LANGUAGE AND GESTURE

LIN2LAG

2014

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject introduces the student to the study of gesture, focusing on its use in face-to-face interaction to demonstrate gesture's varied role in communication. The subject will begin with a discussion of the history of the study of gesture, exploring the relationship between gesture and signed languages, and how the use of gesture varies according to cultural and language differences. The emphasis in this subject will be on the semiotic and linguistic dimensions of gestural communication, but the unit will also touch on the neurological and psycholinguistic aspects of gesture, its developmental course in infants and children, and its possible role in the evolution of language.

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Adam Schembri

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: DFS2LAG

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsGesture: Visible action as utterancePrescribedKendon, A. (2004).CAMBRIDGE: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
ReadingsGesture and thoughtRecommendedMcNeill, D. (2005)UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
ReadingsHearing gesture: How our hands help us thinkRecommendedGoldin-Meadow, S. (2003)HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
ReadingsLanguage and gestureRecommendedMcNeill, D. (Ed.). (2000)CAMBRIDGE

Melbourne, 2014, Semester 2, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Adam Schembri

Class requirements

Lecture/SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via blended.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%
One 2,000 assignment50
One draft + final 2000 word essay50