Communication accommodation theory Often people with different speaking styles communicate with each other, even from within the same nation. Basil Bernstein (1966) stated that the social situation, including communicative context (for example, a job interview versus a party) and social relationships (for example, peers versus status unequals), dictates the forms of speaking used in a particular situation. Bernstein suggested that in all cultures, there are different types of codes. A restricted code is a code used by people who know each other well, such as jargon or argot. Jargon refers to a vocabulary used by people within a specific profession or area (such as rugby players or mine workers), while argot refers to language used by those in a particular underclass, often to differentiate themselves from a dominant culture (e.g., prostitutes, prisoners). However, as people get to know each other better, even good friends can develop this sort of linguistic shorthand, speaking in terms or references that others do not understand. In an elaborated code , people spell out the details of meaning in the words in a way that those outside of the group can understand them. This switching back and forth between codes is called code-switching . Effective communicators should be able to speak in restricted codes appropriate to their context, but also know how to switch to elaborated code (for example, to include outsiders)—to change their vocabulary, level of formality, and so on, to match the audience and social occasion. Break it down Tell about a time that you moved back and forth between an elaborated and a restricted code. This might have happened at a workplace, if your work has a specific jargon, or even as you move between slang your friends use and the talk you use with parents or teachers. What are some ways that “code-switching” can be effective or ineffective in communication? How can we use an awareness of others around us (such as international students) to use code-switching appropriately to make their communication adjustment easier and to make them feel more accepted? Based on the notions of different codes within a community, as well as code-switching and other theoretical ideas, Howard Giles and his colleagues introduced communication accommodation theory (Giles & Noels, 2002; Gallois et al ., 2005). This theory predicts how people adjust their communication in certain situations, the factors that lead to such changes, and the outcomes of different types of changes. In the U.S. television series, Lost , through a series of flashbacks and present communication, we observe the speech of Jin Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim), a Korean man, the son of a fisherman, but hired by a wealthy restaurant owner. In some cases, his communication is respectful, indirect, deferential; in others, it is direct, friendly or aggressive, and nonverbally more expressive. In some cases, he might change his behavior to be more like that of the person with whom h.

1. Communication accommodation theory
Often people with different speaking styles communicate with
each other, even from within the same nation. Basil Bernstein
(1966) stated that the social situation, including communicative
context (for example, a job interview versus a party) and social
relationships (for example, peers versus status unequals),
dictates the forms of speaking used in a particular situation.
Bernstein suggested that in all cultures, there are different types
of codes. A restricted code is a code used by people who know
each other well, such as jargon or argot. Jargon refers to a
vocabulary used by people within a specific profession or area
(such as rugby players or mine workers), while argot refers to
language used by those in a particular underclass, often to
differentiate themselves from a dominant culture (e.g.,
prostitutes, prisoners). However, as people get to know each
other better, even good friends can develop this sort of
linguistic shorthand, speaking in terms or references that others
do not understand. In an elaborated code , people spell out the
details of meaning in the words in a way that those outside of
the group can understand them. This switching back and forth
between codes is called code-switching . Effective
communicators should be able to speak in restricted codes
appropriate to their context, but also know how to switch to
elaborated code (for example, to include outsiders)—to change
their vocabulary, level of formality, and so on, to match the
audience and social occasion.
Break it down Tell about a time that you moved back and forth
between an elaborated and a restricted code. This might have
happened at a workplace, if your work has a specific jargon, or
even as you move between slang your friends use and the talk
you use with parents or teachers. What are some ways that

2. “code-switching” can be effective or ineffective in
communication? How can we use an awareness of others around
us (such as international students) to use code-switching
appropriately to make their communication adjustment easier
and to make them feel more accepted?
Based on the notions of different codes within a community, as
well as code-switching and other theoretical ideas, Howard
Giles and his colleagues introduced communication
accommodation theory (Giles & Noels, 2002; Gallois et al .,
2005). This theory predicts how people adjust their
communication in certain situations, the factors that lead to
such changes, and the outcomes of different types of changes.
In the U.S. television series, Lost , through a series of
flashbacks and present communication, we observe the speech
of Jin Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim), a Korean man, the son of a
fisherman, but hired by a wealthy restaurant owner. In some
cases, his communication is respectful, indirect, deferential; in
others, it is direct, friendly or aggressive, and nonverbally more
expressive. In some cases, he might change his behavior to be
more like that of the person with whom he is speaking (
convergence ), and in others, he might make no changes in his
behavior ( maintenance ) or even highlight his own style to
mark it as different from that of the other group ( divergence ).
Jin can change his behavior in terms of nonverbal behavior
(distance, posture, touch, etc.), paralinguistic behavior (tone of
voice, rate of speech, volume, etc.), and verbal behavior (word
choice, complexity of grammar, topic of conversation, turn-
taking, etc.). Many things influence shifts in his speech, such as
the status and power of the other communicator, the situation,
who is present, communication goals (for example, to seem
friendly, or to show status or threat), the strength of his own
language in the community, and his communication abilities.