What makes us subconsciously mimic the accents of others in conversation

When you imitate the speech of others, there's a thin line between whether it's a social asset or faux pas. Franklin McMahon/Corbis via Getty Images

Have you ever caught yourself talking a little bit differently after listening to someone with a distinctive way of speaking?

Perhaps you’ll pepper in a couple of y’all’s after spending the weekend with your Texan mother-in-law. Or you might drop a few R’s after binge-watching a British period drama on Netflix.