Text C Paralanguage and silence
Note: There are two videos in this text.
(1) Paralanguage (Textbook p.177)
Paralanguage is the set of audible sound that accompany oral language to augment its meaning. It includes the nonverbal vocal qualities such as intonation, rate, pitch, stress, volume, accents, laughing, crying and shouting, which interrupt or temporarily take the place of speech and affect the meaning of a message.
For example:
John, you love Mary. (declarative statement of fact)
John, you love Mary? (questions; I thought you loved someone else)
John, you love Mary! (excitement)
John, you love Mary? (I thought Bill loved her)
John, you love Mary? (I thought it was just liking)
Clearly, the underlined words in the above sentences don't carry the menings. However, we interpret the feelings and emotions of the speaker by perceiving the variations of vocal qualities.
(2) Silence (Textbook p.178)
Silence is a form of nonverbal communication that can be interpreted invarious ways depending on the situation. silence cues may be interpreted as evidence of agreement, lack of interest, injured feelings, or contempt. the intercultural implications of silence are as diverse as those of other nonverbal cues.