Paralinguistic Codes

Paralinguistics is concerned with how words are

spoken, i.e. the volume, the intonation, the
speed etc.. In intercultural communication
paralinguistic differences can be responsible for
, mostly subconscious or stereotyped, confusion.
Paralinguistic activity is communicative
behaviour that is non-linguistic and non-
verbal, but nevertheless coded.

Paralinguistic communication informs the

receiver about the speakers feelings,
attitude or emotional state.
The speed of talking equally is different in
various cultural settings.

For example:

-Finnish is spoken relatively slowly in comparison

to other European languages. This form of
speaking has often resulted in the Finish as being
regarded somewhat 'slow' and lax.

-The notion that Americans are talking "too loud" is

often interpreted in Europe as aggressive behavior or
can be seen as a sign of uncultivated or tactless
behavior.
INTRODUCTION
METHOD & TASK

Speakers encounter different kinds of "trouble"

that compromise the production of fluent speech. For
instance, sometimes they must decide on how to
conceptualize a referent or have problems retrieving a
word.
 In conversation, these problems routinely manifest
themselves "paralinguistically
--that is, not in the verbal, propositional "text" of
discourse but rather, as acoustic characteristics of the
speech signal that "surround" the text.

Included in this class of phenomena are hesitations, filled

pauses
(e.g., in English, "um" and "uh"), and variations in pitch
contour.
It is impolite to interrupt
others

The British speak in low,

measured tones, without
raising the voice.

Intonation conveys one has finished

speaking and, in British English, the
voice normally goes down at the end
of an affirmative sentence.
To see how paralinguistic features work,
try saying this sentence, She says shes
been in agony for three hours in four
different ways:

-As a straight statement

-As a question

-Indicating that you dont believe her

-Indicating that you are shocked that this has been

allowed to happen
 Notice how your intonation, emphasis and volume
differed each time, so that although you used exactly the
same words and grammar, you conveyed very different
meanings.

In British English, certain paralinguistic

features convey the speaker's intentions
and feelings, including politeness,
apology, anger, sorrow, anxiety,
uncertainty, interest or lack of it,
disagreement, criticism or urgency.
People who do not understand the
paralinguistic features of British English
may not perceive these messages and
may seem insensitive, rude or stupid.
Each language has its own
intonation or tune.
In British English it is normal for the
Voice to rise and fall in friendly
conversation.
And raising the tone of the whole
Changing the tune can also modify the sentence is often associated with
meaning of a phrase or sentence. A intense emotion such as anger,
raised tone at the end of a statement shock or excitement:
can turn it into a question: 'You've won the
'You've done your Nobel prize!' or 'You've flooded the
urine sample?' whole ground floor!'

In other languages a raised tone over the whole sentence may indicate
importance or friendliness rather than intense emotion.
 Turn-taking and listening signals

Conversation requires people to

take turns. Different languages
use different conventions to
indicate when one person has
finished and another can begin.

For example, person A may lower their

voice and slow down to indicate that it is
person B's turn; they may begin to repeat
themselves; or they may pause for person B
to begin.
 Silence

Silence is tolerated more in some cultures than in others.

It also means different things. In some cultures younger
and more junior people use silence to indicate respect
and affection.

In English culture silence is generally most acceptable

between people who are close; in other circumstances it
can feel awkward or rude and people may feel impelled
to speak