The Backchannel Functions in Conversations among Korean Learners of Thai as a Foreign Language
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Abstract
This research article aimed to analyze the functions of backchannels used by Korean learners of Thai. The objective was to address questions regarding the function of backchannels in Thai conversations and whether these backchannels facilitate communication in the target language. The study, conducted by collecting data from conversations in the “Cullen HateBerry” channel, analyzed and presented the data according to qualitative research methods. The result of the study revealed that Korean learners used backchannels in two ways: through reconstruction and based on the target language. The reconstructed backchannels encompassed both non-lexical and lexical forms, conveying agreement, expressions of gratitude, emphasis, insistence, and queries. The study suggests that non-lexical backchannels tend to be inconsistent with the target language because they operate at a pragmatic functional level, which is a culture-specific code and cannot convey the semantic meaning. In contrast to lexical backchannels, which convey content meaning, non-lexical forms exhibit semantic meaning clearly. Consequently, non-lexical backchannels, when transferred from the mother tongue, tend to be less consistent with the pragmatic understanding of the target language.
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