Linguistics - Paralinguistics

English linguistics 

Paralinguistics Features 

English Linguistics 

Nonverbal communication can be defined as communication. without the use of Language. In other words, it consists of symbols that are not words. 

Like Verbal. Communication , nonverbal communication is used to share meanings with others.

One fundamental category of nonverbal communication is PARALANGUAGE.

  These sounds are called paralinguistic features. Prefix ( para ) means ( alongside / parallel to ) so para-linguistic is means ( alongside the words or language ) .They are the non-verbal sounds and non-word characteristics of language. 

  Paralinguistic features are vocal features or cues. They encompass all of the oral aspects of sound except words themselves.

  Paralanguage is nonverbal communication that is in the form of vocalizations that run alongside words in articulated verbal speech. 

Paralanguage includes sounds that are not words. 

Paralinguistic features include the following vocal features or cues:

Volume: The degree of loudness or softness of voice Is the voice loud or quiet?

Pitch: The degree of highness or lowness of a speaking voice: Is the voice high or low?

Rate or rhythm: How rapidly or slowly one speaks; does the voice speak at a quick pace or at a slow pace?

Quality or texture: The unique resonance or texture of voice, such as huskiness, nasality, or creakiness

Hesitations: Nonverbal vocalizations or nonword sounds such as um, er, mm, mmh, erm, ahh, and the like 

Pauses: (or the absence of sound) are silent breaks between words.

Enunciation: Whether or not the vocal organs ( teeth, mouth and tongue ) coordinate to produce word with distinction and clarity, so that are understood by others, a person who mumbles has an enunciation problem.

Vocalizations: Such as laughing, coughing, crying, screaming, clearing one’s throat (whether genuine or fake).

Silence: The lack of sound.

  The above-mentioned paralinguistic features are considered, along with language, as an important aspect of the messages that are communicated. These vocal cues are important because they frequently convey information about a speaker’s characteristics (such as age, gender, body type), emotional state, and personality characteristics.

For example: 

 People oftentimes join a high pitched voice with someone who is female, younger, and/or smaller. The pitch of someone’s voice can also be influenced by moods and emotions. When people become  excited or fearful, their pitch becomes high. 

  We may visualize someone who speaks quickly as being nervous or someone who uses a loud voice as being big. People who tend to speak deliberately and slowly may be perceived as having high credibility or as being high status individuals. 

Personality characteristics also have been related to vocal signal:

  Vocal signal can helps a public speaker establish credibility with clarify the message and au audience. Enunciation is especially important in public speaking especially in front of a large audience. A speed speaking rate may indicate that a speaker is nervous and is attempting to conclude his or her speech. Variation in volume could be use to add emphasis. Pauses can be used in a public speech to arouse audience interest and to create dramatic effect.

  Silence serves as a type of non-verbal communication when we do not use utterances or words to convey meanings. Silence is a complex behavior and it can signal a variety of meanings. What meanings are assigned to a person’s silence? Have you experienced the (silent treatment)from someone? Silence can be powerful because the person using silence may be refusing to engage in communication at all. Otherwise, we can use silence to regulate the flow of our conversations and as with other types of nonverbal communication, context plays an importance roles for interpreting the meaning of silence.