Turn-Taking and Backchannels

The activity of conversational turn-taking involves participation of the speaker and the auditor as well. When a person speaks the auditor does not remain mute and motionless as the he indicates active participation in the talk at hand through verbal and non-verbal means called backchannels. These backchannels occur simultaneously, sometimes overlapping the ongoing speaker's turn. This backchanneling is important in monitoring the quality of conversation as backchannels are non-interruptive, non-floor taking verbal and non-verbal responses produced intentionally to enhance the quality of the ongoing speaker's turns.