29
Table One:
Bold font indicates the communicative function of the gesture.
Reading the table vertically from top to bottom shows aspects of each gesture becoming less physically complex.
Reading the table horizontally from left to right shows successive gestures becoming more conceptually complex.
Words:
Gesture 1
Gesture 2
Gesture 3
Gesture 4
Gesture 5
Gesture 6
Gesture 7
Gesture 8
“like a plastic, um,
stick al(most).”
Show vertical stick
Fingers trace up and
down narrow stick.
“(al)most with a
propeller on it.”
Retained only as
spatial reference.
Propeller placed on
top of virtual stick.
Show propeller on
top
Fingers point to both
ends of propeller.
“and you have to
push”
Retained only as
spatial reference.
Whirlygig action
performed in same
space.
Retained only as
spatial reference.
Whirlygig action
performed in same
space.
Whirlygig action
Including rub and
release only.
“holding your one
palm steady you
have to...”
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Stick sits
between palms.
Eliminated
physically. Not
conceptually
necessary.
Retained as spatial
reference and as left
hand position within
whirlygig action.
Stationary hand
Shows left hand by
slapping with right.
“...”
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Stick sits
between palms.
Eliminated
physically. Not
conceptually
necessary.
Less well formed
action: bigger angle
between hands and
smaller movement.
Retained as a more
rigid left hand
within the whirlygig
action.
More accurate
whirlygig action
Rub and release
with stationary
hand.
“push the other one
and let it go”
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Stick sits
between palms.
Eliminated
physically. Not
conceptually
necessary.
Even less well
formed action:
bigger angle
between hands and
even smaller
movement.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rigid
hand important to
success of action.
Retained only as the
less well formed
action.
Action with
release.
Rub and more
stylized release.
“go so that it”
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Stick sits
between palms.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Propeller
will make it spin.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rub
makes it spin.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rigid
hand help to make it
spin.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rub
makes it spin.
Retained only as
spatial reference.
Spinning path is
above whirlygig
action.
Spinning path
of toy
Finger traces
circular spinning
path.
“towards you ‘cause
it might hit your
face.”
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Stick sits
between palms.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Propeller
will make it spin.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rub
makes it spin.
Eliminated
physically. Not
conceptually
necessary.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Rub
makes it spin.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Release
to make toy fly in
face.
Eliminated
physically.
Conceptually
necessary. Toy
will spin into
face.
Possible
incorrect
action
Whirlygig
action with
other hand.
Convention