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Updated: Sep 17, 2025
05:15
The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
Published on: February 19, 2018
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Spatial metaphors of time elicit more temporal gestures in second language
1Department of Psychology, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Sariyer, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey. yakbuga18@ku.edu.tr.
Cognitive Processing
|July 3, 2025
Summary
Gesture differences reveal how Turkish and English speakers process spatial time metaphors. Second language (L2) English speakers use more gestures for L2 metaphors, with proficiency impacting gesture use.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Linguistics
- Psycholinguistics
- Gesture Studies
Background:
- Humans conceptualize abstract concepts like time using spatial metaphors.
- Hand gestures often reflect underlying cognitive processes and conceptualizations of time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate processing differences in spatial metaphors of time between native Turkish (L1) and second language (L2) English speakers.
- To compare gesture production for literal and metaphorical time statements in L1 and L2 contexts.
Main Methods:
- Participants explained literal and metaphorical sentences in both L1-Turkish and L2-English.
- Hand gestures were systematically coded during sentence explanations.
- Participants rated sentence conventionality and clarity.
Main Results:
- More gestures were produced for L1 literal and L2 metaphorical sentences.
- Higher L2 proficiency correlated with reduced gesture use in L2.
- L2 metaphors elicited more temporal and two-handed gestures compared to L1 metaphors.
- Gesture axes (lateral, sagittal) were used equally; beat gestures aligned with speech direction.
Conclusions:
- Spatial metaphors of time are processed distinctly in native and second languages.
- Gesture production offers insights into L1/L2 metaphor processing differences.
- Further research comparing L1/L2 metaphor processing via gesture is warranted.
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