back channel

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English

Noun

back channel (plural back channels)

  1. The smaller of two channels in a river that diverge to form an island.
  2. A secondary channel of activity, typically in parallel with primary channels and somewhat independent of them.
  3. An unofficial communications channel used to make informal or subversive negotiations.
  4. (computing) A real-time online discussion that occurs simultaneously with a verbal presentation.
    • 2017, Di Zou, James Lambert, “Feedback methods for student voice in the digital age”, in British Journal of Educational Technology, volume 48, number 5, page 1083:
      TodaysMeet visualizes collaborative and parallel conversations in a backchannel through a digital classroom where every student has a voice.
  5. (linguistics) A gesture or short prompt by which a listener invites a speaker to continue.

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Related terms

References

  • OED 2006