10.3. Back-channeling
As mentioned before, back-channel cues serve to signal the addressee’s attitude toward the communicative exchange. The addressee’s response can be of various types: for example, the interlocutor can express an affirmative (a-b) or refusing (c) attitude toward the conversation content.
a. pe
b. yes
c. hold_on
Other functions of back-channelling signals concern the possibility for the addressee to comment on a statement, clarify an information, complete an utterance, and so forth. Back-channelling is also used for showing a phatic behaviour with respect to the interaction, displaying interest in the communicative exchange.
Back-channelling involves both manual and non-manuals strategies. The example below shows a short stretch of communicative exchange in which Signer A shows interest and confirms the content of Signer B’s comment.
A: yes yes know++ well understand++
B: know ix1 teach building++ various. ix1 1go++ ix1 teach done run 1go++ ix1 exist.not be_fed_up ix1 exist.not anymore ix1 pe not ix1 must 1ask3 t-r-i-b-e-l-l-i3 ix1 change
‘You know, I teach in several buildings...’ ‘Yes’ ‘...I keep running around.’ ‘Yes’ ‘When I finish teaching in a place I have to run to another one. No way!’ ‘I know, I know’ ‘I’m fed up, no way! I have to ask Tribelli...’ ‘Right.’ ‘...for a change.’ ‘I see, I see.’
