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Communication accommodation theory is a theory of communication. This theory of communication is credited to be developed by Howard Giles. The theory explains changes in behavior that people use to communicate with their partner and the amount of attention that their partner is giving them in return. The overall outlook on the theory is that people change their style of speech depending on who they are communicating with. The theory has large ties in language and context. There are many different factors that influence the accommodation of speech that the message sender is applying to the message receiver. While the accommodation of the message sender's speech applies to the message receiver, the accommodation is often also applied due to a larger audience. There are multiple other theories of communication that apply and tie in with the communication accommodation theory. The communication accommodation theory is both interpersonal and intergroup communication according to the Wiley Online Library.

Communication accommodation is heavily focused on the communication behaviors as they tend to apply to people for social approval. Convergence and divergence are both used heavily in this theory. Convergence applies when someone changes their communication patterns or style to accommodate the message receiver. Hence, “Communication Accommodation Theory”. This is typically used due to social differences between the two communicators, but the message sender  is attempting to be able to apply a style to their speech and language to the message receiver to make them feel more engaged in the communication. In the scholarly article "Communication accommodation : A Brief Review of the Literature", by Ali Elhami, he explains that convergence is used to decrease the differences of speech and behavior patterns between the message sender and the message receiver. Divergence refers to when communicators make noticeable changes in their communication both verbally and nonverbally to fit in the social situation that they are involved in.

One of the largest components of the communication accommodation theory is similar attraction, which is also psychological. Similarity-attraction theory is that it is more likely for communicators to be attracted to each other when they have similar beliefs and attitudes, making it easier for them to communicate. Convergence through verbal and nonverbal communication is often used to relate to others better and more clearly. The communication sender uses convergence to apply to the communication receiver in hopes of socially connecting. Oftentimes an individual searching for more social approval will use convergence in hopes of applying to the communication receiver to be able to better relate to the communication receiver. Someone on the end of a communication message where the message sender is using a high amount of accommodation is likely to give the receiver more satisfaction due to the fact that the language, speech, and verbal cues are likely to more closely match and relate and their own, making the receiver feel more engaged. This is a tactic that is used frequently by people in all sorts of situations, sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional. One prime example of this is the world of dating. A message sender will likely try to use language that the receiver will understand and appreciate, making them feel as if the sender is giving a true effort to communicate with them and relate with them. In this article, we get a better understanding as to how the communication accommodation theory takes place and is used in the business world.

Another theory that ties into the communication accommodation theory is the social exchange process theory. The social exchange process theory states that communicators before they do anything think of the possible outcomes and repercussions of their courses of action, leading them to typically take action on whatever will bring them a higher reward and less repercussions.

The causal attribution theory also ties into the communication accommodation theory. The causal attribution theory is when people decode other people's behaviors and evaluate the individuals to try and find their true intentions behind their behaviors. Convergence can be used in the way the message sender applies to the message receiver. One example of this would be if a person from Spain who speaks Spanish was talking to a group of people from Columbia who spoke Spanish. Both groups of people would be speaking the same language, but the person from Spain who is trying to communicate and relate to the group from Columbia would likely be paying closer attention to their actual speech, making sure that the group from Columbia is able to understand and interpret the message that they are trying to communicate.

One process that also ties into the communication accommodation theory is intergroup distinctiveness. This is when members of different groups make comparisons to those of other groups such as possessions and attributes or even wealth. Individuals are trying to find a way to make them further away from the group and be more distinct.

Both convergence and divergence play a massive role in the communication accommodation theory. Convergence is when the message sender changes their speech patterns to be more of that of the message receiver, making the message receiver feel more engaged, comfortable, and applied to. One great example of convergence in the communication accommodation theory is when an adult speaks to a toddler. Oftentimes the adult, who is the message sender, will change their speech and the verbal communication to make the toddler feel more comfortable and so that the toddler, who is the message receiver, can better understand. One common error that can happen with convergence is overdoing it. Sometimes the message sender does not know the correct communication to apply to the person they are sending the message across to, which can result in social issues such as stereotyping. In the scholarly article, "Communication Accommodation Theory", by Howard Giles and Tania Ojay, they immediately explain with an example of how a professor would or wouldn't be using convergence and divergence speaking a foreign student.

Divergence is when a communicator makes their speech or behavior patterns appear to be more noticeable or distinct then that of the message receiver. Divergence is often used to assert dominance, as the message sender is not changing their speech patterns or behavior to apply to the message receiver. One example of this would be a teacher or professor speaking to students. Most of the time the teacher or professor maintains their typical speech patterns and does not fluctuate to try and relate to their students, asserting their dominance.