“Look me, hwε ha, ofainε kwεmɔ biε aha mi fioo!!”: Codeswitching at inter-ethnic traditional marriage ceremonies in southern Ghana

Multilingua ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-311
Author(s):  
Anastasia Nuworsu ◽  
Grace Diabah ◽  
Evershed Kwasi Amuzu
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Ethnography Of Communication ◽  
Linguistic Distance ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
Traditional Marriage ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
Social Messages ◽  
University Of Ghana

AbstractThis paper investigates the use of codeswitching at traditional inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies in the southern part of Ghana. The study site is Accra, the multilingual capital of Ghana which is located in the south of the country, and was selected due to the high frequency of inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies which take place there. The data analysed were audio-visual recordings of interactions at such ceremonies, collected, by (Nuworsu, Anastasia 2015: Language use in inter-ethnic marriage ceremonies in Greater Accra. MPhil. thesis, Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Legon.). They were complemented with observations made at the event grounds, as well as follow up interviews with key actors during and after the events. The theoretical framework employed is based on a combination of Giles’ Communication Accommodation Theory, Hymes’s Ethnography of Communication and Myers-Scotton‘s Markedness Model. It is found that bilinguals who speak on behalf of families participating in the ceremonies often use codeswitching in innovative ways to convey various social messages. Significant uses were: (i) speakers use codeswitching to converge toward the speech of their in-laws in a bid to decrease the social and linguistic distance between the two families and (ii) they use it as a divergence strategy to, for instance, increase the social and linguistic distance between them when they wish to accentuate an ideological, or any other, difference between them. Overall, the study contributes towards insights about inter-group language practices in multilingual African settings, especially in urban areas.

scholarly journals Vegan Rhetoric: Online Discussion Platforms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalise Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Vegan Diet ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Accommodation Theory

This MRP addresses the rhetoric used in regard to veganism by analyzing comments made within forums on the social media platform Reddit. It focuses on analyzing the rhetoric used by individuals who follow a vegan diet, as well as the response rhetoric from those who are anti-vegan and/or do not follow a vegan diet. This MRP also addresses the stigma present towards vegans and veganism as a whole. In addition, this MRP discusses why social media is being used to investigate vegan rhetoric and what strategies both sides of the veganism debate use to advocate their viewpoint. The objective of this MRP is to examine the normalization and stigmatization of veganism online as well as the role that the rhetoric surrounding veganism plays for both vegans and non-vegans on social media. The literature review addresses the overarching themes of vegan rhetoric, with a focus on the differing rhetoric used by vegans and non-vegans. Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) was used as a theoretical framework for addressing the research questions. The study explores the normalization and stigmatization of veganism online and examines the potential for rhetorical consistencies and patterns that can be found within the rhetoric surrounding veganism on an online forum. The findings reveal that veganism is both stigmatized and normalized online. The analyses demonstrate that veganism is stigmatized more than it is normalized. Rhetorical consistencies and patterns were found to be commonly used by both parties to support their position in the veganism debate including strategies involving environmental, health, and ethical rhetoric. In future studies, it would be of interest to expand the data collection in order to find evolving keywords and patterns surrounding online vegan rhetoric.

scholarly journals Vegan Rhetoric: Online Discussion Platforms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalise Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Vegan Diet ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Accommodation Theory

This MRP addresses the rhetoric used in regard to veganism by analyzing comments made within forums on the social media platform Reddit. It focuses on analyzing the rhetoric used by individuals who follow a vegan diet, as well as the response rhetoric from those who are anti-vegan and/or do not follow a vegan diet. This MRP also addresses the stigma present towards vegans and veganism as a whole. In addition, this MRP discusses why social media is being used to investigate vegan rhetoric and what strategies both sides of the veganism debate use to advocate their viewpoint. The objective of this MRP is to examine the normalization and stigmatization of veganism online as well as the role that the rhetoric surrounding veganism plays for both vegans and non-vegans on social media. The literature review addresses the overarching themes of vegan rhetoric, with a focus on the differing rhetoric used by vegans and non-vegans. Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) was used as a theoretical framework for addressing the research questions. The study explores the normalization and stigmatization of veganism online and examines the potential for rhetorical consistencies and patterns that can be found within the rhetoric surrounding veganism on an online forum. The findings reveal that veganism is both stigmatized and normalized online. The analyses demonstrate that veganism is stigmatized more than it is normalized. Rhetorical consistencies and patterns were found to be commonly used by both parties to support their position in the veganism debate including strategies involving environmental, health, and ethical rhetoric. In future studies, it would be of interest to expand the data collection in order to find evolving keywords and patterns surrounding online vegan rhetoric.

