Which term encompasses non-verbal cues such as gestures and facial expressions that accompany spoken language?

• A. Paralinguistic Features
• B. Prosodic Features
• C. Repairs
• D. Status

Answer: (A)

Non-verbal cues that accompany spoken language are described as paralinguistic features. They include gestures, facial expressions, head movements, and body posture that occur alongside speech. These cues convey emotions, attitudes, emphasis, and can modify the meaning of the spoken words without changing the words themselves, helping listeners interpret intent and regulate interaction.

Prosodic features, in contrast, relate to the voice's qualities—pitch, loudness, tempo, and intonation—rather than physical gestures. Repairs are strategies used to fix communication breakdowns, and status refers to social position or power, not the accompanying non-verbal cues.