Events and What's On

EdSign34 Public Seminar

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Sign + Gesture = Speech + Gesture?

Dr Myriam Vermeerbergen

When speakers talk, they gesture too. It even seems that speakers must gesture when they speak, and they primarily do so using their hands. Gestures appear to be an integral part of linguistic communication.

But what about people who use sign language? Do they also use gestures? Do the gestures and the signs combine or remain distinct?

In her presentation, Myriam will explain how simultaneous constructions in sign languages compare with various types of speech combined with gesture.

The comparison reveals many more similarities than expected, both in form and function, and invites us to re-examine gesture in sign languages.

All welcome.