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== Research Throughout the Ages ==
Gestures have been studied throughout time from different philosophers.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kendon|first=A|authorlink=Adam Kendon|year=1982|title=The study of gesture: Some observations on its history|journal=Recherches Sémiotiques/Semiotic Inquiry|volume=2|issue=1|pages=45–62}}</ref> [[Quintilian|Marcus Fabius Quintilianus]] was a [[Roman people|Roman]] [[Rhetoric
A study done in 1644, by [[John Bulwer]] an [[English people|English]] [[physician]] and early [[Baconian method|Baconian]] [[Natural philosophy|natural philosopher]] wrote five works exploring human communications pertaining to gestures.
[[Andrew N. Meltzoff]] an American psychologist conducted who's internationally renown on infant and child development conducted a study in 1977 on the imitation of facial and manual gestures by new born. The study concluded that "infants between 12 and 21 days of age can imitate the facial and manual gestures of parents".
Gesture has frequently been taken up by researchers in the field of dance studies and performance studies in ways that emphasize the ways they are culturally and contextually inflected. Performance scholar, Carrie Noland, describes gestures as "learned techniques of the body" and stresses the way gestures are embodied corporeal forms of cultural communication.<ref>Noland, Carrie. ''Agency and Embodiment : Performing Gestures/producing Culture''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2009. p. 2.
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[[File:Unclesamwantyou.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Pointing]] at another person with an extended finger is considered rude in many cultures.]]
Humans have the ability to communicate through language, but they can also express through gestures. In particular, gestures can be transmitted through movements of body parts, face, and body expressions.
=== Communicative vs. informative ===
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==== Communicative (Active Gestures) ====
Communicative gestures are gestures that are produced intentionally and meaningfully by a person as a way of intensifying or modifying speech produced in the vocal tract (or with the hands in the case of sign languages), even though a speaker may not be actively aware that they are producing communicative gestures.
== Body Language Relating to Gestures ==
Body language is a form of [[Nonverbal communication|non-verbal communication]] that allows visual cues that transmit messages without speaking. Gestures are movement that are made with the body: arms, hands, facial, etc.
Finger gestures are commonly used in a variety of ways, from point at something to indicate that you want to show a person something to indicating a thumbs up to show everything is good.
Also, in most cultures nodding your head signifies "Yes", which the book "The Definitive Book of Body Language" describes as submissive gesture to representing the conversation is going the direction of the person speaking. Interesting, the book explains that people who are born deaf can show a form of submissive gesture to signify "Yes".
== Manual vs. non-manual communicative gestures ==
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=== Manual gestures ===
A gesture that is a form of communication in which bodily actions communicate particular messages. Manual gestures are most commonly broken down into four distinct categories: Symbolic (Emblematic), [[Deixis|Deictic]] (Indexical), Motor (Beat), and Lexical (Iconic)<ref name=":0" /> It is important to note that manual gesture in the sense of communicative co-speech gesture does not include the gesture-signs of [[Sign language|Sign Language]]<nowiki/>s, even though sign language is communicative and primarily produced using the hands, because the gestures in [[Sign language|Sign Language]] are not used to intensify or modify the speech produced by the vocal tract, rather they communicate fully productive language through a method alternative to the [[vocal tract]].
==== Symbolic (emblematic) ====
{{Main|List of gestures}}The most familiar are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures. These are conventional, culture-specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words, such as the handwave used in the US for "hello" and "goodbye". A single emblematic gesture can have a very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive.<ref>Morris, Desmond, Collett, Peter, Marsh, Peter, O'Shaughnessy, Marie. 1979. Gestures, their origins and distribution. London. Cape</ref> The page [[List of gestures]] discusses emblematic gestures made with one hand, two hands, hand and other body parts, and body and facial gestures.
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Gesturing is probably universal; there has been no report of a community that does not gesture. Gestures are a crucial part of everyday conversation such as chatting, describing a route, negotiating prices on a market; they are ubiquitous.<ref name=":8">Axtell, R. (1993). Do's and taboos around the world. (3rd ed., p. 116). Wiley. Retrieved from http://www.sheltonstate.edu/Uploads/files/faculty/Angela%20Gibson/Sph%20106/taboos0001.pdf</ref> Gestures are learned embodied cultural practices that can function as a way to interpret [[Ethnic group|ethnic,]] gender, and [[sexual identity]].
Gestures, commonly referred to as "[[body language]]," play an important role in industry. Proper body language etiquette in business dealings can be crucial for success. However, gestures can have different meanings according to the country in which they are expressed. In an age of global business, diplomatic cultural sensitivity has become a necessity. Gestures that we take as innocent may be seen by someone else as deeply insulting.
The following gestures are examples of proper etiquette with respect to different countries’ customs on salutations:
* In the [[United States]], "a firm handshake, accompanied by direct eye contact, is the standard greeting. Direct eye contact in both social and business situations is very important."<ref>Morris, Desmond. ''Bodytalk: a World Guide to Gestures''. Jonathan Cape, 1995.</ref>
* In the [[China|People's Republic of China]], "the Western custom of shaking a person's hand upon introduction has become widespread throughout the country. However, oftentimes a nod of the head or a slight bow will suffice."
* In [[Japan]], "the act of presenting business cards is very important. When presenting, one holds the business card with both hands, grasping it between the thumbs and forefingers. The presentation is to be accompanied by a slight bow. The print on the card should point towards the person to which one is giving the card."
* In [[Germany]], "it is impolite to shake someone's hand with your other hand in your pocket. This is seen as a sign of disrespect".
* In [[France]], "a light, quick handshake is common. To offer a strong, pumping handshake would be considered uncultured. When one enters a room, be sure to greet each person present. A woman in France will offer her hand first."<ref>Axtell, R. (1993). Worldsmart: Gestures around the world. World Smart Resource Center, Retrieved from http://www.globalbusinessleadership.com/gestures_overview.asp</ref>
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A common religious gesture include crossing oneself in a number of Christian religions as a sign of respect, typically by kneeling before a sacred object in many.<ref name="VASC, Dermina 2013">VASC, Dermina, and Thea IONESCU. "Embodying Cognition: Gestures And Their Role In The Development Of Thinking." Cognitie, Creier, Comportament/Cognition, Brain, Behavior 17.2 (2013): 149-150. Academic Search Complete. Web.</ref> Gestures play a central role in religious or spiritual rituals such as the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[sign of the cross]].
Gestures are also a means to initiate a [[Courtship|mating ritual]]. This may include elaborate [[
Gesturing is probably universal; there has been no report of a community that does not gesture. Gestures are a crucial part of everyday conversation such as chatting, describing a route, negotiating prices on a market; they are ubiquitous.
Additionally, when people use gestures, there is a certain shared background knowledge. Different cultures use similar gestures when talking about a specific action such as how we gesture the idea of drinking out of a cup.
When an individual makes a gesture, another person can understand because of recognition of the actions/shapes.<ref name="VASC, Dermina 2013" />
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