The readback/hearback procedure is a radio protocol implemented in many technical environments tominimize communication errors. This protocol requires the receiver of a verbal instruction to repeat or readback the instruction to the sender, allowing the sender to monitor and remedy any inaccuracies if required.Although this protocol ensures that the receiver has accurately heard the instruction, it does not ensure thatthe receiver has necessarily understood the instruction. Using a sample of Australian power controloperators, the present research investigated whether the prosodic cues that listeners attend to when judginglevels of uncertainty, are also used by power control operators when judging the degree to which a receiverhas understood an instruction during a simulated readback/hearback radio exchange. Intonation, inter-turndelays and fillers were identified as important prosodic cues that allow listeners to detect different levels ofunderstanding of a receiver during a readback response. The practical and theoretical implications of theoutcomes are discussed.
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