categories+of+gestures

> Emblems (autonomous gestures) are very rare in contrast to illustrators, the second category of manual gestures. This depends on the properties of this kind gesture as opposed to speech: gesture is more rapid to express a single unit of meaning and it can be employed over greater distances. > Example: > Thumbs-up In the United States this gesture means "all right", but it can have a totally different meaning in other countries. In a communication process you have to be aware of these cultural differences. In many countries throughout Europe "Thumbs-up" is an insulting gesture, standing for "up yours...". > There are also gestures which are used worldwide: > shoulder shrugging (don't know), headshake (negation), headnod (affirmation). > > Examples: > Examples: > > Adaptors can take two forms: > (a)body-focused, e.g. scratching(b)object-focused, e.g. smoking > Theories concerning adaptors: > In any communicative situation the use of gestures depends on whether the speaker thinks they are available for the listener. Thus in face-to-face communications you will observe more gestures than in telephone communications. > These five categories are common in speech using communities.
 * 1) Emblems (autonomous gestures)Emblems are gestures that can be used instead of speech. The three major characteristics of emblems are:
 * they have a direct verbal translation
 * they are known by almost everybody in a social group
 * they shall have a particular effect on the recipient
 * 1) IllustratorsIllustrators are gestures that are used to illustrate spoken words. Their major functions are:
 * to encode difficult messages/material, which is a communicative effort of the speaker
 * help the receiver to decode messages more easily than without the use of gestures.
 * Giving directions - pointing
 * Outlining a picture of a referent
 * 1) RegulatorsRegulators support the interaction and communication between sender and recipient.
 * 1) RegulatorsRegulators support the interaction and communication between sender and recipient.
 * Movements of the head, neck, eyes
 * Hand gestures
 * Posture
 * 1) Affect DisplaysAffect displays are facial expressions combined with posture which reflect the intensity of an emotion.
 * 1) Affect DisplaysAffect displays are facial expressions combined with posture which reflect the intensity of an emotion.
 * 1) AdaptorsAdaptors are gestures that are not used intentionally during a communication or interaction. They are difficult to recognize.
 * Adaptors are gestures that were at one point used for personal convenience but have turned into a habit (adjusting glasses in a tense situation).
 * Adaptors are linked with negative feelings, e.g. anxiety (increase of anxiety - increase of self-contact).
 * Body-focused gestures are representations of uncertainty whereas object-focused gestures depend on the type of information and the type of listner available.