paralanguage

American  

[par-uh-lang-gwij] / ˈpær əˌlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

noun

Linguistics.

1. 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.

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paralanguage British  

/ ˈpærəˌlæŋɡwɪdʒ /

noun

1. linguistics nonverbal elements in speech, such as intonation, that may affect the meaning of an utterance

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Etymology

Origin of paralanguage

First recorded in 1955–60; para- ¹ + language