Hi-

I’m writing a section on gesture for my website.  I’m trying to locate a particular term, and I haven’t been able to find it.

 

I’m trying to convey two of the main types of categories of gesture that our clients use for communication-

 

1.       Natural / Informal gesture -  Gestures which arise naturally, are transparent, and could easily be understood by the casual observer… (For example, if I mime wiping my nose, it means “bring me a Kleenex”, or if I wave it means “hello”.)

2.       Constructed/ Formal gestures-  This is when a person/family assigns a meaning to a particular gesture… (For example, when I look up at the ceiling, that means please tilt my chair back.)

 

 

I’ve been using the terms above, but I don’t know what the real technical terms are.  I’ve been hunting on the internet, and through my text books, but I haven’t been able to find an answer. 

 

Thanks for any ideas on this!

 

Margaret Cotts