Integrating Gestures

Gestures are ubiquitous and natural in our everyday life. They convey information about culture, discourse, thought, intentionality, emotion, intersubjectivity, cognition, and first and second language acquisition. Additionally, they are used by non-human primates to communicate with their peers and with humans. Consequently, the modern field of gesture studies has attracted researchers from a number of different disciplines such as anthropology, cognitive science, communication, neuroscience, psycholinguistics, primatology, psychology, robotics, sociology and semiotics. This volume presents an overview of the depth and breadth of current research in gesture. Its focus is on the interdisciplinary nature of gesture. The twenty-six chapters included in the volume are divided into six sections or themes: the nature and functions of gesture, first language development and gesture, second language effects on gesture, gesture in the classroom and in problem solving, gesture aspects of discourse and interaction, and gestural analysis of music and dance.
As of March 2017, this e-book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. It is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND license.

Roland Posner, Honorary President of the International Association for Semiotic Studies IASS, Berlin Institute of Technology:
After decades of methodological self-reflection, the field of gesture studies has now reached a stage which allows steady accumulation of empirically based knowledge. The present volume gives an impressive survey of the kinds and functions of gestures occurring in humans and other primates and introduces the reader into the leading paradigms of contemporary gesture research. The contributors include prominent gesture researchers as well as promising young professionals with an interdisciplinary background and exemplify the successful international cooperation taking place in this fascinating field. The volume is of particular value for readers interested in first and second language development, social cognition, and problem-solving by means of gestures.