paralanguage
[ par-uh-lang-gwij ]
/ ˈpær əˌlæŋ gwɪdʒ /
noun Linguistics.
vocal features that accompany speech and contribute to communication but are not generally considered to be part of the language system, as vocal quality, loudness, and tempo: sometimes also including facial expressions and gestures.
Compare
body language.
Words nearby paralanguage
parakeratosis,
parakinesia,
parakiting,
parakou,
paralalia,
paralanguage,
paraldehyde,
paralegal,
paraleipsis,
paralepsis,
paralexia
British Dictionary definitions for paralanguage
paralanguage
/ (ˈpærəˌlæŋɡwɪdʒ) /
noun
linguistics
nonverbal elements in speech, such as intonation, that may affect the meaning of an utterance