The content of the message influences the hand choice in co-speech gestures and in gesturing without speaking

Hedda Lausberg, Sotaro Kita

Publication: Contribution to journalJournal articlesResearch

Abstract

The present study investigates the hand choice in iconic gestures that accompany speech. In 10 right-handed subjects gestures were elicited by verbal narration and by silent gestural demonstrations of animations with two moving objects. In both conditions, the left-hand was used as often as the right-hand to display iconic gestures. The choice of the right- or left-hands was determined by semantic aspects of the message. The influence of hemispheric language lateralization on the hand choice in co-speech gestures appeared to be minor. Instead, speaking seemed to induce a sequential organization of the iconic gestures.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBrain and language
Volume86
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)57-69
Number of pages13
ISSN0093-934X
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2003

Research areas and keywords

  • Adult
  • Choice Behavior
  • Female
  • Gestures
  • Hand
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Movement
  • Semantics
  • Verbal Behavior

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The content of the message influences the hand choice in co-speech gestures and in gesturing without speaking'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Citation