Gestes
Gestes are movements of the body—particularly the hands, arms, and face—that convey information or regulate social interaction. In general usage, gestures accompany speech, but they can also replace verbal content or function as symbolic signals in everyday life and in performance. In French-language scholarship, the term gestes is commonly used to refer to similar nonverbal signals.
Gestures can be categorized by function. Deictic gestures point to objects or locations; iconic gestures depict
In linguistics and cognitive science, gestures support communication and understanding. They can aid memory, clarify reference,
Cultural variation is common in gesture interpretation. A gesture accepted as polite in one culture may be
Research and application span multiple fields. Linguistics, anthropology, psychology, and performing arts study gestures as part