Backchannel ( linguistics ) - wikipedia Backchannel ( linguistics ) In linguistics, backchannels are listener responses in a primarily one - way communication. These can be both verbal and non-verbal in nature, and are frequently phatic expressions, primarily serving a social or meta - conversational purpose, rather than involving substantial two - way communication. 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. A non-lexical backchannel is a vocalized sound that has little or no referential meaning but still verbalizes the listener 's attention. In English, sounds like `` uh - huh '' and `` hmm '' serve this role. Phrasal backchannels most commonly assess or acknowledge a speaker 's communication with simple words or phrases ( for example, `` Really ? '' or `` Wow ! '' in English ). Substantive backchannels consist of more substantial turn - taking by the listener and usually manifest as asking for clarification or repetitions. The term was coined by Victor Yngve in 1970, in the following passage : `` In fact, both the person who has the turn and his partner are simultaneously engaged in both speaking and listening. This is because of the existence of what I call the back channel, over which the person who has the turn receives short messages such as ' yes ' and ' uh - huh ' without relinquishing the turn. '' Backchannel communication is present in all cultures and languages, though frequency and use may vary. Confusion or distraction can occur during an intercultural encounter if participants from both parties are not accustomed to the same backchannel norms. See also Aizuchi References Jump up ^ White, Sheida. `` Backchannels across cultures : A study of Americans and Japanese. '' Language in society ( 1989 ) : 59 - 76. Jump up ^ Li, Han. `` Patterns of Backchannel Responses in Canadian - Chinese Conversations '' Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, TBA, San Francisco, CA, May 23, 2007 < Not Available >. 2009 - 02 - 04 < http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p169308_index.html > Jump up ^ Young, Richard F. and Jina Lee. `` Identifying units in interaction : Reactive tokens in Korean and English conversations. '' Journal of Sociolinguistics ( 2004 ) : 380 - 407. Jump up ^ Yngve, Victor. `` On getting a word in edgewise, '' page 568. Papers from the Sixth Regional Meeting ( of the ) Chicago Linguistic Society, 1970. Jump up ^ Ward, Nigel G. and Yaffa Al Bayyari. `` American and Arab Perceptions of an Arabic Turn - Taking Cue. '' Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology ( 2010 ) : 270 - 275. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Backchannel_(linguistics)&oldid=727605336 '' Categories : Linguistics Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 30 June 2016, at 02 : 12. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: backchanneling cues such as yes and uh-huh come under which stage of listening
Answer: non-lexical