header image

Grammar as gestural action

Jean-Rémi, Paul Lapaire (Université Michel de Montaigne-Bordeaux 3, France)

Saturday, May 19th
Buchanan B215

Building on Arnheim’s claim that « there are perceptual equivalents of all theoretical notions» (1969), McNeill’s theory of « abstract pointing » (1992, 2005), Talmy’s concept of « ception » (2000), I would like to show that the conceptual organization and hidden cognitive mechanisms of grammar can be made visible and meaningful by using special iconic, deicitic and metaphoric gestures called KineGrams (Lapaire 2006). This special kind of “gestural action” (Kendon 2004) and its associated symbolism require the creation, observation and manipulation of imaginary objects of conception, as well as a highly plastic and symbolic use of space in order to represent conceptual regions and domains of experience. In this visuokinetic rendering of grammatical processes and meanings, speakers and cognizers are cast in the role of viewers and movers who adopt a number of epistemic and socio-pragmatic stances. Postural and gestural analogs of grammatical notions and processes are thus created that are visually explicit.

The visuo-kinetic display is to a large extent image schematic (Johnson 1987, Lakoff & Johnson 1999), and consistent with the «schematicity » of grammatical meaning (Langacker 2000). KineGrams make full use of the « abstract properties of gesture » (McNeill 1992). More importantly, they enact some of the moves characteristically made by the IBC – or Idealized Body of Cognition (Lapaire 2008). This is the abstract body image and metaphoric bodily activity that is unconsciously invoked by ordinary speakers to construe and report socio-physical experience, like « weighing options », « grasping essentials » (HANDS), « going ahead », « following », « moving forward », « standing in the way » (LEGS / FEET), « observing », « looking back / ahead » (EYES), etc. KineGrams may serve as a basis for visuo-kinetic explorations of language structure and language use in workshop settings. In this presentation, filmed scenes from « Grammar and movement » sessions held with linguistics students (aged 20-30) and bilingual schoolchildren (aged 8-10) will be shown.

The presentation will end with remarks on how KineGrams may also be used to develop an awareness of the contribution of spontaneous gestural activity to grammatical meanings and processes in oral discourse. Examples will be given of the verbo-gestural construction of aspect, comparison, concession, epistemic modality, changes of state and processes, time reference, etc. in spontaneous speech (Calbris 1990, Fricke 2010). As will be shown, abstract grammatical meanings may be performed and even drawn by children, after careful observation and workshop practice.

See the attached PDF for figured and references:
Download PDF

a place of mind, The University of British Columbia

Faculty of Arts - Department of Englsh
397 - 1873 East Mall,
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
Email:

Emergency Procedures | Accessibility | Contact UBC  | © Copyright The University of British Columbia