USING COMPUTER-SIMULATOR PROGRAMS IN TEACHING PARALINGUISTIC UNITS

Abstract

Communication requires paralinguistic components like body language, gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice. In addition to supporting spoken language, these nonverbal clues also communicate intentions, feelings, and background information that words cannot. Because paralinguistic units are dynamic and context-dependent, they can be difficult to teach, despite their significance in communication. These important facets may go unnoticed in traditional teaching approaches that emphasize spoken language above all else. This study examines how computer-simulator programs can be used to teach paralinguistic units and evaluates how well they can improve students' comprehension of nonverbal communication.