Gestures are hand movements we use automatically (or even consciously) to supplement or replace verbal communications. According to some experts, gestures (i) call attention to important parts of speech, (ii) provide information not available in speech, (iii) replace words that are not immediately accessible and (iv) offer a shared means for silent group communication.
Children learn to gesture quite early, probably by observing adults, and use gestures to communicate information they cannot yet do verbally. It can be seen as revealing unspoken thoughts and skills that children are on the verge of learning. Gesturing can also influence children’s learning.
Gesturing is so ingrained that we often supplement our speech with gestures even when the other party to the conversation cannot see it, as during a telephone conversation. Politicians might use gesturing consciously to give an impression that they are honest and trustworthy (and even intelligent).
Despite the universality and importance of gestures, its purpose, development and mechanisms do not appear to have been studied with the kind of seriousness that other topics have received. One theory has it that gesturing is intended to conjure up spoken words, and also complements the words to increase comprehension by the listener.
Read an article on how gesturing promotes skill acquisition through childhood at World.Intellectualprops.com.
