🤫 Private communication 🔁 Secondary data path 🗣️ Listener response

backchannel

6.6

Short sounds or small actions that a listener makes to show they are listening

noun
/ˈbækˌtʃænəl/

: respuesta breve

During the meeting, she gave frequent backchannel like nodding and saying 'mm-hmm' to show she was listening.

Examples

The teacher noticed the students' backchannel and felt reassured that they understood the lesson.
Good listeners often use backchannel to encourage the speaker to continue.
She gave a quick backchannel to show she was listening.
During the meeting, he often uses backchannels to indicate agreement.
During the conversation, she often used backchannel responses like nodding and saying 'uh-huh' to show she was engaged.
Good speakers appreciate backchannel responses from their audience, as these affirm that listeners are paying attention.
The moderator encouraged backchannel expressions among participants to enhance the discussion and show understanding.

Synonyms

to getcha

vsbackchannel

Informal

1 9.5

To understand what someone says

gives brief verbal or nonverbal signals during another's speech to show attention

Surface Forms

backchannel singular

backchannels plural

Morphology

backchannel = back + channel (semi-transparent) = back + channel

The components suggest a return/feedback channel, but the specific conversational meaning 'short listener responses (e.g., uh-huh, nods)' is a specialized discourse sense that may not be obvious to B1 learners.

Etymology

Backchannel comes from back ('in return' or 'from the listener') and channel ('a way' to give signals). So a backchannel is the short words or nods a listener gives while someone else speaks to show they are listening.