Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing What your hands are saying (even when you’re not thinking about it), with Lauren Gawne
Jun 12, 2025
Lauren Gawne, a senior lecturer in linguistics and co-host of Lingthusiasm, dives into the fascinating world of gestures. She reveals how our hands speak volumes, often overshadowing spoken words. Different cultures use gestures uniquely, enhancing communication in profound ways. Gawne discusses how gestures impact speech fluency and clarity, especially in various contexts. Plus, she explores the intriguing parallels between emojis and physical gestures, emphasizing their role in modern conversations. Prepare to see your hands in a whole new light!
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Gesture: Ancient Communication Tool
- Gesture is a fundamental and ancient part of human communication predating written language.
- It works with speech to create richer, more meaningful communication in face-to-face interaction.
Gestures Vary by Audience
- We subtly adjust gestures depending on whether our audience is a collaborator or competitor.
- For competitors, gestures are smaller and less detailed to convey less information.
Tricks to Study Gesture
- Researchers use tricks like fake electrodes or ergonomic restraints to study gesture without tipping off participants.
- Even simply asking people to place their hands on the table reduces gestures and affects speech fluency.
