Contextualization Cues in Conversation: A Comparative Study of Backchanneling and Turn-Taking in Arabic and English
Suad Abdulameer Meteab Alblebesh
1
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
Mehrdad Sepehri
2
(
English Department, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
)
Abdul-Hussain Kadhim Reishaan
3
(
English Language Department, Faculty of Languages, University of Kufa- Najaf, Iraq
)
Ehsan Rezvani
4
(
Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch,Isfahan, Iran
)
الکلمات المفتاحية: contextualization cues, backchanneling, turn-taking, Arabic, English, cross-cultural communication, discourse analysis.,
ملخص المقالة :
The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of contextualization cues, with a particular emphasis on backchanneling behaviors and turn-taking processes in discussions between speakers of Arabic and English. This research used a comparative descriptive research approach to investigate naturally occurring dialogues from prominent television talk shows in both languages. The dialogues were analyzed in both English and Spanish. One of the goals was to investigate verbal and non-verbal indicators that assist turn-taking. Other aims included determining the distinctions between backchanneling forms, functions, and socio-pragmatic interpretations. According to the findings, Arabic speakers make use of backchanneling cues, both verbal and non-verbal, more frequently than their English counterparts do. This suggests that Arabic speakers have a communication style that is more engaging. The study draws attention to the cultural repercussions of these disparities and emphasizes the significance of comprehending contextualization cues in order to achieve successful communication across cultural boundaries. Recommendations for increasing awareness of these cues in language teaching are also presented,
Arabic speakers make use of backchanneling cues, both verbal and non-verbal, more frequently than their English counterparts do. This suggests that Arabic speakers have a communication style that is more engaging. The study draws attention to the cultural repercussions of these disparities and emphasizes the significance of comprehending contextualization cues in order to achieve successful communication across cultural boundaries. Recommendations for increasing awareness of these cues in language teaching are also presented,
Al-Wer, E. (2017). Prosody and its role in communication: The case of Arabic speakers. Journal of Phonetics, 45(3), 217-232.
Antaki, C., & Widdicombe, S. (1998). Identities in talk. SAGE Publications.
Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind. University of Chicago Press.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.
Byrd, D., & Saltzman, E. (1998). The elastic phrase: Modeling the effects of prosodic phrasing on speech production. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 103(6), 3256-3275.
Croucher, S. M., et al. (2015). Cross-cultural communication in the workplace: The role of backchanneling in intercultural conversations. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 44(4), 325-345.
Duncan, S. (1972). Some signals and rules for taking speaking turns in conversations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 23(2), 283-292.
Gumperz, J. J. (1982). Discourse strategies. Cambridge University Press.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Press/Doubleday.
House, J. (2002). Communication and miscommunication in intercultural interactions. In L. S. S. T. Nakayama & R. T. V. Martin (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural communication (pp. 89-104). SAGE Publications.
Kendon, A. (1967). Some functions of gaze direction in social interaction. Acta Psychologica, 26, 22-63.
Liao, P., & Wen, Q. (2017). Non-verbal communication in intercultural settings: A comparative study of Arabic and English. International Journal of Intercultural Communication, 20(3), 287-301.
Maynard, S. K. (1997). The conversational use of backchannel feedback in Japanese and English. Multilingua, 16(3), 199-216.
Okamoto, T. (2015). Turn-taking and prosodic features in English and Japanese conversation. Journal of Pragmatics, 85, 1-13.
Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. Language, 50(4), 696-735.
Tannen, D. (1984). The pragmatics of listening. Social Science Information, 23(4), 631-649.
Zaki, S., & Kassem, A. (2022). A comparative study of backchanneling behaviors in Arabic and English talk shows. International Journal of Language and Culture, 33(2), 15-32.