“Gesture as representational action”

In countries such as Japan, China, India, and Iran there are gestures that convey different meanings in comparison with gestures we use in the United States. Find an example of a gesture from any country of the world that you did not know about. Provide a link and/or explain the gesture, the meaning, and compare (why or why not we interpret it differently or it does not exist in the United States). You may refer to gestures presented in the “Word of Gestures” video.

Based Novack et al. (2017) “Gesture as representational action” article, how can gestures lead learners to new ideas or concepts? Please explain in your own words but be specific.
PART II

First, watch video “Understanding and detecting deception” by Dr. Norah Dunbar and read Edward Hall's article on deception detection. Then, respond to the following questions in specific, concrete, complete, and clear manner:

According to Dr. Dunbar, what is “response latency” and how does it relate to deception?
According Dr. Dunbar, why “gaze aversion” is not in the list of deception cues?

Full Answer Section

       
  • Gestures and Learning: According to Novack et al. (2017), gestures can lead learners to new ideas or concepts by providing a concrete, embodied representation of abstract concepts. Gestures can help learners to visualize and manipulate information, making it easier to understand and remember. For example, a teacher might use gestures to demonstrate the concept of addition or subtraction, or to explain the structure of a sentence. By using gestures, teachers can help learners to connect their existing knowledge with new concepts, making learning more meaningful and engaging.

Part II:

  • Response Latency: According to Dr. Dunbar, response latency is the time it takes for someone to answer a question or respond to a request. She states that people who are lying tend to have longer response latencies than people who are telling the truth. This is because it takes them longer to formulate a lie and then deliver it convincingly.

  • Gaze Aversion: Dr. Dunbar does not include gaze aversion in her list of deception cues because it is not a reliable indicator of lying. People may avoid eye contact for a variety of reasons, such as shyness, anxiety, or cultural norms. Therefore, it is not a good indicator of whether or not someone is being truthful.

 

Sample Answer

       

Part I:

  • Gesture Example: The "OK" sign, formed by touching the thumb and forefinger to create a circle, is a common gesture in the United States and many Western countries, meaning "all is well" or "okay." However, this same gesture has very different meanings in other cultures. In Brazil, it can be considered vulgar, and in some parts of Europe, it means "zero."

  • Link: You can find more information about the cultural variations of the "OK" sign and other gestures in this article: [invalid URL removed]

  • Explanation: This example highlights how the same gesture can have vastly different meanings depending on cultural context. It's important to be aware of these differences to avoid misunderstandings and cultural faux pas when communicating with people from different backgrounds.