Backchannel (BC) realisations differ from language to language and between native (L1) and non-native (L2) speakers. Our study is the first comprehensive, cross-linguistic analysis of backchannels in L1 and L2 speakers. We recorded 20 dyads of Italian learners of German in both their L1 and L2 (9 beginner and 11 advanced) and 5 dyads of German native speakers performing a Map Task. We analysed backchannel rate, lexical type, function (marking passive recipiency, PR, or incipient speakership, IS) and prosodic realisation. BC rate was similar across languages in all groups and across proficiencies in L2 speech. Intonation was dependent on the lexical choice of BC and/or the function expressed. “Mm-hm” is mostly rising and marks PR. “Genau” is predominantly falling across functions. German “ja” and Italian “sì” were produced with more falling contours for IS and more rising contours for PR. Learners showed a high degree of variability overall, but clearly preferred German lexical BCs that were shared with their L1 Italian. Overall, we found a complex, non-arbitrary mapping between lexical type, function and intonation in both languages. For L2 speech, speaker-specific behaviour (across languages) has a stronger effect than level of proficiency.
Cite as: Sbranna, S., Möking, E., Wehrle, S., Grice, M. (2022) Backchannelling across Languages: Rate, Lexical Choice and Intonation in L1 Italian, L1 German and L2 German. Proc. Speech Prosody 2022, 734-738, doi: 10.21437/SpeechProsody.2022-149
@inproceedings{sbranna22_speechprosody,
author={Simona Sbranna and Eduardo Möking and Simon Wehrle and Martine Grice},
title={{Backchannelling across Languages: Rate, Lexical Choice and Intonation in L1 Italian, L1 German and L2 German}},
year=2022,
booktitle={Proc. Speech Prosody 2022},
pages={734--738},
doi={10.21437/SpeechProsody.2022-149}
}