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Article published In: Language, Interaction and Acquisition
Vol. 8:2 (2017) ► pp.288–310

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The dual origin of gesture

Semiotic preconditions for the emergence of two kinds of symbolic gestures

 | University of Rouen-Normandie
Published online: 2 March 2018
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https://doi.org/10.1075/lia.15041.bou
Abstract
This article questions some aspects of (2014). Gesture – speech unity: Phylogenesis, ontogenesis, and microgenesis. Language, Interaction and Acquisition/Langage, Interaction et Acquisition, 5(2), 137–184. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar “imagistic” conception of gesture and his theory of the origin of language. In their stead, the article presents a kinesiological approach, and advances a hypothesis for a dual origin of symbolic gesture. The significance of the human artifactual environment in this context allows us to give precedence to brachial articulation over image. In nonhuman apes, the dyadic brachial origins of gestures show striking similarities in form and meaning to human brachial gestures. Manual gestures linked to object manipulation appeared as humankind acquired manual skills. These gestures express triadic values. Before speech, humans most probably already used dyadic symbolic gestures.
Résumé
Cet article interroge quelques aspects de la conception ‘imagique’ des gestes chez (2014). Gesture – speech unity: Phylogenesis, ontogenesis, and microgenesis. Language, Interaction and Acquisition/Langage, Interaction et Acquisition, 5(2), 137–184. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar et sa théorie sur l’origine du langage. Je propose de présenter une approche de physiologie articulaire complémentaire, ainsi que l’hypothèse d’une double origine possible de la gestuelle symbolique. A ce titre, le rôle joué par l’environnement essentiellement artefactuel de l’homme autorise à donner plus d’importance aux articulations du membre supérieur qu’à l’image. En revenant sur les gestes des primates non humains, on voit que leur origine brachiale et dyadique révèle des similarités frappantes quant à leurs formes et à leurs significations avec les gestes brachiaux humains. A côté de cette origine brachiale, des gestes manuels en lien avec la manipulation apparaissent dès que l’humanité a acquis de bonnes habiletés manuelles. Ces gestes expriment alors des valeurs triadiques. Avant l’apparition de la parole, les êtres humains ont probablement déjà utilisé des gestes symboliques dyadiques.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.An imagistic semiotics of gesture?
    • 2.1The relative importance of the influence of vision and proprioception
    • 2.2From praxic to symbolic gestures
    • 2.3Does ontogeny support the imagistic approach to gesture?
  • 3.The evolution of gestures and neuroscience
    • 3.1Single or dual gestural origin?
      • 3.1.1Communicative gestural organization in nonhuman primates
      • 3.1.2Semantic proximities of brachial gestures between great apes and humans
    • 3.2A dual origin of gestures in evolution?
  • 4.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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