| title: | Hand gestures and their communicative and sociocultural aspects |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5519 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
6. Humanities |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Philosophy |
| head of project: | Silvi Tenjes |
| duration: | 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2006 |
| description: | In Estonia, hand gestures in communicative processes have not been dealt with as an independent research programme. The main aims of the project are: (1) To study gestures and the relations between gestures and speech in the process of communication with the purpose of finding universal as well as sociocultural features in them; (2) To collect and systematise autonomous (emblematic) gestures in the Estonian cultural area; (3) To analyse both kinds of gesture in connection with language and overall human cognition. The study of the relations between gestures and speech in the context of pragmatics or discourse-centred linguistics has gained a special focus in gesture studies. The subject relates to the following topics: deictic reference, metaphor, descriptions of actions and objects, space-theoretical treatises in connection with cognition, theories of evolution and the origins of language. Similarities in the use of gestures in conversations of people who speak different languages provide insights into the deep cognitive level of the human mind; differences reveal valuable information concerning the socio-cultural dimension of such studies. The expected results, based on experimental research and Estonian data, are likely to be relevant to researchers of social behaviour, for devising communication strategies; linguistics and cultural studies (autonomous gestures, gestures accompanying speech in Estonian). A longer-term research project can make a significant contribution towards conclusive evidence in favour of or against different theories. The results of the research could provide a basis for creating better understanding of communication processes and strategies, both in theory and in practice. The results can be used also on various courses of lectures. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Kaja Kährik | Tartu University | Lecturer and Ph.D. student | |
| 2. | Silvi Tenjes | TU Faculty of Philosophy | senior research fellow | |