Gestures are an integral part of human communication, often overlooked in favor of the spoken word. This chapter explores how gestures enhance communication, vary across cultures, and impact speech fluency.
Gestures are a crucial aspect of face-to-face communication, predating writing by hundreds of thousands of years.
Gestures vary depending on the audience; communication with collaborators involves larger, more detailed gestures than with competitors.
Removing gestures can negatively impact speech fluency, reducing sentence complexity and vocabulary access.
Gestures serve as a communication tool, helping to maintain interaction and convey meaning.