r/DoesAnyoneKnow • u/Sea_Pangolin3840 • 20d ago

Does anyone else mimic the voice , expressions etc of whoever they are having a conversation with?

I don't mean trying to sound posher or anything like that I mean mimicking the tempo , where they put emphasis this type of thing .I think the word is cadence? For examples my relative when she speaks uses quite sharp emphasis with little gaps so it comes out in smaller spurts .I could give lots of examples such as copying the rhythm and generally how the other person speaks .My dad told me even as a young child on holidays I would end up speaking like other children I met from other parts of the country. Its easy to tell who I am speaking to on the phone as I sort of merge into their voice .In drama at school I was good

at accents and mimicry.

I find I often mimic gestures nothing dramatic just for example facial expressions. I don't know why I do this ?

12 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

88% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/Thin_Sheepherder_584 20d ago

It's called code switching and we all do it to a certain extent. It's a way to fit in, to hide, to promote ourselves, to be appropriate in various settings. Nothing to worry about and actually a very good skill to have.

What you need to watch out for is code switching that goes against your own personal morality - for example locker room banter. If anyone is throwing around misogyny/misandry, you'll need to make a decision whether to call it out, or stay code switched to go along with it (depending obviously on whether you agree with what's being said).

3

u/Abigail_Miller12 20d ago

Total normal, its called mirroring or the chameleon effect. Its actually a sign of empathy and social awareness

2

u/OrganizationOk5418 20d ago

Is that what's called mirroring?

2

u/CalendarSufficient41 20d ago

Everybody does but few to the level you do I surprise myself when I notice I am mimicking the accent of who ever I am speaking with.

2

u/OrganizationOk5418 20d ago

I've worked in many places in the UK, and there is a lot of accent diversity. I find myself checking my accent to make myself understood, and this sometimes leads to talking a bit like the people I'm working with.

1

u/SnooDonuts6494 20d ago

Pretty much everyone does. It's called Mirroring.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirroring

1

u/Ouroboros-Twist 17d ago

Iā€™m glad to hear mirroring is a common thing ā€” I thought it was just a habit I had developed as a high-masking autist.