Backchannel Behavior in Interview Discourse: A contrastive study between Japanese and Indonesian

Abstract

Many studies of backchannels have focused mainly on verbalized backchannels, such as `soudesuka`, `hontou`, `really`, `yeah` etc. But, in this research, we analyzed backchannel verbally and non-verbally in Japanese and Indonesian language in the interview setting. The interview interactions are quite different from everyday conversation. First, participants 'roles are well defined; they have restricted obligation and creates an asymmetric interaction. The host act as a topic controller and listener in the conversation will make much more listening behavior. In this present study, How Japanese engaged highly backchannel in their conversation than other languages also observed. This research is using conversation analysis method of Otsuka `s framework, which examines 20 pairs of Japanese and Indonesian native speaker's dyad. The participants were asked to be a host and a guest in an interview setting and give an answer in the prepared question. Analysis of the present study revealed a high frequency of backchannel behavior by the host occurs in both languages. The findings indicate that the differences in the use of listening behaviors produced in the frequency of backchannel. The host in both languages acts as most as a topic controller so somewhat gives backchannel verbally and non-nonverbally more than the guest. This study also confirms that The Japanese native speaker is an active listener so that backchannel is an essential communicative tool in Japanese, regardless of the context.

Backchannels Responses as Conversational Strategies in the Interaction of Indonesian Speakers in Interview Setting

“…The use and frequency of backchannel can be seen in Indonesian conversation. However, in accordance with Nurjaleka (2019), the comparison of backchannel in Indonesian and Japanese languages has been studied. She emphasized that the frequency and the type of backchannel in the Japanese language are still higher than in the Indonesian language.…”

A multi-dimensional analysis of backchannels in L1 German, L1 Italian and L2 German

“…Several comparative studies have focused on cross-cultural and cross-linguistic differences in the use of backchannels (Tao and Thompson, 1991;Tottie, 1991;Berry, 1994;Clancy et al, 1996;Ward and Tsukahara, 2000;Heinz, 2003;Cutrone, 2005;Cutrone, 2014;Li, 2006;Nurjaleka, 2019;Kraaz and Bernaisch, 2022). Being bound to cultural practices, backchannel behaviour has been found to diverge even across varieties of the same language (American vs. British English in Tottie, 1991; Sri Lankan vs. Indian English in Kraaz and Bernaisch, 2022).…”