Gesture

Gesture refers to a movement of the body, especially of the hands and arms, that conveys information, expresses an attitude, or accompanies spoken language. Gestures can be intentional acts aimed at communication or spontaneous movements that occur in social interaction. They interact with speech, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues to shape meaning and reception.

Gestures are often categorized by function. Emblems are culture-specific hand signs with a conventional verbal equivalent, such as a wave or a thumbs-up. Illustrators accompany or illustrate speech, for example tracing the size of an object with hands. Regulators manage the flow of conversation, including nodding to indicate listening or raising a hand to signal a turn. Adapters are self-directed moves, like fidgeting or rubbing hands, that may reflect arousal or stress. In addition, iconic or metaphoric gestures depict attributes or actions, such as showing a circle to indicate "around" or "large" to indicate size. Facial expressions are also a central component of gestural communication and can transmit basic emotions across many cultures, though interpretation depends on context.

Culturally, gesture use varies widely in frequency, form, and meaning. While some gestures have broad or universal aspects, many are understood only within a cultural or social frame. Gestures can facilitate comprehension, regulate interaction, signal friendliness or dominance, and influence judgments of credibility. Misinterpretations can arise in cross-cultural settings when gestures are taken out of their local context.

In technology and research, gesture recognition enables human-computer interaction using cameras, depth sensors, or wearables. Common applications include touchless controls, gaming, and virtual or augmented reality interfaces. Studying gestures encompasses linguistics, psychology, anthropology, and cognitive science, reflecting their role in communication and social behavior.