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あいづち

English translation: backchannel(s)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:あいづち
English translation:backchannel(s)
Entered by: suzycue

05:16 May 4, 2003
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics / linguistics
Japanese term or phrase: あいづち
「あいづち」の言語学的用語の英訳として「backchanelling」は一般的ですか。それとも「listener acknowledgement」とか「listener feedback」はもっとよく使われますか。
suzycue
backchannel(s)
Explanation:
For the phenomena of "あいづち", "backchannel" or "backchannels" is more suitable. However, the act of "あいづち" (or "あいづちを打つこと") is "backchennelling".

In the first link, you will see how "あいづち" is translated into English, and, in the second link, you will see some of the articls on backchannelling by other notable scholars (in particular, those at Chiba University).


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Note added at 2003-05-04 05:38:01 (GMT)
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¥"listener acknowledgement¥" sounds like a kind of Japanese-English. In fact, we can od two examples of ¥"listener acknowledgement¥". However, ¥"listener feedback¥" can be used as a substitite for ¥"backchannel¥". A site in the Linguistic Society of American (of which I am a member) uses this term, and it is also a good resource. In fact, Deborah Tannen is a leading scholar in sociolinguistics, and her account is very correct:

http://www.lsadc.org/web2/discourse.html
Selected response from:

jsl (X)
Local time: 09:06
Grading comment
Thank you for the thorough and well-researched answer. Links were very appreciated too.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3backchannel(s)
jsl (X)
5sounds given during a conversation .
amit vats
5forging an affirmative response
Hirohisa Oda
2 -1interjection
Philip Soldini


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): -1
interjection


Explanation:
I'm not sure what the official linguistic term is, but the word "interjection" may be a possibility.

Philip Soldini
Local time: 09:06
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Thanks for your feedback though

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  jsl (X): "interjection" is 感嘆詞 or 間投詞 including "ah", "oh", and "あいづち" specifically refers to "uh uh", ''mmm", "うん", etc.
7 mins
  -> Yes, interjection can include comments that aren't merely 相槌 as well. Still, no one other than linguistic scholars will know what "backchanelling" means, whereas "interjection" will give the average person an idea.
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The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thanks for your feedback though

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
backchannel(s)


Explanation:
For the phenomena of "あいづち", "backchannel" or "backchannels" is more suitable. However, the act of "あいづち" (or "あいづちを打つこと") is "backchennelling".

In the first link, you will see how "あいづち" is translated into English, and, in the second link, you will see some of the articls on backchannelling by other notable scholars (in particular, those at Chiba University).


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-04 05:38:01 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

¥"listener acknowledgement¥" sounds like a kind of Japanese-English. In fact, we can od two examples of ¥"listener acknowledgement¥". However, ¥"listener feedback¥" can be used as a substitite for ¥"backchannel¥". A site in the Linguistic Society of American (of which I am a member) uses this term, and it is also a good resource. In fact, Deborah Tannen is a leading scholar in sociolinguistics, and her account is very correct:

http://www.lsadc.org/web2/discourse.html



    Reference: http://www.nii.ac.jp/sokuho/articles/ncid/AN10106606/1998000...
    Reference: http://www.google.com/search?q=backchannels&lr=lang_ja
jsl (X)
Local time: 09:06
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you for the thorough and well-researched answer. Links were very appreciated too.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ino66 (X): auditor backchannelling
2 hrs
  -> thanks

agree  mkj (X): http://cogsci.l.chiba-u.ac.jp/~den/j/publication.html So, does this include just nodding without speaking a word? Psycotherapists use Tannen's observations.
11 hrs
  -> thanks

agree  Will Matter
1 day 15 hrs
  -> thanks
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
sounds given during a conversation .


Explanation:
here are the examples "彼はすぐに相づちを打った。
He made a quick response.
「私もそう思うわ」と彼女は相づちを打った。
"I think so, too," she chimed in.
hope it will help you.

japanese people make the sounds during the conversation these sounds are called あいづち。


    Reference: http://[email protected]
amit vats
India
Local time: 05:36
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Hirohisa Oda: This is a good translation, but it does not quite reflect the nuance of the expression
7 hrs
  -> thanks.
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
forging an affirmative response


Explanation:
The original meaning of this expresion is, a swordsmith forging cooperation with his swordmaster. The original expression requires that the swordsmith make an affirmative response, not a negative reply, nor a neutral reply. It's possible that even Japanese make mistakes in using this expression.

Hirohisa Oda
Local time: 17:06
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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