Playback: An Investigation of the Discursive Implications and the Pragmatic Functions of Repetition in Traditional Chinese Medical Consultations

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 716-737
Author(s):  
Ying Jin ◽  
Bernadette Maria Watson
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Strategy ◽  
Medical Discourse ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
Instrumental Task ◽  
Medical Interviews ◽  
Accommodation Theory ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medical

The current study examined a role-related difference in the use of playback (one form of repetition) in medical discourse. We adopted a language and social psychology approach and invoked communication accommodation theory (CAT) to explore this discourse. Thirty doctor/older adult dyads were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings suggested that the deployment of repetition is a strategy used by the addresser to either complement or converge to the other interlocutor, in order to ensure that the medical instrumental task is efficiently accomplished and interpersonal rapport is established. Our results show that discourse management is the dominant strategy used by speakers when playing back the other’s utterances. Our analysis also demonstrates that CAT strategies work interdependently. We conclude that CAT is a valuable framework to elucidate the dynamics of, and the social psychological processes underlying, the practice of repetition in medical interviews.

Language barriers in healthcare delivery

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Akrofi Ansah ◽  
Mercy Adzo Klugah
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Doctor Patient Communication ◽  
Accommodation Theory

The relevance of language for quality healthcare delivery cannot be overemphasised. Within the framework of communication accommodation theory, this paper discusses language barriers in expatriate doctor–patient communication in three state-owned hospitals in Ghana, and the strategies employed by the medical personnel to bridge communication gaps. The study design is qualitative and the data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 16 expatriate doctors, three nurses and three patients. Furthermore, observation of five patient–doctor interactions was undertaken and notes taken. Both datasets were then analysed using the qualitative conventional content analysis approach. The findings revealed that the expatriate doctors employed convergence strategies such as ad hoc interpreters, gestures, picture charts and electronic dictionaries to deal with language barriers. The study is expected to stimulate further research into innovative ways of dealing with language barriers in expatriate doctor–patient interactions.

scholarly journals Managing patient aggression in healthcare: Initial testing of a communication accommodation theory intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-81
Author(s):  
Rachyl Pines ◽  
Howard Giles ◽  
Bernadette Watson
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Initial Test ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Patient Cooperation ◽  
Accommodation Theory

Abstract Patient-perpetrated workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare is common. Although communication skills trainings are helpful, they may be strengthened by having a theoretical framework to improve replicability across contexts. This study developed and conducted an initial test of a training framed by Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) using longitudinal mixed-methods surveys of healthcare professionals in an American primary care clinic to increase their self-efficacy, patient cooperation, and use of CAT strategies to de-escalate patient aggression. Results of the intervention indicate that the CAT training significantly increased professionals’ efficacy and reported patient cooperation over time. Findings showed that those who reported using more of the five CAT strategies also reported situations that they were able to de-escalate effectively. This initial test of a CAT training to prevent WPV demonstrates promise for the applicability of CAT strategies to de-escalate patient aggression, and the need to scale and test these trainings in settings that experience high WPV levels.

scholarly journals The Applicability of Communication Accommodation Theory and Empathy Strategy in Speeches ——A Case Study from Remarks by Ambassador Cui Tiankai in 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhuan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Communication Accommodation ◽  
Communication Accommodation Theory ◽  
Communication Practice ◽  
Accommodation Theory

This paper is mainly based on the topic of whether the theory of Communication Accommodation (CAT) is applicable in speeches and how the Empathy strategy is applied in speeches. A case study from a speech by Ambassador Cui Tiankai at the Welcome Dinner Hosted by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is analyzed as a sample of intercultural communication practice. The research analyzes and explores the origin of the CAT and its related theories as well as elaborates on similarity-attraction theory, social exchange theory, causal attribution, social identity theory and some major strategies such as convergence, divergence and over-convergence for the purpose of the applicability of CAT in speeches. What is more, empathy as an important strategy is illustrated in detail. After a careful analysis, it has been proved that it is effective and practical for the application of CAT in speeches. Furthermore, the application of Empathy strategy in speeches will create a rewarding outcome.

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