014. An integrated approach to communication theory and research. Routledge.

Tofanelli, D., 2012. Communication in organizations. Authorhouse.

West, R. and Turner, L.H., 2013. Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application (2013 Ed.).

Brummans, B.H.J.M., Cooren, F., Robichaud, D. and Taylor, J.R., 2014. Approaches to the communicative constitution of organizations. The SAGE handbook of organizational communication: Advances in theory, research, and methods, pp.173-194.

Peters, H.P., Dunwoody, S., Allgaier, J., Lo, Y.Y. and Brossard, D., 2014. Public communication of science 2.0. EMBO reports, p.e201438979.

Communication Theory. 2017. Communication Accommodation Theory. [online] Available at: https://communicationtheory.org/communication-accommodation-theory/ [Accessed 9 May 2017].