paralanguage
[ par-uh-lang-gwij ]
nounLinguistics.
vocal features that accompany speech and contribute to communication but are not generally considered to be part of the language system, as vocal quality, loudness, and tempo: sometimes also including facial expressions and gestures.
Origin of paralanguage
1- Compare body language.
Words Nearby paralanguage
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for paralanguage
paralanguage
/ (ˈpærəˌlæŋɡwɪdʒ) /
noun
linguistics nonverbal elements in speech, such as intonation, that may affect the meaning of an utterance
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse