Susan Goldin-Meadow

Susan Goldin-Meadow, a leading researcher in language development, shares her insights into the power of gestures in communication and learning. She discusses how gestures facilitate complex ideas and enhance memory in children, even among those who are deaf or blind. The conversation touches on unconscious biases expressed through gestures and how home signs evolve into formal sign languages. Goldin-Meadow also explores the impact of online learning on our ability to communicate through gestures, shedding light on their vital role in shaping thoughts.

Susan Goldin-Meadow, distinguished scholar of psychology at the University of Chicago, discusses the significance of hand gestures in communication, exploring their ability to reveal thoughts, enhance learning, and reshape thinking patterns. She highlights research on deaf children inventing their own gesture languages and explores the implications of gestures in education and law. The impact of gesturing in learning and communication, as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for gesturing, are also discussed.