What are back-channelling signals?

What are back-channelling signals?

• A. Nonverbal signals
• B. Verbal signals such as really, uh-huh
• C. Written responses
• D. Paralinguistic cues only

Answer: (B)

Back-channeling signals are the short verbal utterances a listener uses while someone else is speaking to show they’re following along and to encourage the speaker to continue. They’re spoken interjections that keep the floor shared and signal engagement, such as “really” or “uh-huh.” While nonverbal responses like nodding can also show listening, the term in this context emphasizes the spoken cues that convey interest or acknowledgement in real time. Written responses aren’t part of live back-channeling, and paralinguistic cues describe tone and delivery rather than the actual words used. So, verbal signals such as really and uh-huh best capture the concept.