Pointing

Pointing is a gesture in which a person extends a finger or other body part toward a referent or direction to convey information. It is a deictic gesture, meaning its meaning depends on the context of the interaction. Pointing can involve the index finger, an open hand, or a whole arm, and may be accompanied by gaze, head orientation, or spoken words to clarify what is being indicated.

Pointing plays a central role in communication by establishing joint attention between speakers and listeners. In infancy, pointing typically emerges in the first year of life and supports early vocabulary development by linking words to objects or events. Cross-cultural research shows variation in how often pointing is used and in the social norms surrounding it, including levels of encouragement or restraint in different communities.

In linguistics and sign languages, pointing is studied as a deictic or demonstrative form. In many sign languages, pointing signs function as pronouns or locatives and can coordinate reference with gestures and eye gaze. People with limited verbal ability may rely on pointing to convey requests, preferences, or directions.

Beyond human communication, pointing also refers to the use of pointing devices in computing. A mouse, trackpad, stylus, or touchscreen allows users to indicate positions on a screen. The on-screen indicator—often called a pointer or cursor—can be moved and used to select, open, or activate items, typically through clicking or tapping.