Hand Movements
There are three different classes that are relevant to distinguishing most hand movements. These classes are emblems, illustrators, and adaptors.
Emblems
Emblems are non verbal acts that can be replaced by a word of two without substantially modifying the conversation. There are five different ways that can classify if something is an emblem or not.
1. Have direct verbal translation usually consisting of a word or two, or a phrase
2. This precise meaning is known by most or all members of a group, class, subculture, or culture
3. Most often deliberately used with the conscious intent to send a particular message to the other person(s)
4. For which the person(s) who sees the emblem usually not only knows the emblem’s message but also knows that it was deliberately sent to her or him
5. Which the sender usually takes responsibility for having made that communication
People who make an emblem are most of the time aware of the use of their emblem. Just like slips of the tongue, there can be emblematic slips. An example of a situation that an emblem can be used could be between a pilot and the landing crew. Emblems most often occur when verbal discourse is prevented by external circumstances, by distance, by agreement, or by organic impairment. Emblems can also be used during conversation, repeating a verbalized message, replacing a word or two, adding a separate message not necessarily part of the verbal discourse, or contradicting the verbalization.
Illustrators
Illustrators are those acts which are intimately related on a moment-to-moment basis with speech, with phrasing content, voice contour or loudness. Illustrators usually augment what is being said verbally, but may contradict the verbalization or be used as a substitute for a word. These are similar to emblems in that they are used with awareness and intentionality. Illustrators are usually in peripheral, not focal, awareness. They differ from emblems in a number of ways. Illustrators do not have as precise a verbal definition and for some, there is no obvious or agreed upon verbal translation of the act. Illustrators do not occur without conversation, or the rehearsal of conversation. They are also only shown by the speaker in a conversation, not by the listener. Something that’s important to know is that illustrators vary with ethnic background and also social class and age. There are eight different types of illustrators.
1. Batons: Movements which accent or emphasize a particular word or phrase
2. Ideographs: movements which sketch the path or direction of thought
3. Deictic movements: pointing to an object, place, or event
4. Spatial movements: Movements which depict a spatial relationship
5. Rhythmic movements: Movements which depict the rhythm or pacing of an event
6. Kinetographs: Movements which depict a bodily action, or some non human physical action
7. Pictographs: Movements which draw a picture in the air of the shape of the referent
8. Emblematic Movements: Emblems used to illustrate a verbal statement, either repeating or substituting for a word of phrase
Adaptors
Adaptors are movements first learned as part of an effort to satisfy self needs or body needs, or to perform certain bodily actions, or to manage and cop with emotions, or the develop or maintain prototypic interpersonal contacts, or to learn instrumental activities. Adaptors are in a category all in its own. It has little intentionality and awareness. Self-adaptors will occur often with high frequency and in their most complete form, when the person is alone. Self-adaptors will increase with psychological discomfort or anxiety.
Emblems
Emblems are non verbal acts that can be replaced by a word of two without substantially modifying the conversation. There are five different ways that can classify if something is an emblem or not.
1. Have direct verbal translation usually consisting of a word or two, or a phrase
2. This precise meaning is known by most or all members of a group, class, subculture, or culture
3. Most often deliberately used with the conscious intent to send a particular message to the other person(s)
4. For which the person(s) who sees the emblem usually not only knows the emblem’s message but also knows that it was deliberately sent to her or him
5. Which the sender usually takes responsibility for having made that communication
People who make an emblem are most of the time aware of the use of their emblem. Just like slips of the tongue, there can be emblematic slips. An example of a situation that an emblem can be used could be between a pilot and the landing crew. Emblems most often occur when verbal discourse is prevented by external circumstances, by distance, by agreement, or by organic impairment. Emblems can also be used during conversation, repeating a verbalized message, replacing a word or two, adding a separate message not necessarily part of the verbal discourse, or contradicting the verbalization.
Illustrators
Illustrators are those acts which are intimately related on a moment-to-moment basis with speech, with phrasing content, voice contour or loudness. Illustrators usually augment what is being said verbally, but may contradict the verbalization or be used as a substitute for a word. These are similar to emblems in that they are used with awareness and intentionality. Illustrators are usually in peripheral, not focal, awareness. They differ from emblems in a number of ways. Illustrators do not have as precise a verbal definition and for some, there is no obvious or agreed upon verbal translation of the act. Illustrators do not occur without conversation, or the rehearsal of conversation. They are also only shown by the speaker in a conversation, not by the listener. Something that’s important to know is that illustrators vary with ethnic background and also social class and age. There are eight different types of illustrators.
1. Batons: Movements which accent or emphasize a particular word or phrase
2. Ideographs: movements which sketch the path or direction of thought
3. Deictic movements: pointing to an object, place, or event
4. Spatial movements: Movements which depict a spatial relationship
5. Rhythmic movements: Movements which depict the rhythm or pacing of an event
6. Kinetographs: Movements which depict a bodily action, or some non human physical action
7. Pictographs: Movements which draw a picture in the air of the shape of the referent
8. Emblematic Movements: Emblems used to illustrate a verbal statement, either repeating or substituting for a word of phrase
Adaptors
Adaptors are movements first learned as part of an effort to satisfy self needs or body needs, or to perform certain bodily actions, or to manage and cop with emotions, or the develop or maintain prototypic interpersonal contacts, or to learn instrumental activities. Adaptors are in a category all in its own. It has little intentionality and awareness. Self-adaptors will occur often with high frequency and in their most complete form, when the person is alone. Self-adaptors will increase with psychological discomfort or anxiety.