Home
Nonverbal Dictionary
Adam's-Apple-Jump
Amphibian Brain
Isopraxism
Nonverbal Brain
Nonverbal World
Zygomatic Smile
Publications
   
 


of Gestures, Signs & Body Language Cues


From Adam's-Apple-Jump to Zygomatic Smile


By David B. Givens & John White
© 2024
(Spokane, Washington: Center for Nonverbal Studies Press)

See BODY ADORNMENT


OBSERVARE, COGITARE, SCRIBERE


Items in this Dictionary have been researched by anthropologists, archaeologists,

biologists, linguists, psychiatrists, psychologists, semioticians, and others who have

studied human communication from a scientific point of view. Every effort has

been made to cite their work in the text. Definitions, meanings, and interpretations

left uncredited are those of the author. Gestures and consumer products with

current trademark registrations are identified with the ® symbol.

[The Dictionary is designed as a free, online educational resource, and is not for sale or remunerative profit. Unauthorized versions of The Nonverbal Dictionary on the Web are neither updated nor endorsed by the Center for Nonverbal Studies.]

____________________________________________________________________________

CNS NEWS

November 19, 2023

Our latest book--Nonverbal Steps to the Origin of Language (forthcoming) has reached the "comments & queries" stage, and should be published sometime soon in 2024. It's been quite the research & writing safari, we must say. Here's our Prologue:

NONVERBAL STEPS TO THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE

By David B. Givens & John White

(Nov. 16, 2023)

Prologue

Verbal / nonverbal nexus. In the following chapters we outline 15 nonverbal steps that led to the origin of manually signed and spoken verbal language. Human language did not arise sui generis—spontaneously on its own—but rather was superimposed upon a set of preexisting structural and semiotic features present in nonverbal communication (see below: LST: “Language Superimposition Theory”).

Origin of language. The birth of human language has been an elusive topic pursued by philosophers, scientists, and thinkers for centuries. Among early writings on the matter is Plato’s (429[?]–347 B.C.E.) somewhat humorous, late fifth century BC Cratylus dialogue on the origin of linguistic names for objects (see Ch. 12: Object Fancy). Among later, contemporary ideas proposed for language origins are three thoughtful and provocative theories that, unfortunately, have little or no basis in human neurology: (1) “Language Acquisition Device” (LAD), (2) “Growth Point” (GP), and (3) “Language Instinct” (LI).

LAD, GP & LI. Proposed in 1965 by Noam Chomsky (b. 1928), the LAD is an unidentified brain module that, theoretically, enables children to speak and understand the grammatical rules of speech. Introduced in 1992 by David McNeill (b. 1933), the GP is an unidentified neural process in which, at least hypothetically, speech, thought, and gesture are simultaneously unified. And, advanced in 1994 by Steven Pinker (b. 1954), the LI is proposed as an unidentified mental module that may confer an innate ability to speak and understand words. Again, specific nervous-system centers and pathways for these theoretical models are largely unidentified.

Patterns & standards. We now know that nonverbal messaging features preceded linguistic expression by ca. 3.7 billion years. The former not only came before, but also established the patterns and standards of linguistic communication via manual signing and word of mouth. We propose that human language—in both its vocal and gestural forms—was superimposed upon the older, preexisting nonverbal medium. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “Superimposition (of something) (on / onto something) [is] the act of adding some of the qualities of one system or pattern to another one in order to produce something that combines the qualities of both” (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/superimposition; emphasis added).

LST. We thus propose a new perspective called “Language Superimposition Theory” (LST). Today’s verbal communication reflects the earlier medium’s role in self-assertion (please see Ch. 1: Chemical Messages), species recognition (Ch. 2: Audiovisual Messages), genetic reproduction (Ch. 1), emotional expression (Ch. 4: Mammalian Emotion), and attention to physical objects (Ch. 12: Object Fancy).

Medium of the molecule. Biologically, nonverbal communication originated some 3.7 billion years ago in unicellular organisms known as cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), early life forms that inhabited shallow-water communities called stromatolites. Voiceless, eyeless, unable to touch or hear, Earth’s first living residents communicated chemically through the medium of the molecule.

First of 15

Chemical cues represent the first of 15 communicative steps that led to the origin of manually signed and spoken language in genus Homo (see below, TABLE 1). Our book synthesizes research and outlines each of the adaptive stages that led to language—from the chemical messages of cyanobacteria to the sonorous vocalizations of human speech today (see Ch. 15: Sonorous Human Larynx).

_______________________________________________________

TABLE 1: Steps to the Origin of Language

Step 1: Chemical Messages—“I am here” (3.7 billion years ago [bya])

Step 2: Audiovisual Messages—“I am here” (500 million years ago [mya])

Step 3: Audiovisual Messages—“You are there” (500 mya)

Step 4: Emotion Messages (150 mya)

Step 5: Acrobatic Tongue (150 mya)

Step 6: Binocular Vision (65 mya)

Step 7: Grasping Hands (65 mya)

Step 8: Dexterous Lips (65 mya)

Step 9: Facial Messages (35-40 mya)

Step 10: Food Sharing (24 mya)

Step 11: Tool Making (2.6 mya)

Step 12: Object Fancy (1.9 mya)

Step 13: Pointing (1.9 mya)

Step 14: Enlarged Cranial Capacity (1.9 mya)

Step 15: Sonorous Larynx (200 thousand years ago)

_____________________________________________________

Looking ahead, we will use Step 14 (Ch. 14: Human Cranial Capacity Increase) as a neural roadmap for the development of human speech. Unlike a treasure map, however, there is neither a simple “Dig here” arrow—nor a singular “X marks the spot.” There is no single area we can point to as being “The birthplace” of language. Rather, our neurolinguistic roadmap reveals a complex highway system of interconnected nervous-system areas, pathways and byways, structures, and routes.

On route to Language Land, we will visit varied landmarks and “rest stops” germane to speech origins. These conceptual destinations include novel topics such as Banter Politeness, Brainwave Entrainment, General Resonance Theory (GRT), Rhythmic-Vocal Respiration, Speech Musicology, Neural Oscillations, and Vocal Entanglement. And so, Bon Voyage!—We hope you enjoy the journey as much as we enjoyed navigating it.

David B. Givens

Spokane, Washington USA

&

John White

Slane, Co. Meath IRELAND

August 7, 2022

Building on our latest book--The Routledge Dictionary of Nonverbal Communication (London, Routledge, 2021)--Dr. John White and I are at work on a sequel: Nonverbal Steps to the Origin of Language (forthcoming).

May 9, 2016

The URL address to the CNS Website has changed. Some links to entries in The Nonverbal Dictionary were broken in the process. Please bear with us as we fix these links . . . In the meantime, please call or email to receive any items of interest.

April 28, 2016

Palm-up gestures and their accompanying speech acts evolved from an ancient neurological system that gave rise to both gestural (pectoral) communication and vocal (laryngeal) language. See “Reading Palm-up Signs: Neurosemiotic Overview of a Common Hand Gesture,” recently published in Semiotica. (To view this article, please click HERE.)

The origin of language began with the desire to procreate. See "Nonverbal Steps to the Origin of Language," which has just been published to the CNS Website. (To view, please click HERE.)

____________________________________________________________________________


There have been many who, not knowing how to mingle the useful and the pleasing in the
right proportions, have had all their toil and pains for nothing
. . . --Cervantes (Don Quixote)


"A masterful piece of work" --American Library Association

"Highly recommended" --
New Scientist

"Its contents will enlighten you." --Discover Magazine's "Pick of the Web"

"This link [to The Nonverbal Dictionary] is completely awesome and by completely awesome I mean totally sweet." --MetaFilter (Apr. 12, 2002)]

"Site of the Day" --Good Housekeeping (Aug. 8, 2002)

"Tells you all you need to know--and much, much, much more" --San Francisco Examiner Web Site of the Week

"Very interesting reading" --Houston Chronicle

"Monumental" --Yahoo! Picks of the Week

"Site of the Day Award" --WWW Virtual Library

WWW Virtual Library "Best" Site

"Excellent Dictionary"  --University of Hamburg

"From automobile grilles to folded arms to lawn ornaments to high heels, this text elucidates the language of nonverbal communication."  --Stanford University Library

"An extensive dictionary"  --Drexel University Libraries

"Explains how people communicate with their body movements and expressions."  --Troy University, Sharjah Campus (United Arab Emirates)

