Perception study -- ASL vs. Gestures

[Richard J Senghas]

Ah, but we must be careful about assumptions of universality (or near-universality).  Both those particular gestures are extraordinarily rude in certain cultural contexts, and those are not small obscure locations but across sizable regions.  Granted, contemporary media continues to increase the diffusion of shared forms, but again, those forms (even when shared) take on additional local salience specific to those locales.

-RJS
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Richard J. Senghas, Professor            | Sonoma State University
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On Apr 23, 2012, at 7:56 AM, Adam Frost wrote:

> I suspect that Adam is referring to what some people would call "universal gestures" that are generally known regardless of knowing different languages. Some examples are thumbs up and A-ok. 
> 
> Adam
> The other one ;-)