Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
07:18
Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Gesture in Communication
Published on: January 26, 2024
1.0K
Children Use Non-referential Gestures in Narrative Speech to Mark Discourse Elements Which Update Common Ground
Patrick Louis Rohrer1,2, Júlia Florit-Pons1, Ingrid Vilà-Giménez1,3
1Grup d'Estudis de Prosòdia (GrEP), Department of Translation and Language Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Frontiers in Psychology
|January 28, 2022
Summary
Non-referential gestures play a key role in marking information structure (IS) in children's speech. This developmental relationship strengthens as children grow, with non-referential gestures becoming more prominent in marking focus and new information.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Prior research suggests non-referential gestures mark information structure in adults.
- The developmental trajectory of gesture referentiality and information structure in children remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between information structure and gesture referentiality in children's narrative speech.
- To examine this relationship from a developmental perspective across two age groups.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study analyzed 332 narratives from 83 children at two developmental time points.
- Data were coded for information structure (IS) and gesture referentiality (referential vs. non-referential gestures).
Main Results:
- Both gesture types were more frequent with focus and comment than with background information.
- Children aged 7-9 used more non-referential gestures for focus/comment than referential gestures.
- Non-referential gestures marked new referents earlier and more consistently than referential gestures.
Conclusions:
- Non-referential gestures play a significant role in marking information structure in children's speech.
- The developmental link between non-referential gestures and information structure solidifies during a period of increased gesture production.
Keywords:
child developmentdiscourse referentsinformation structure (IS)multimodal developmentnarrative discoursenon-referential gesturereferential gestureMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
18
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
18
01:22Language Development
506
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
506
01:30Therapeutic Communication
5.8K
Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
5.8K
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
29
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
29
01:24Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game
18
The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...
18
01:28Channels of Non-Verbal Communication
37
Non-verbal communication plays a critical role in human interaction, influencing how individuals perceive emotions and psychological states. It operates through four primary channels: facial expressions, eye contact, body language, and touch. These non-verbal cues help convey meaning beyond spoken language and are often culturally influenced.Facial Expressions and Emotional RecognitionFacial expressions are among the most powerful and universal forms of non-verbal communication. Research has...
37