Gesten

Gesten (the German term for gestures) are visible movements of the body, especially the hands, arms, and posture, used to convey information and accompany spoken language. As a form of nonverbal communication, they can replace or augment verbal messages, regulate turn-taking, and express emotions that words alone may not capture.

Researchers classify gestures into several types: co-speech gestures, emblematic gestures, iconic gestures, deictic gestures, metaphoric gestures, and beat gestures. Co-speech gestures occur with speech; emblematic gestures have conventional meanings within a culture and can substitute for words; iconic gestures depict shapes, sizes, or actions; deictic gestures such as pointing indicate location; metaphoric gestures convey abstract concepts; beat gestures are simple, rhythmic movements that align with speech prosody.

Gesture meaning is often culturally shaped; some gestures are relatively universal, but many carry different meanings or are taboo in various cultures. Context and accompanying language strongly influence interpretation.

Gestures appear in infancy and precede spoken language; gesture and speech are tightly linked in cognition and communication. Gesturing can support word learning, memory, and fluency, and motor systems are engaged during language processing.

In research and applications, prominent scholars include Adam Kendon, who detailed gestural structure in social interaction, and Susan Goldin-Meadow, who studied gesture development and function in children. Today gestural study spans linguistics, psychology, anthropology, and human–computer interaction. Gesture recognition and synthesis are important in user interfaces, sign language research, animation, and robotics, while co-speech gestures remain a key indicator of thought and discourse in everyday communication.

Gesten are a ubiquitous aspect of human communication, reflecting the interplay between thought, movement, and language.