The verbal signals used by a listener to indicate interest, attention, surprise etc are called what?

• A. Back-channeling
• B. Turn-taking
• C. Clarification requests
• D. Overlaps

Answer: (A)

Back-channeling refers to the listener’s verbal cues that show they’re following and engaged in the conversation—signals of interest, attention, or surprise that don’t take over the speaking turn. These quick responses help the speaker know you’re listening and can indicate understanding or reaction without interrupting the flow. Common examples are short acknowledgments like “uh-huh,” “yeah,” or “I see,” which fit exactly with the description given. This is distinct from turn-taking (deciding who speaks next), clarification requests (asking for more information to understand), and overlaps (speaking at the same time). So the described verbal signals are best understood as back-channeling.