Language Accommodation: the effect of code choice on L1 speaker’s likeability, politeness, and successfulness of communication.

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2023-06-21

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en

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The current study investigated the effect of code choice (English or Dutch) on an L1 speaker’s perceived likeability, the successfulness of communication, and politeness. Firstly, it was questioned whether virtuosity and deference maxim established by Scotton (1993), play a role while evaluating the speaker. In addition, it was examined whether participants’ language preferences and language proficiency have a significant effect on this relationship. The results of this study demonstrated a significant effect of both virtuosity and deference maxim when evaluating a speaker’s likeability and politeness. The influence of the virtuosity maxim was significant when evaluating the successfulness of communication. In addition, there was a significant effect of condition when evaluating speaker’s likability. Finally, there was a significant correlation found between speaker likeability and politeness, as well as between speaker politeness and successfulness of communication. The results of the study set the ground for future investigation and allow communication professionals to further examine the influence of maxims.

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Faculteit der Letteren