paralanguage
noun
para·lan·guage
ˈper-ə-ˌlaŋ-gwij 
ˈpa-rə-
: optional vocal effects (such as tone of voice) that accompany or modify the phonemes of an utterance and that may communicate meaning
Examples of paralanguage in a Sentence
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Such sounds are technically known as paralanguage (or vocalics), a field pioneered back in the 1950s by George L. Trager, a linguist who worked in the State Department's Foreign Service Institute.
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Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2019
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paralanguage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Paralanguage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralanguage. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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