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Article published In:
Gesture
Vol. 15:2 (2016) ► pp.156–191

The depiction of size and shape in gestures accompanying object descriptions in Anyi (Côte d’Ivoire) and in Dutch (The Netherlands)

| Leiden University

A comparison of size gestures made during object descriptions by Anyi speakers from the Ivory Coast and Dutch speakers in the Netherlands reveals considerable formational differences. Firstly, whereas all Anyi speakers make use of body parts to depict size and shape, none of the Dutch speakers do. Secondly, Dutch gestures outlining a size and shape in space are more varied than their Anyi counterparts in the number and distribution of the different handshapes, orientations, and movements. In addition, we report comparisons among Anyi speakers in which body parts are used as a way of showing the size of objects with signs for sizes employed in the sign language used by deaf and hearing signers in Adamorobe, a village community in Ghana that is linguistically and culturally related to the Anyi communities in Côte d’Ivoire. This comparison reveals significant similarities as well as differences, suggesting how co-speech gestures may have been adapted for use in this sign language.

Keywords: embodiment, size and shape, cultural variation in iconic gestures, Côte d'Ivoire, Akan, Anyi/Agni (Kwa), Dutch
Published online: 19 July 2016
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https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.15.2.02nys
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