68 Part 1 Basic Communication Processes“I have a dog intelligent”). To communicate clearly in Spanish, an English
speaker must adjust.
Excellent grammar on its own will not automatically make you an outstand-
ing communicator. Telling your professor in perfect English that her style of
dress is a sorry flashback to the 1980s is still offensive and inappropriate. That’s
because competent communicators also consider the situational, relational, and
cultural contexts whenever they use language.Language Is Bound by Context
Imagine a scenario in which your cousin prattles on and on about her wild
spring break in Miami. Now imagine that she’s talking to your eighty-year-old
grandmother... at your niece’s fifth birthday party... in front of a group of
devoutly religious family members. These contrasting scenarios illustrate how
language is bound by contexts such as our relationship with the people pres-
ent, the situation we’re in, and the cultural factors at play. Does Grandma
really want to hear about your cousin’s behavior? Is it really OK to talk
about this at a little kid’s party? What about respecting the beliefs and
sensibilities of your family members?
Communication accommodation theory (CAT) explains how lan-
guage and identity shape communication in various contexts. CAT
argues that competent communicators adjust their language and nonver-
bal behaviors (see Chapter 4) to the person, group, and context
(Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991; Shepherd, Giles, &
LePoire, 2001; Soliz & Giles, 2010). We examine the rela-
tional, situational, and cultural contexts later in this chapter.
But for now, keep in mind that communicating competently
involves accommodating to context.The Functions of Language
One of the first phrases that eighteen-month-old Josie learned to use was
“thank you.” Had this toddler already mastered the rules of etiquette?
Was she just picking up a habit from her parents? Or was she learning that
certain phrases would help her get things she wants: a compliment, a smile, a
cookie?
We all learn isolated words and grammar as we acquire language. Josie, for
example, probably picked up the expression “thank you” from her parents, her
older brother, or her babysitter. But to become a competent communicator,
she must learn to use this and other symbols appropriately. If Josie uses “thank
you” as a name for her stuffed bear, she’s not using it appropriately, so she’s
not communicating effectively. Communication acquisition is the process
of learning individual words in a language as well as how to use that language
appropriately and effectively in various contexts. Just as Josie gets a smile from
her parents for saying “thank you,” using language competently helps us to
achieve our goals.IT’S PROBABLY a good
idea to avoid regaling your
grandmother with tales of
your crazy spring-break
shenanigans. Rubberball/Jupiter
Images