"An excellent site."  --Baruch College, City University of New York

A "resource tool"  --Yale University Library

"Defines the meaning of gestures, signs, and body language cues."  --Punjab University Library (Pakistan)

"Quality information"  --Leeds University Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (United Kingdom)

"Site of significance"  --University of Toronto Semiotique Appliquee

"Carefully documented, makes for interesting browsing."  --Natural History (www.nhmag.com)

"Especially valuable"  --University of Arkansas Libraries

"A fascinating compendium"  --University of Wisconsin (Madison) Internet Scout Project

CNS “Features a fascinating Nonverbal Dictionary.” --Millie Roqueta, Miami Dade College

"The Center for Nonverbal Studies has provided an online dictionary of nonverbal communication.” --Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada

"The Center for Nonverbal Studies has put together a very interesting web page.” --Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva Chung (Understanding Intercultural Communication, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012)

"Fascinating work"  --Library Spot (www.libraryspot.com)

 
© 2019 by David B. Givens, Ph.D.
Center for Nonverbal Studies


ENTRIES in The Nonverbal Dictionary:

(Author's note: We are adding links to YouTube videos, and the latest information on mirror neurons.)

References



A


ADAM'S-APPLE-JUMP

AFFERENT CUE

AGNOSIA

AKINESIA

AMPHIBIAN BRAIN

AMYGDALA

ANATOMICAL POSITION

ANGER

ANGULAR DISTANCE

ANIMAL SIGN

ANTIGRAVITY SIGN

APOCRINE ODOR

APRAXIA

AQUATIC BRAIN & SPINAL CORD

ARM WEAR

ARM-CROSS

ARM-SHOW

ARM-SWING

AROMA CUE

ARPEGE®

ART CUE

ARTIFACT

ATNR

AUDITORY CUE

Beep

Gavel

Hand-clap

Lateral click

Tsk

AUTISM


B


BALANCE CUE

BARBIE DOLL®

BASAL GANGLIA

BASELINE DEMEANOR

BEAUTY

BEND-AWAY

BIG MAC®

BITE

BLANK FACE

BLUE JEANS

BLUSHING

BODY ADORNMENT

Fringe

Wedding dress

BODY ALIGNMENT

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER

BODY LANGUAGE

BODY MOVEMENT

Ear movement

Jump

Rhythmic repetition

BODY WALL

BODY-BEND

BODY-SHIFT

BOOT

BOW

Kneel

BRANCH SUBSTITUTE

BROADSIDE DISPLAY

BUSINESS SUIT


C


CANDY

CHAIR

CHIN-JUT

CINGULATE GYRUS

CLEM

CLEVER HANS PHENOMENON

CLOTHING CUE

COCA-COLA®

Coca-Cola bottle

Coca-Cola signature

COLOR CUE

CONFERENCE TABLE

CONSUMER PRODUCT

COURTSHIP

Reproductive force

CROUCH

Cringe

CROWDING

CRUNCH

CRY

CUE

CUT-OFF


D


DANCE

DECEPTION CUE

Deepfake

DECISION GRIP

DISGUST

DOMINANCE


E


EFFERENT CUE

EMOTION

EMOTION CUE

Antithesis

Immediacy

Pupil size

ENTERIC BRAIN

ERGONOMICS OF THE MIND

EXISTENTIAL CRUNCH

EXPECTANCY THEORY

EYE CONTACT

Evil eye

EYE-BLINK

EYEBROW-LOWER

EYEBROW-RAISE

EYES

Baton twirl

Eye-rolling

Glitter


F


FACE


Faceism

Facial affect decision task

FACIAL BEAUTY

Infantile schema

FACIAL EXPRESSION

FACIAL FLUSHING

FACIAL I.D.

