Frequency and type of gesture in the blind and the sighted in L1 and L2

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Iva Gugo
• Author: Renata Geld
• Editor: Stela Letica Krevelj
• Editor: Renata Gled
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; General Linguistics

Abstract (english)

In interpersonal communication, speech is often accompanied by gestures, which help convey the intended message in visual terms. The sighted can see gestures which they produce, but the blind cannot. Such a discrepancy raises the question whether gesture plays the same role for the blind as they do for the sighted. Furthermore, we may ask ourselves whether the blind and the sighted gesticulate differently in different languages. In the case of L1 vs. L2, the issue becomes even more complex because L2 speakers use various communication strategies in order to compensate for possible lack of proficiency in a productive skill such as speaking. They tend to paraphrase, describe, use superordinate or subordinate concepts, borrow from other languages, create new words, and so on. In addition to these language-based strategies, they often resort to all sorts of nonverbal strategies that are likely to help them convey the intended message. It is not unusual for L2 speakers to point to themselves or objects and people around them, make facial expressions, change their body posture, and use gestures. The aim of the study presented in this paper was to investigate frequency and types of gestures in blind and sighted speakers of Croatian as L1 and English as L2. We begin with a theoretical overview of gestures: we explain what gestures are and how they are classified. The outline is followed by a summary of previous research on gestures which served as a basis for our hypotheses. Next, we outline our aims and how they are classified. The outline is followed by a summary of previous research on gestures which served as a basis for our hypotheses. Next, we outline our aims and describe the methodology of the study. Finally, we present and discuss the results.

• Keywords (english): interpersonal communication; gestures; blind; sighted; different languages
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication title: UZRT 2016: empirical studies in applied linguistics
• Numbering: pp. 127-138
• ISBN: 978-953-175-662-4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.17234/UZRT.2016.1
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:526354
• Publication: 2017
• Type of resource: Text
• Publisher: FF Press
• Publishing place: Zagreb
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-11-23 12:43:14