Manual backchannel responses in signers' conversations in Swedish Sign Language. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mesch, Johanna
• Is Part Of: Language & communication. Volume 50(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Backchannel signal -- Turn-taking -- Sign language conversation -- Swedish sign language; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Périodiques; Linguistique -- Périodiques; Communication; Linguistics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.langcom.2016.08.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-5309

Abstract

Abstract: The current study aims to determine the manual backchannel responses that signers use in Swedish Sign Language discourse by analyzing a subset of the SSL Corpus. The investigation found 20% of the backchannel responses in this data to be manual. The study focuses on the manual backchannel responses that consist of signs (mostly the sign gloss YES) and gesture-like signs (PU "palms up"), and other manual activities, which can occur at a relatively low height in signing space. With respect to age groups, younger signers engage in more weak manual activity than older signers. Highlights: Manual backchannel responses consist of signs, gesture-like signs and other manual activities. Manual backchannel responses occur mostly at a relatively low height in signing space. Younger signers engage in more weak manual activity than older signers in term of the backchanneling function.