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Gestures in language developmentEdited by Marianne Gullberg and Kees de Bot
[Gesture 8:2] 2008
► pp. 149–179
Edited by Marianne Gullberg and Kees de Bot
[Gesture 8:2] 2008
► pp. 149–179
Gestures and some key issues in the study of language development
Virginia Volterra | Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie della Cognizione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISTC, CNR), Roma
The purpose of the current paper is to outline how gestures can contribute to the study of some key issues in language development. Specifically, we (1) briefly summarise what is already known about gesture in the domains of first and second language development, and development or changes over the life span more generally; (2) highlight theoretical and empirical issues in these domains where gestures can contribute in important ways to further our understanding; and (3) summarise some common themes in all strands of research on language development that could be the target of concentrated research efforts.
Keywords: second language, first language, ageing, development, acquisition
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