Jana Bressem & Silva Ladewig
(eds.)

European University Viadrina

The papers collected in this edition present a new theoretical and methodological approach to the study of coverbal gestures. They combine a linguistic approach, which holds the belief that a stricter separation of speech and gesture, i.e., an analysis of the medium gesture on its own before considering its relation to speech, enhances insights into the analysis of coverbal gestures. All papers act on the assumption that detailed descriptions of gestural forms must be made the basis and precondition for a meaning analysis of co-speech gestures. They propose the idea that an accurate analysis of co-speech gestures needs to be based on a commensurate consideration of both gestural aspects, i.e., form and function of gestures. Here, the papers of this volume show different implementations. The particular contributions thus demonstrate a continuum of executing the linguistic approach, ranging from predominantly theoretical and form-based accounts to contributions, which allow for an equal study of form and function of gesture and speech.

authors:

Jana Bressem
Firdaous Fatfouta-Hanka
Ellen Fricke
Silva Ladewig