View in EDS

The interplay of nonverbal behavior, affect, and language in perceptions of second language ability.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The interplay of nonverbal behavior, affect, and language in perceptions of second language ability.
Authors: Burton, J. Dylan1 jdburton@gsu.edu
Source: Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Dec2025, Vol. 109 Issue 4, p935-960. 26p.
Subject Terms: *Second language acquisition, *Verbs, *Language ability, Nonverbal communication, Paralinguistics
Abstract: This study investigated linguistic laypersons' use of nonverbal behavior when formulating judgments of second language (L2) ability. Eighty‐three first language (L1) English‐speaking participants watched and rated samples of L2 English speakers on language and affective dimensions. Twenty of the participants later took part in stimulated verbal recall sessions that elicited their decision‐making processes while rating the videos. An analysis of the sessions revealed that while participants largely commented on language, test interaction, and affect, 11% of their attentional focus was on nonverbal behavior. A breakdown of the comments showed that participants focused most of their attention on eye gaze, mouth behaviors, and paralinguistic cues. A thematic analysis of the dataset showed that participants used nonverbal behavior largely to interpret the speakers' affect, which was an important heuristic in interpreting the speakers' language proficiency. The speakers' adaptability to breakdowns moderated the impact of comprehension breakdowns, while approachability played a role in comprehensibility. Assuredness, through confidence and low anxiety, was closely intertwined with overall language ability ratings without a clear causal role. Overall, nonverbal behavior and affect played an important, though often indirect, role in the perception of L2 ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190211516
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The interplay of nonverbal behavior, affect, and language in perceptions of second language ability.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burton%2C+J%2E+Dylan%22">Burton, J. Dylan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> jdburton@gsu.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Modern+Language+Journal+%28John+Wiley+%26+Sons%2C+Inc%2E%29%22">Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 109 Issue 4, p935-960. 26p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+language+acquisition%22">Second language acquisition</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Verbs%22">Verbs</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+ability%22">Language ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonverbal+communication%22">Nonverbal communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paralinguistics%22">Paralinguistics</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigated linguistic laypersons' use of nonverbal behavior when formulating judgments of second language (L2) ability. Eighty‐three first language (L1) English‐speaking participants watched and rated samples of L2 English speakers on language and affective dimensions. Twenty of the participants later took part in stimulated verbal recall sessions that elicited their decision‐making processes while rating the videos. An analysis of the sessions revealed that while participants largely commented on language, test interaction, and affect, 11% of their attentional focus was on nonverbal behavior. A breakdown of the comments showed that participants focused most of their attention on eye gaze, mouth behaviors, and paralinguistic cues. A thematic analysis of the dataset showed that participants used nonverbal behavior largely to interpret the speakers' affect, which was an important heuristic in interpreting the speakers' language proficiency. The speakers' adaptability to breakdowns moderated the impact of comprehension breakdowns, while approachability played a role in comprehensibility. Assuredness, through confidence and low anxiety, was closely intertwined with overall language ability ratings without a clear causal role. Overall, nonverbal behavior and affect played an important, though often indirect, role in the perception of L2 ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190211516
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/modl.70012
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 935
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Second language acquisition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Verbs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonverbal communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Paralinguistics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The interplay of nonverbal behavior, affect, and language in perceptions of second language ability.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Burton, J. Dylan
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00267902
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 109
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Modern Language Journal (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
              Type: main
ResultId 1