gestural languages

(noun)

A gestural language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses manual communication and body language to convey meaning. This can involve simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's thoughts.

Related Terms

  • gesture
  • quotable gestures

Examples of gestural languages in the following topics:

  • Gestures

    • Gestures are culturally specific.
    • Gestures allow individuals to communicate a variety of feelings and thoughts, from contempt and hostility to approval and affection, often together with body language in addition to spoken words.
    • The most familiar categories of gestures are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures.
    • Gestural languages such as American Sign Language and its regional siblings operate as complete natural languages that are gestural .
    • American Sign Language, or ASL, is a gestural language.
  • Symbols and Nature

    • Signs can consist of sounds, gestures, letters, or symbols, depending on whether the language is spoken, signed, or written.
    • Written language is the representation of a language by means of a writing system.
    • Written language exists only as a complement to a specific spoken language.
    • A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveying sound patterns, uses manual communication and body language to convey meaning.
    • Sign languages, like spoken languages, organize elementary units into meaningful semantic units.
  • Nonverbal Communication

    • This type of communication includes gestures, touch, body language, posture, facial expressions, and eye contact.
    • Gestures are movements with one's hands, arms, or face that communicate a particular message.
    • The most common gestures are emblem gestures or quotable gestures that are learned within a particular cultural to communicate a particular message.
    • For example, in the Western world, waving one's hand back and forth communicates "hello" or "goodbye. " Emblem gestures can vary by cultural space so widely that a common gesture in one context is offensive in another.
    • Facial gestures, or facial expressions, are a particularly communicative form of gesture.
  • Learning to Communicate Nonverbally

    • Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch, by body language or posture, or by facial expression and eye contact.
    • Body language contains numerous elements, including physical features (both changeable and unchangeable); gestures and signals (both conscious and unconscious); and spatial relations.
    • The listener might perceive an unintended message if the body language conveyed by the speaker does not match the verbal message.
    • Body language, stance, and voice inflection or tone can have a stronger impact than the content of an initial communication itself.
    • While listening, try to observe the speaker's posture, clothing, gestures, and eye contact.
  • The Origins of Language

    • The origin of language in the human species is a widely discussed topic.
    • Theories about the origin of language can be divided according to their basic assumptions.
    • Those who see language as being mostly innate, such as Steven Pinker, hold the precedents to be animal cognition, whereas those who see language as a socially learned tool of communication, such as Michael Tomasello, see it as having developed from animal communication, either primate gestural or vocal communication.
    • Other continuity-based models see language as having developed from music.
    • The origin of language in the human species is a widely discussed topic.
  • Using Transitions

    • When using transitions, pair them with body language to make them even more effective.
    • You may be surprised to learn that only 7% of the information you transmit to others is in the language you use.
    • 55% Body language—posture, position, eye contact, facial expression, head and body movements, gestures, touch, etc.
    • You can probably think of many good speakers who have used a finger wag or other hand gesture to emphasize a point.
    • To emphasize this point, you might say, "However, we must be careful to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. " As you say this you may use a hand gesture such as the finger wag or the open palmed gesture.
  • Applied Body Language

    • Body language is a form of human non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements.
    • Body language may provide clues as to the attitude or state of mind of a person.
    • Note the significant attention paid to body language.
    • Does it have anything to do with her body language?
    • Discuss the importance of body language as a means of social communication and give specific examples of body language
  • The Importance of Language

    • Language, from verbal to non-verbal communication, helps your audience understand your speech.
    • From the words you speak to the points and topics you articulate, language is the vehicle that helps your audience understand and agree with your statement or argument.
    • Are you using descriptive language?
    • From gesture, force, and directness, to the pitch, tone and inflection of your voice, it's important to consider the complete package that you're delivering to your audience.
    • State the importance of carefully choosing language to use in your speech
  • Human vs. Animal Language

    • Animal language is any form of communication that shows similarities to human language; however, there are significant differences.
    • Signals are sounds or gestures that have some meaning to those using them.
    • Symbols are sounds or gestures that have a specific meaning to a group of people.
    • Verbal language is auditory, but other forms of language—writing and sign language (visual), Braille (tactile)—are possible in more complex human language systems.
    • Koko is famous for having learned over a thousand signs of "Gorilla Sign Language," a simple sign language developed to try to teach nonhuman primates complex language.
  • Nonverbal Communication

    • Voluntary nonverbal communication refers to intentional movements, gestures, and poses.
    • There are many elements of involuntary body language that we use and experience commonly without being aware we are doing so.
    • When angry or upset, often someone's body language can communicate more intensity than their words alone.
    • Mirroring involves mimicking others' gestures and ideas.
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