Hands and faces
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Sherman Wilcox
Abstract
This chapter investigates the linguistic links between gesture and language, relying on data from signed languages. Data focuses on the developmental routes by which non-linguistic gestures become incorporated into the linguistic system of signed languages. Evidence is presented for two routes: one leading from gesture to word to grammatical morpheme, and a second leading from gesture to prosody to grammatical marker. These two routes emerge because of the semiotic characteristics of hands and faces. One application of this work is to inform research on non-human primate gesture. The goal is to pose new questions about the relation between gesture and language and to propose a new approach that primate gesture researchers may address when surveying the range of gestural forms.
Abstract
This chapter investigates the linguistic links between gesture and language, relying on data from signed languages. Data focuses on the developmental routes by which non-linguistic gestures become incorporated into the linguistic system of signed languages. Evidence is presented for two routes: one leading from gesture to word to grammatical morpheme, and a second leading from gesture to prosody to grammatical marker. These two routes emerge because of the semiotic characteristics of hands and faces. One application of this work is to inform research on non-human primate gesture. The goal is to pose new questions about the relation between gesture and language and to propose a new approach that primate gesture researchers may address when surveying the range of gestural forms.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- About the contributors xi
- Introduction 1
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Article
- Facial-vocal displays, gestures and language 13
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Research Studies
- Does ontogenetic ritualization explain early communicative gestures in human infants? 33
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Non-human primates
- A mother gorilla’s variable use of touch to guide her infant 55
- Spontaneous use of gesture sequences in orangutans 73
- Handedness for manual gestures in great apes 93
- Mandrill visual gestures 113
- Gesture use in consortship 129
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New trends and debates
- A call for conformity 147
- Cognitivism, adaptationism and pointing 165
- Pointing 181
- Requesting behaviours within episodes of active sharing 199
-
Article
- Hands and faces 223
- Where next? 241
- Index 253
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- About the contributors xi
- Introduction 1
-
Article
- Facial-vocal displays, gestures and language 13
-
Research Studies
- Does ontogenetic ritualization explain early communicative gestures in human infants? 33
-
Non-human primates
- A mother gorilla’s variable use of touch to guide her infant 55
- Spontaneous use of gesture sequences in orangutans 73
- Handedness for manual gestures in great apes 93
- Mandrill visual gestures 113
- Gesture use in consortship 129
-
New trends and debates
- A call for conformity 147
- Cognitivism, adaptationism and pointing 165
- Pointing 181
- Requesting behaviours within episodes of active sharing 199
-
Article
- Hands and faces 223
- Where next? 241
- Index 253
