Pointing
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David A. Leavens
Abstract
Although long heralded as a human species-unique gesture, pointing has now been demonstrated in numerous species of non-human animals. Many contemporary researchers argue that pointing for instrumental ends marks a different kind of psychological process from pointing to share attention as an end in itself. Thus, a large body of contemporary theory is built on presumptions about the hypothetical motivations underlying pointing. I will briefly outline some of the contexts and motivations in which humans point, and argue that virtually all human pointing can be interpreted in instrumental terms. If this is correct, then instrumentality, per se, cannot illuminate the evolutionary origins of joint attention.
Abstract
Although long heralded as a human species-unique gesture, pointing has now been demonstrated in numerous species of non-human animals. Many contemporary researchers argue that pointing for instrumental ends marks a different kind of psychological process from pointing to share attention as an end in itself. Thus, a large body of contemporary theory is built on presumptions about the hypothetical motivations underlying pointing. I will briefly outline some of the contexts and motivations in which humans point, and argue that virtually all human pointing can be interpreted in instrumental terms. If this is correct, then instrumentality, per se, cannot illuminate the evolutionary origins of joint attention.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- 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
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- 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
