Gesture w/ Video |
Gesture Description |
Mode of Reception: functional usage |
armshake |
Highly variable in form (from a few flicks of a hand to a large
motion with both arms), armshake was performed frequently by
both Kubie and Zura, but in highest number by Zura; it was her
most frequent gesture. Barney also adopted armshake as a
youngster, but it was not performed by any other gorillas in the
group. Armshake for Kubie had high rates of visual attention
from the partner gorilla, resultant play contact, and
accompanying playface. It was sometimes performed simultaneously
by both gorillas and seemed to reflect agreement upon play.
Though usually a prelude to activity in play, armshake for Zura
also had other uses; reflecting the onset of aggressive action
on the part of other gorillas, or as part of her agonistic
displays to others. |
Visual: Attention Getter, Motion Depiction |
armswing under |
Armswing under was performed almost exclusively by Kubie. It had
the highest rates of visual attention from the partner gorilla,
resultant play contact, and accompanying playface, of any of
his gestures. Armswing under moves from a touch on, or reach
toward, the partner gorilla's body, back to the area between the
gesturing gorilla's legs. It is often combined with tap other
and head nod. It draws a motion path from the play partner to
the gesturer and seems to say "you come here (to me)." |
Visual: Motion Depiction |
away |
Arm motion performed in space directed toward but not touching
another gorilla. Indicates a desire for other gorilla to move
away. |
Visual: Motion Depiction, Negative |
bite |
Actual biting of the side of own finger or hand. Often preceded
or followed biting play. Bite can also be used as an inhibition
of real biting; this use has been observed in other captive
gorillas and in the wild. |
Visual: Motion Depiction |
body beat |
The chestbeating motion transferred to a different area of the
body- shoulders, legs, stomach, was quite frequent. |
Visual, Audible: Attention Getter |
chest pat |
Kubie’s gesture, quite distinct from chest beating: a holding of
the hand in contact with the chest making a gentle patting
motion, directing attention to the gorilla’s body. Chest pat had
high accompanying visual attention and subsequent play contact,
though a low percent of playfaces. Gorilla keepers reported that
Kubie’s father Bwana for many years made this gesture when
requesting food; however for Kubie it was only observed in a
social play context. |
Visual: Attention Getter, Indicator |
chestbeat |
An innate physical motion for all gorillas, chestbeating
nevertheless has many different usages. It can be part of an
aggressive display or simply a playful release of energy. For
Kubie chestbeating was never accompanied by a playface and
almost never resulted in contact play soon after. It was often
performed at a distance from another gorilla, but in the
majority of cases served to direct attention of another gorilla
to the chestbeating gorilla or to result in the other gorilla
changing its direction of locomotion. |
Audible: Attention Getter |
clap |
Just like human clapping, gorillas clap in many different
contexts. All the gorillas except the oldest, Pogo and Bwana,
clapped frequently. Clapping can be an attention getter, but was
also used in some different ways, particularly by young Barney,
who clapped more than anyone else. He would often clap before or
after performing some new or challenging action, as if it were a
warm-up to prepare or focus himself, or an announcement of
success. Clapping was also often exchanged between gorillas. |
Audible: Attention Getter |
come |
The extended palm, “come,” is often called a begging gesture,
but it was used only socially in our observations and not in
association with food. Both gorillas used this gesture; in about
half the cases, the other gorilla moved toward the gesturer; in
one case, the gesturer subsequently pulled the other gorilla
closer. |
Visual: Motion Depiction |
down |
A flinging downward in space of an arm, sometimes from overhead.
Anticipates downward movement by self or other. |
Visual: Motion Depiction |
head nod |
Head nod was performed by Kubie only, and was the most frequent
of all his gestures. It was performed with a high rate of visual
attention from the partner gorilla and was followed by a high
level of play contact. This action directed Kubie’s own gaze to
himself and thus also the partner’s gaze. Head nod was often
performed when Kubie was quadrupedal, or was combined with other
gestures; in both circumstances, he was using his hands for
something else, and head motion was an available way to send a
message. |
Visual: Attention Getter, Motion Depiction |
hide playface |
Hide playface was Zura’s gesture exclusively. She would cover
her mouth with one or both hands, and when she did this a
playface was visible beneath, or present before she covered it.
A study of 24 instances of hide playface showed that it was
usually followed by no play, or the cessation of play, and that
it was understood by her play partner Kubie, who would in most
cases not approach. |
Visual: Negative |
knock |
A fist hitting an object in the environment was often an
attention getter directed toward another gorilla. Sometimes
knock was followed by waiting for a response from another
gorilla, who would often approach, sometimes going to the area
where the knock was targeted. Knock was performed mostly by
Kubie. |
Audible: Attention Getter, Indicator |
pat off |
Similar to tap other, this gesture was performed in a
distinctive way, holding the gesture briefly with a slight push
away and then quickly removing the hand. It often ended rounds
of play. |
Visual, Tactile: Negative |
slap |
A slap on a surface was a frequent gesture of Zura, and in later
periods, the favorite gesture of young Shango. It often
functioned as a “start” or “go” signal for play. |
Audible: Attention Getter, Indicator |
tactile gestures |
See tactile gestures page. |
Tactile: Motion Depiction |
tap other |
A brief contact by knuckles or fingers of the gorilla’s hand
with another gorilla, and then pulling back; not a forceful or
“hitting” action. It was another gesture with relatively high
accompanying visual attention and subsequent play contact. It
seemed to serve to notify the other gorilla that it was the
object of further action. A variation was pat off, performed
with a distinctive “up and off” motion, that often ended rounds
of play; it was catalogued separately. |
Visual, Tactile: Attention Getter, Indicator |
wrist glance |
Just like a human glancing at a watch, this movement was
associated with delay of action. This was Zura’s gesture; she
would also sometimes drum her fingers, another familiar action
also seen in humans. |
Visual: Negative |