What term describes the informal process of adjusting communication style in a conversation?

The correct term that describes the informal process of adjusting one's communication style in a conversation is convergence. Convergence refers to the way individuals modify their speech patterns, tone, and other communicative behaviors to become more similar to those of their conversational partner. This often occurs to enhance social bonds and ensure mutual understanding.

When people converge in their communication, they may adopt similar vocabulary, accents, or speech rates, allowing for a more cohesive interaction. This process plays a significant role in effective communication and can strengthen relationships by signaling empathy and connection.

While accommodation, assimilation, and divergence are important concepts in communication, they refer to different dynamics. Accommodation can imply a broader range of adjustments one might make in a conversation, but it does not specifically denote the informal adjustments in style associated with convergence. Assimilation suggests that individuals may fully adopt the cultural norms of another group, which is not synonymous with adjusting communication styles in real-time. Divergence, on the other hand, refers to the process of emphasizing differences in speech or behavior, which is the opposite of what convergence represents.