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Iconic Gestures
An iconic gesture is one that depicts a physical aspect
of its referent.
Iconic gestures, for the zoo gorillas,
involve the ability to both mentally represent and physically depict
action detached from the self in time and place; i.e. past or future events, or
action planned, intended, or desired for oneself or from others. Iconic gestures may come from both the TACTILE and VISUAL receptive categories.
Thus, examples may be gestures you have already seen on other pages:
Video examples:
armswing under,
down,
head nod,
tactile gestures.
See for a detailed analysis:
Tanner, Joanne E. &
Byrne, Richard W. (1996). Representation of action through iconic gesture in a
captive lowland gorilla. Current Anthropology, 37(1), 162-173.
Tanner, Joanne E. &
Byrne, Richard W. (1999). The development of spontaneous gestural communication
in a group of zoo-living lowland gorillas. In: The Mentalities of Gorillas
and Orangutans: Comparative Perspectives, pp. 211-239. Ed. Parker, S.T.,
Mitchell, R.W., and Miles, H. Lyn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. |
