In socio-linguistics, researchers studying phonetic convergence have observed that when two people engage in a conversation, they often unconsciously adjust their speech patterns to match each other's accents. In a series of experiments, linguist Clara Vance analyzed conversations between speakers of different dialects. She found that speakers who reported a strong desire to build rapport with their partner exhibited a high degree of phonetic convergence. Conversely, speakers who expressed indifference or antagonism toward their partner showed no phonetic convergence at all. Which choice most logically completes the text?
- Aa conscious strategy that speakers employ to permanently alter their native speech patterns.
- Bthe primary determinant of whether a long-term social bond will form between conversational partners.
- influenced by the speakers' social motivation to connect with one another.Answer
- Dmore likely to occur when speakers share similar geographic backgrounds prior to the conversation.
Answer
The correct answer states that phonetic convergence is influenced by the speakers' social motivation to connect with one another.
The correct choice is directly supported by the text's description of the experimental results. Since speakers with a desire to build rapport converged while those expressing indifference or antagonism did not, it is logical to conclude that convergence is linked to a speaker's social motivation to connect.
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Logical Inferences