Head nod types and Japanese aizuchi

Abstract

The relationship between head nod types and Japanese aizuchi response types in daily conversations was researched. With detailed analysis, we categorized head nods into two types: Prepared (P) and Non-prepared (N). In type P, the head moved upward slightly for the preparation (P), stroked downward (S), and recovered to the rest position (R), while in type Non-P the head only stroked and recovered without the preparation. The rate of Type P with aizuchi "ah" is higher than the rate of Type P with the other aizuchi types. The position of P in Type P is delayed when the aizuchi "ah" was followed by the estimate. In the nods with aizuchi "un", the rate of Type P with prolonged aizuchi was higher than that with normal aizuchi. When Type Non-P occurred, aizuchi "un" tend to be more affirmative, without following utterances. In aizuchi "so", the rate of Type P is higher when the aizuchi were followed with other utterances.