Gestures are used by all of us most of the time we talk. But what is so fascinating about them is that they are usually seen as unnecessary by-products, whereas all the necessary information is already encoded in speech. So why do we even bother gesturing? Is it just a reflex that does not serve any function at all or only social functions? Do gestures convey additional information that may be helpful but is not essential? Or are gestures crucial to conversation after all and if so, how?
After introducing some basic knowledge about gestures I would like to focus on these questions that are concerned with the communicative functions. However, communication purposes which are mostly associated with gestures are only one part of the picture. There is also a lot of relevant research about the role of gestures in speech production as well and also on their impact on memorising and learning. Hence, I will cover all three approaches which are subdivided into different theories and weigh them up against each other.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 General characteristics of gestures
2.1 Gesture types
2.1.1 Iconics and metaphorics
2.1.2 Beats
2.1.3 Cohesives
2.1.4 Deictics
2.2 Gesture and speech as a single system
2.3 Attention to speech-accompanying gestures
3 Communicative functions of gestures
3.1 Structuring speech and helping interaction
3.2 Structuring discourse in narrative situations
3.3 Distinguishing layers of discourse
3.4 Voice
3.5 Emphasis
3.6 Completion
3.7 Commenting on an utterance
3.8 Adding “realness”
3.9 Information about the speaker
4 Gestures and the speech production process
4.1 Research concerned with gesture’s role in speech production
4.2 Models of speech production including gestures
4.2.1 Krauss&Hadar’s model
4.2.2 De Ruiter’s model
4.2.3 McNeill’s growth point theory
4.2.4 Competition hypotheses
5 Gestures and mental processing
6 Conclusion
Objectives and Scope
This paper examines the multifaceted roles of speech-accompanying gestures, investigating whether they are merely non-essential by-products or integral components of human communication and cognitive processing.
- Classification of various gesture types and their distinct functions.
- Analysis of the communicative role of gestures in structuring discourse and interaction.
- Evaluation of theoretical models regarding the relationship between gesture and speech production.
- Assessment of the impact of gesturing on mental processes, including memory and learning.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Gesture types
The term ‘gesticulation’ refers to “motion, that embodies a meaning relatable to the accompanying speech” (McNeill 2005: 5) as opposed to emblems (conventionalized signs like the thumbs-up), pantomimes or sign language.
Before discussing the function of gestures, it is vital to introduce the five different types: iconics, metaphorics, beats and cohesives and deictics. I will mostly use material from Hand and Mind (McNeill 1992) in which McNeill provides an excellent overview with illustrative examples and pictures.
2.1.1 Iconics and metaphorics
Iconic gestures picture the semantic content of speech, e.g. by reproducing a gesture the speaker has seen in a cartoon (gripping, pulling back, dropping etc.).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the role of gestures and outlines the main research areas: communicative functions, speech production, and cognitive impact.
2 General characteristics of gestures: Defines various gesture types such as iconics, beats, and cohesives, and discusses their integration with speech.
3 Communicative functions of gestures: Explores how gestures structure discourse, convey emphasis, and provide additional information about the speaker.
4 Gestures and the speech production process: Reviews theoretical models from Krauss & Hadar, De Ruiter, and McNeill, focusing on the origin of gestures and their role in lexical retrieval.
5 Gestures and mental processing: Analyzes the influence of gesturing on memory performance and cognitive learning processes.
6 Conclusion: Synthesizes the evidence, noting that while gesture research remains speculative, it offers significant insights into human communicative complexity.
Keywords
Gestures, Gesticulation, Speech Production, McNeill, Krauss and Hadar, De Ruiter, Iconic Gestures, Metaphoric Gestures, Beats, Cohesives, Deictics, Cognitive Processing, Memory, Communication, Discourse Structure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the role of speech-accompanying gestures in communication, speech production, and mental processing.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include the classification of gestures, their communicative functions, and the cognitive models explaining how gestures interact with speech.
What is the main research question?
The author investigates whether gestures are merely unnecessary by-products of speaking or if they are crucial to conversation and cognitive tasks.
Which scientific methods are primarily utilized?
The study primarily utilizes a literature review and comparative analysis of existing theoretical models and empirical studies in linguistics and psychology.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers gesture classification, the communicative functions of gestures in narrative and social interaction, speech production models, and the link between gesturing and memory.
Which terms characterize this research?
Terms include communicative intent, growth point theory, lexical retrieval, and cognitive integration.
How do iconic and metaphoric gestures differ?
Iconic gestures depict concrete actions or objects, whereas metaphoric gestures represent abstract concepts.
What is McNeill’s "growth point theory"?
It suggests that the "growth point" is the primitive stage of an utterance, combining imagery, words, and pragmatic content at the start of a sentence.
What does the "competition hypothesis" propose?
It suggests that speech and gestures might compete for limited brain resources, potentially inhibiting each other during production.
How does gesturing relate to memory?
Research cited suggests that motor coding associated with gesturing can enhance information storage and retrieval in the brain.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Kaupp (Author), 2011, Speech-accompanying gestures and their impact on speech production and communication, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/180007
