signsto

Signsto is a neologism used in discussions of multimodal communication to denote a class of intentional nonverbal signals that accompany or supplement spoken or written language. The category includes gestures, facial expressions, gaze, posture, and proxemic cues, as well as environmental cues such as object placement or spatial arrangement that convey meaning beyond words. In theory, signsto function as signaling acts that help to direct attention, indicate stance, or resolve ambiguity in interaction.

The term blends cues from sign-based communication with a general directional marker, and has been used informally in linguistic and communication studies as a catch-all label for diverse nonverbal signals that are strategically deployed in discourse. Because signsto covers a broad range of signals, researchers often distinguish concrete physical signs (hand gestures, facial microexpressions) from contextual signs (layout of space, timing of turn-taking) and from symbolic signs (emblems with conventional meanings).

Applications of signsto research include analysis of classroom discourse, workplace collaboration, and human-computer interaction, where systems attempt to recognize or elicit signsto to improve communication. In assistive technologies, signsto mapping supports AAC interfaces by translating gestures or gaze into communicative output.

Critics note that signsto lacks a standardized definition and taxonomy, which can hinder cross-study comparability. As a result, many scholars prefer to describe the specific signals in terms of established categories (gestures, expressions, proxemics) rather than as a single umbrella term.