ATS3325 · Body talk: Gesture, gaze and sign language

Overview

How does the body fit into communication? What do eye gaze and gestures contribute to spoken or signed interactions? Do we gesture differently when we are speaking with friends than with our boss or clients in a professional situation? Do speakers of different languages and with different cultural backgrounds gesture differently? How is gesturing distinct from signed languages? Human language is inherently embodied and grounded in our physical/sensory perception of the world. In this unit we investigate the multimodal, embodied nature of language and its implication for cognition. Multimodality characterizes any kind of communicative practice that draws on linguistic, aural, textual, spatial and visual resources to compose messages. We consider the interaction of spoken language and speech-accompanying gesture, the nature of signed languages multimodality in Aboriginal Australia, and the role of gesture and joint attention in child language acquisition, among other topics. We investigate cultural and linguistic differences in the domain of multimodality and the methodologies which are employed to study multimodal communication. You will use this knowledge to design a research proposal for analysing multimodal data and to describe the role and nature of multimodality and embodiment in communication.

Areas of study: Linguistics and English Language

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Analyse the role and nature of multimodality in communication;
2. Explain a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to studying multimodal language and cognition;
3. Critically evaluate different approaches to representing multimodal data and apply these skills to a small data set of your own choosing;
4. Design a research proposal, including research questions and appropriate methods for a small independent project in an area of your own choosing.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.