Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning
Language and gesture are highly interdependent systems that reciprocally influence each other. For example, performing a gesture when learning a word or a phrase enhances its retrieval compared to pure verbal learning. Although the enhancing effects of co-speech gestures on memory are known to be ro...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology
2012-11-01
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| Series: | Biolinguistics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5964/bioling.8931 |
| _version_ | 1797338074248642560 |
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| author | Manuela Macedonia Katharina von Kriegstein |
| author_facet | Manuela Macedonia Katharina von Kriegstein |
| author_sort | Manuela Macedonia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Language and gesture are highly interdependent systems that reciprocally influence each other. For example, performing a gesture when learning a word or a phrase enhances its retrieval compared to pure verbal learning. Although the enhancing effects of co-speech gestures on memory are known to be robust, the underlying neural mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we summarize the results of behavioral and neuroscientific studies. They indicate that the neural representation of words consists of complex multimodal networks connecting perception and motor acts that occur during learning. In this context, gestures can reinforce the sensorimotor representation of a word or a phrase, making it resistant to decay. Also, gestures can favor embodiment of abstract words by creating it from scratch. Thus, we propose the use of gesture as a facilitating educational tool that integrates body and mind. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:25:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e913ba142374b2b8457c84aa120893c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1450-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:25:45Z |
| publishDate | 2012-11-01 |
| publisher | PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biolinguistics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e913ba142374b2b8457c84aa120893c2024-01-31T09:59:34ZengPsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for PsychologyBiolinguistics1450-34172012-11-0163-439341610.5964/bioling.89318931Gestures Enhance Foreign Language LearningManuela Macedonia0Katharina von Kriegstein1Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLanguage and gesture are highly interdependent systems that reciprocally influence each other. For example, performing a gesture when learning a word or a phrase enhances its retrieval compared to pure verbal learning. Although the enhancing effects of co-speech gestures on memory are known to be robust, the underlying neural mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we summarize the results of behavioral and neuroscientific studies. They indicate that the neural representation of words consists of complex multimodal networks connecting perception and motor acts that occur during learning. In this context, gestures can reinforce the sensorimotor representation of a word or a phrase, making it resistant to decay. Also, gestures can favor embodiment of abstract words by creating it from scratch. Thus, we propose the use of gesture as a facilitating educational tool that integrates body and mind.https://doi.org/10.5964/bioling.8931educationembodimentforeign language learninggesturememory |
| spellingShingle | Manuela Macedonia Katharina von Kriegstein Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning Biolinguistics education embodiment foreign language learning gesture memory |
| title | Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning |
| title_full | Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning |
| title_fullStr | Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning |
| title_short | Gestures Enhance Foreign Language Learning |
| title_sort | gestures enhance foreign language learning |
| topic | education embodiment foreign language learning gesture memory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5964/bioling.8931 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manuelamacedonia gesturesenhanceforeignlanguagelearning AT katharinavonkriegstein gesturesenhanceforeignlanguagelearning |