Categories of gestures

Because gesture covers a wide range of phenomena, among others Ekman categorized them. He divided gestures into five categories: emblems, illustrators, regulators, affects displays, and adaptors (or manipulators). ([Malandro, Barker & Barker 1989]; [Kendon 1983])

1. Emblems (autonomous gestures)

   Emblems are gestures that can be used instead of speech. The three major characteristics of emblems are:

   • they have a direct verbal translation
   • they are known by almost everybody in a social group
   • they shall have a particular effect on the recipient

   Emblems (autonomous gestures) are very rare in contrast to illustrators, the second category of manual gestures. This depends on the properties of this kind gesture as opposed to speech: gesture is more rapid to express a single unit of meaning and it can be employed over greater distances.

   Example:

   Thumbs-up In the United States this gesture means "all right", but it can have a totally different meaning in other countries. In a communication process you have to be aware of these cultural differences. In many countries throughout Europe "Thumbs-up" is an insulting gesture, standing for "up yours...".

   There are also gestures which are used worldwide:

   shoulder shrugging (don't know), headshake (negation), headnod (affirmation).
   

2. Illustrators

   Illustrators are gestures that are used to illustrate spoken words. Their major functions are:

   • to encode difficult messages/material, which is a communicative effort of the speaker
   • help the receiver to decode messages more easily than without the use of gestures.

   Examples:

   • Giving directions - pointing
   • Outlining a picture of a referent
   
   
3. Regulators

   Regulators support the interaction and communication between sender and recipient.

   Examples:

   • Movements of the head, neck, eyes
   • Hand gestures
   • Posture
   
   
4. Affect Displays

   Affect displays are facial expressions combined with posture which reflect the intensity of an emotion.

   
   

5. Adaptors

   Adaptors are gestures that are not used intentionally during a communication or interaction. They are difficult to recognize.

   Adaptors can take two forms:

   (a)

   body-focused, e.g. scratching

   (b)

   object-focused, e.g. smoking

   Theories concerning adaptors:

   • Adaptors are gestures that were at one point used for personal convenience but have turned into a habit (adjusting glasses in a tense situation).
   • Adaptors are linked with negative feelings, e.g. anxiety (increase of anxiety - increase of self-contact).
   • Body-focused gestures are representations of uncertainty whereas object-focused gestures depend on the type of information and the type of listner available.

   In any communicative situation the use of gestures depends on whether the speaker thinks they are available for the listener. Thus in face-to-face communications you will observe more gestures than in telephone communications.

   These five categories are common in speech using communities.