backchanneling
BAK-chan-uh-ling
Definition
The use of nonverbal signals or brief verbal interjections by a listener to indicate they are following a conversation and to encourage the speaker to continue.
Etymology
Derived from the phrase 'back channel,' which originally referred to a secondary or unofficial communication route. It was adopted by linguists in the 1970s to describe the secondary stream of feedback signals listeners provide while someone else is speaking.
In the news
In the article, the term describes how nodding functions as an active listening signal that maintains conversational flow without necessarily expressing agreement with the speaker's claims.
Psychology says people who nod while listening even when they disagree may be prioritizing conversational harmony
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times