Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT)

Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) explains how people redesign their communication to be understandable to others. The theory considers the social consequences of the adjustments. It identifies the differences between people and finds strategies they can apply to accommodate them in communication. Effective communicators should ensure that the needs and expectations of the listeners are considered. Adjustment can occur concerning speech rates. Language, volumes, and dialects (Bernhold & Giles, 2019). CAT applies in various situations; for instance, a young speaker might increase their audibility when speaking to an older person with hearing challenges. The speaker should maintain a cool tone when talking to a person who easily gets annoyed. The listeners might get communication satisfaction with the speaker and understand the message without much effort. Listeners develop a positive attitude after knowing the speaker has positive communication motives.