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Oral Production II: Unit 2 Discourse Analysis - Speech Features Back-Channels

Hi, how was your day? Speaker: It was pretty long. I had a lot of meetings and paperwork to get through. By the end of it I was exhausted!

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Jacqueline Gallardo
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50 views

Oral Production II: Unit 2 Discourse Analysis - Speech Features Back-Channels

Hi, how was your day? Speaker: It was pretty long. I had a lot of meetings and paperwork to get through. By the end of it I was exhausted!

Uploaded by

Jacqueline Gallardo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Oral Production II: Unit 2

Discourse Analysis - Speech Features

Back-Channels

Definition:

In conversation, a noise, gesture, expression, or word used by a listener to indicate that he


or she is paying attention to a speaker.

According to H.M. Rosenfeld (1978), the most common back-channel signals are head
movements, brief vocalizations, glances, and facial expressions, often in combination.

In Linguistics, backchannels are listener responses that can be both verbal and non-verbal
in nature.

The term backchannel was designed to imply that there are two channels of communication
operating simultaneously during a conversation. The predominant channel is that of the
speaker who directs primary speech flow. The secondary channel of communication (or
backchannel) is that of the listener which functions to provide continuers or assessments,
defining a listener's comprehension and/or interest.

Due to research development in recent years, backchannel responses have been expanded to
include sentence completions, requests for clarification, brief statements, and non-verbal
responses and now fall into three categories: non-lexical, phrasal, and substantive.

1. A non-lexical backchannel is a vocalized sound that has little or no referential


meaning but still verbalizes the listener's attention.
2. Phrasal backchannels most commonly assess or acknowledge a speakers
communication with simple words or phrases (for example, "Really?" or "Wow!" in
English)
3. Substantive backchannels consist of more substantial turn taking by the listener and
usually manifest as asking for clarification or repetitions.

Backchannel communication is present in all cultures and languages though frequency and
use may vary. Confusion and/or distraction can occur during an intercultural encounter if
participants from both parties are unfamiliar or unaccustomed to the backchannel norms of
the opposing communicator.
Examples and Observations:

 Fabienne: I was looking at myself in the mirror.


Butch Coolidge: Uh-huh?
Fabienne: I wish I had a pot.
Butch Coolidge: You were lookin' in the mirror and you wish you had some pot?
Fabienne: A pot. A pot belly. Pot bellies are sexy.
(Pulp Fiction, 1994)

 "We . . . show we are listening and do not wish to interrupt by giving back-channel
signals, such as yes, uh-huh, mhm, and other very short comments. These do not
constitute turns or attempts to take the floor. On the contrary, they are indications
that we expect the speaker to continue."
(R. Macaulay, The Social Art: Language and Its Uses. Oxford University Press,
2006)

 Karen Pelly: Brent might learn a little lesson if his security camera got stolen.
Hank Yarbo: Yeah.
Karen Pelly: By someone.
Hank Yarbo: Hmm.
Karen Pelly: Someone he trusts.
Hank Yarbo: Yeah, I suppose.
Karen Pelly: Someone he would never suspect.
Hank Yarbo: Yeah.
Karen Pelly: Plot the camera's motion and approach from a blind spot. You could
pull it off.
("Security Cam," Corner Gas, 2004)

Complete a brief dialogue/conversation when you use all the types of back-channels. Write
about 8-10 lines.

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