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Characterizing the Linguistic Chameleon: Personal and Social Correlates of Linguistic Style Accommodation

Muir, Kate; Joinson, Adam; Cotterill, Rachel; Dewdney, Nigel

Characterizing the Linguistic Chameleon: Personal and Social Correlates of Linguistic Style Accommodation Thumbnail


Authors

Kate Muir

Adam Joinson

Rachel Cotterill

Nigel Dewdney



Abstract

© 2016 International Communication Association Linguistic style accommodation between conversationalists is associated with positive social outcomes. We examine social power and personality as factors driving the occurrence of linguistic style accommodation, and the social outcomes of accommodation. Social power was manipulated to create 144 face-to-face dyadic interactions between individuals of high versus low power and 64 neutral power interactions. Particular configurations of personality traits (high self-monitoring, Machiavellianism and leadership, and low self-consciousness, impression management and agreeableness), combined with a low-power role, led to an increased likelihood of linguistic style accommodation. Further, greater accommodation by low-power individuals positively influenced perceptions of subjective rapport and attractiveness. We propose individual differences interact with social context to influence the conditions under which nonconscious communication accommodation occurs.

Citation

Muir, K., Joinson, A., Cotterill, R., & Dewdney, N. (2016). Characterizing the Linguistic Chameleon: Personal and Social Correlates of Linguistic Style Accommodation. Human Communication Research, 42(3), 462-484. https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12083

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 3, 2015
Online Publication Date Mar 17, 2017
Publication Date Jul 1, 2016
Deposit Date Dec 7, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Human Communication Research
Print ISSN 0360-3989
Electronic ISSN 1468-2958
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Issue 3
Pages 462-484
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12083
Keywords linguistics, language
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/905018
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12083
Additional Information Additional Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Muir, K., Joinson, A., Cotterill, R. and Dewdney, N. (2016) Characterising the linguistic chameleon: Personal and social correlates of linguistic style accommodation. Human Communication Research., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12083. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

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