Convergence Essay Sample

The term convergence caught my attention because I was surprised I practice it unconsciously all the time. Adler (149) explains the term convergence, and from the definition, the reader understands it as a situation whereby a speaker alters their speech depending on several variables such as setting, participants, purpose, setting, topic, and so on. Harwood (74) explains the essence of divergence in communication in details via the tenets of communication accommodation theory. Often, people from different language and cultural background try to alter their speech to increase communication efficiency with their audience. At times, the alteration is utilized when a speaker want to gain approval and maintain social identity with the audience. Precisely, (76) writes “convergence is about conformity to language and speech style norms through self-categorization I have personal experience in a situation whereby I interacted with a student from a different language background. Her English language ability was limited and our communication was a kind of a trial and error because we were straining to communicate despite the language barrier. Convergence is about altering one’s speech to include others in the communication. The deliberate attempt to speak slowly when conversing with a foreigner is an unconscious way of trying to accommodate them in the conversation. Another example is whereby whenever I interact with children, I find myself engaging them in baby talk, even though some are fluent in the Language. However, reading Adler (149) explanation I know the divergence habit is an automatic response by the brain to cultivate a better environment to promote communication. Furthermore, I can now explain my desire to learn a foreign language that is simply because I want to be diversifying my communication ability with as many people as possible.

Works Cited

Adler, Ronald B. Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication. Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
Harwood, Jake. Intergroup Communication: Multiple Perspectives. New York : Lang, 2005. Print.