Ooh, I just remembered!

[conuly]

I should've mentioned this in my sociolinguistics class, and the professor won't be back until MONDAY...

We were talking about (among other things) backchannel support (saying stuff like "yeah" or "uh-huh" in a conversation) and I forgot all about it, people learn that early. Ana's been able to hold her own in a conversation for months now, all on the strength of yeah-nod-smile.

Well. Maybe he won't care to hear that. It's not that interesting unless you've got THE smartest niece and nephew in the world, after all :)

Comments

[ladytalon.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of something sort of funny.. I have a Japanese foreign exchange student in one of the labs I teach, and when I explain things to her, she nods and says "yes" and basically seems to light up. And then I check a few minutes later and have to explain again, not that I mind. It's a very Japanese thing (and in other cultures, too, but less so for American), to just nod and nod and nod, even if you don't actually understand a word.

[ladytalon.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of something sort of funny.. I have a Japanese foreign exchange student in one of the labs I teach, and when I explain things to her, she nods and says "yes" and basically seems to light up. And then I check a few minutes later and have to explain again, not that I mind. It's a very Japanese thing (and in other cultures, too, but less so for American), to just nod and nod and nod, even if you don't actually understand a word.