Do You Gesticulate?

I do... automatically, without even thinking about it. Is that a sign of a weak vocabulary? Or a deep desire to be perfectly understood? Or that I'm more right-brained?

-- Allen

What's vocabulary have to do with it?

I guess I just communicate better that way.

Terry

We use our hands as a kind of tellustrator to describe the concept that we discuss. It's quicker than drawing diagrams.

I gotta remember that one.

Though I do not gesticulate wildly.

But even on the phone I do it.

As to your question about possbile weak vocabulary, i would say that for those who gesticulate using only vulgar expressions, they have a problem; or those who throw and toss their arms about willy nilly have a problem.

But for normal gesticulating, I say that rather than think of it as a sign of a weak vocabulary, think of it as a sign of a strong vocabulary - a sound+kinesthetic vocabulary - and a deep desire not so much to be perfectly understood, but to be understandable and to try to eliminate as much of the ambiguity and vaguary that is inherent in the English language.

... and realize that they can't see what I'm drawing in the air. They can't see how far apart my hands are when I say it's about "this big".

-- Allen

And I'm highly verbal (read: blabbermouth). I've been told people who gesticulate can burn an extra 100 calories per day by doing so...hmm...

and sometimes she'll be talking to hearing individuals and she automatically starts signing words and phrases. It's pretty cool.

-- Allen

body language. Vocabulary plays an important role, but it's a smaller part of overall communication. Even people with a pizazz vocabulary can be easily misunderstood on the internet. When we can see their facial expressions and other gestures, there is much less room for ambiguity.

Gestures are often almost mandatory for accurate communication. Did you ever do the exercise where two people stand back to back, and one gives instructions to the other on how to tie a necktie?

You can usually tell when someone is mad as hell, even if they don't utter a word. :mad:

A relative of mine even grabbed my hands once and held them down while I was talking :mad:

But seriously, communication requires so much more than words to make meaning clear. For instance, when I'm watching presenters speak, I find they hold my attention better when they gesture than when they stand stock still.