In a multilingual contact zone, what causes speakers to exhibit phonological convergence in their speech?

💡 Explanation

Phonological convergence occurs because speakers subconsciously adjust their pronunciation to resemble that of their interlocutors through phonetic adaptation mechanisms. This accommodation fosters social cohesion rather than a conscious decision. Therefore, the subconscious adaptation is the main driver, rather than intentional abandonment of identity or processing limitations.

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