A broad categorization of gestures
entry ::= code_set [op code_set]* code_set ::= code [set_op code]* code ::= "C" | deictic | "E" | "FA" | "G" | "S" | representational deictic ::= "DP" | "DP.nl" | "DS" | "DSDP" representational ::= ("R.a" | "R.d" | "R.m") [".pp" | ".e" ] | "R.met" set_op ::= "/" op ::= ";"
Codes have the following interpretation:
| Code | Gesture Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C | Conventional | Culturally-determined or ritualized gestures that serve as symbolic replacements for ideas that are produced in similar form every time. |
| DP | Deictic point | Indication of a distal object through directional extension of the finger, hand, limb, or head. |
| .nl | Non-literal suffix for DP | Gesture uses a point to one object or location to reference a different object or location. |
| DS | Deictic show | Drawing attention to an object or body part by holding it up towards the interlocutor. |
| DSDP | Deictic show and deictic point | Combination of a deictic show and a deictic point |
| G | Give | Requesting an object by reaching towards the interlocutor with the hand palm-up |
| E | Emphatic | Simple manual gestures or nods marking the prosody of speech through temporal correlation with particular words or syllables |
| FA | Functional act | Gesture-like movements that re-enact desired actions (demonstrators) or start object transfers (hold out). |
| S | Sign | Gesture is a sign from either baby sign or ASL. |
| R.a | Representing attribute | Iconic gesture characterizing an entity by means of specifying an attribute or a part associated with the entity, or the entity itself |
| R.d | Representing direction | Iconic gesture characterizing the direction of the motion |
| R.m | Representing motion | Iconic gesture characterizing an entity by means of an action associated with the entity |
| R.met | Representing metaphoric | Representational gesture indicating a metaphorical object or movement |
| .pp | Pretend play suffix for R.(a|d|m|met) | Gesture is used to mime specific actions from an imagined scene. not shared with most other children in the |
| .e | Emblem suffix for R.a, R.d, R.m, and R.met | Gesture appears to be conventional but is not shared with most other children in the sample. |
Ops have the following interpretation:
| Op | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ; | Separates all codes |
| / | Used to combine representational codes into single units |
None
G_Type is dependent on the Form Column and the Gloss Column.
Generally, G_Type must have the same number of codes and ops as the Form entry on which it depends. However, this guideline is made inaccurate by two factors:
As a result, the number of codes and ops in the G_Type column is related to the codes in Form, but the relation is not 1:1.
G_Type codes must be drawn from the following table based on the corresponding Form code or Gloss value:
| G_Type | Form Code (or Gloss Value) |
|---|---|
| C | Form is any conventional gesture |
| DP | cont palm, cont point, palm, point |
| DP.nl | cont palm, cont point, palm, point |
| DS | hold |
| DSDP | The sequence hold + P or P + hold, where P is cont palm, cont point, palm, or point. |
| E | beat |
| FA | demo in Form or take in Gloss |
| G | give in Gloss |
| R.((a|d|m)[.e|.pp]|met) | iconic or metaphoric |
| S | sign |