The Oft-Forgotten Imagistic Modality of Spoken Language

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The Oft-Forgotten Imagistic Modality of Spoken
Language

• Thomas Nash
• I. Introduction
• A. Gestures are part of the utterance
• B. What does this mean for language learning?
• II. Background concepts
• A. Synchronic diachronic aspects of spoken
• language
• B. Paradigmatic and syntagmatic contrasts
• C. Pure linguistic value and intrinsic value

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• III. Speech and gesture
• A. Speech is linear and segmented
• B. Gestures represent imagistic thinking
• (1) Nonarbitrary
• (2) Noncompositional
• (3) Part of the utterance
• (a) Synchronized with speech
• (b) Take over semantic complexity

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• IV. Learner examples
• A. Child language
• B. Foreign language
• V. Examples of questions raised
• A. In public speaking
• B. In the process of language learning
• VI. Conclusion