FACIAL RECOGNITION

FEAR

FEET

FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT

FINGERTIP CUE

FIST

FLASHBULB EYES

FLEXION WITHDRAWAL

FOLD-ARMS

FOOTWEAR

FREEZE REACTION

FROWN

FRUIT SUBSTITUTE


G


GAZE-DOWN

GESTURE

Measuring gestures

Tear-apart gestures

GLUTAMATE

GOLF

GOOSE-STEP


H


HAIR CUE

Combover

HANDSHAKE

HANDS

Grab

Hand-clap

Signature

HAND-BEHIND-HEAD

HANDS-ON-HIPS

HAPPINESS

HAT

Top hat

HEAD-NOD

HEAD-SHAKE

HEAD-TILT-BACK

HEAD-TILT-SIDE

HERBS & SPICES

HIGH HEEL

HIGH-STAND DISPLAY

HOMUNCULUS

HUMAN BRAIN

HYPOTHALAMUS


I


IMMEDIACY

INFORMATION

INTENTION CUE

INTERIOR DESIGN

INVISIBILITY

ISOPRAXISM

ISOTYPE


J


JAW-DROOP

JUICE SUBSTITUTE


K


KINESICS

KISS


L


LAUGH

LAWN DISPLAY

LEG WEAR

Suspender

LIMBIC SYSTEM

LIPS

LIP-COMPRESSION

LIP-POUT

LIP-PURSE

LIP-TOUCH

LOOM

LOVE

LOVE SIGN

LOVE SIGNAL

LOVE SIGNALS I

LOVE SIGNALS II

LOVE SIGNALS III

LOVE SIGNALS IV

LOVE SIGNALS V

LUNCH


M


MAMMALIAN BRAIN

MEATY TASTE

MEDIA

Bat-Signal

MEN'S SHOES

MESSAGE

MESSAGING FEATURE

MIME CUE

Zombie mime

MINT

MOTION ENERGY MAP

MUSIC

Lullaby


N


NECK DIMPLE

NECKWEAR

NEO-SAVANNAH GRASSLAND

NEW CAR SMELL

NICOTINE

NLD

NONVERBAL APPRENTICESHIP

NONVERBAL BRAIN

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Nonverbal dreaming

Verbal communication

Zeitgeist archetype

NONVERBAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Nonverbal ideation

NONVERBAL FILMS

NONVERBAL INDEPENDENCE

NONVERBAL LEARNING

Education

Embodied cognition

NONVERBAL LEARNING DISORDER

NONVERBAL RELEASE

Nonverbal overflow

NONVERBAL SURVEILLANCE

Spot Program

NONVERBAL WORLD

NOSE

Nose piercing

Nostril flare

NUT SUBSTITUTE

NUTTY TASTE


O


OBJECT FANCY

ORIENTING REFLEX


P


PAIN CUE

PALEOCIRCUIT

PALM-DOWN

PALM-UP

PHARYNGEAL ARCH

PLEASURE CUE

POINT

Finger of blame

POSTURE

Contrapposto stance

POWER GRIP

PRECISION GRIP

PRIMATE BRAIN

PROBING POINT

PROXEMICS


R


RAPPORT

REPTILIAN BRAIN

REST-AND-DIGEST


S


SADNESS

SECONDARY PRODUCT

SELF-TOUCH

SHELLFISH TASTE

SHOES

SHOPPING

SHOULDERS

SHOULDER-SHRUG

Kinda sorta

SHOULDER-SHRUG DISPLAY

SIGN

Bumper sticker

Lapel pin

SIGNAL

Hand signal

SILENCE

SIT

SMILE

SNEAKER

SOFT SIGN

Emblems

SPACE

SPECIAL VISCERAL NERVE

SPEECH & SIGN LANGUAGE

SPEECH ERRORS

STARTLE REFLEX

STEEPLE

STEINZOR EFFECT

STOMP

STRANGER ANXIETY

SUBMISSION

SUPERBALL®

SWAGGER-WALK

SWEATY PALMS


T


TABLE-SLAP

TACTILE CUE

TACTILE WITHDRAWAL

TASTE CUE

TENSE-MOUTH

TERRITORY

THROAT-CLEAR

TICKLE

TONE OF VOICE

Groan

Growl

Grunt

Raspy voice

Sarcasm

TONGUE-SHOW

Tongue-show & precision grip

TOUCH CUE

Velvet

TREE SIGN


U


UNCERTAINTY

Certainty


V


VEHICULAR GRILLE

VEHICULAR STRIPE

VERBAL CENTER

VINYL

VISION CUES


W


WAITING TIME

Slow motion

WALK

Hands behind back

WOMEN'S SHOES

WORD

Jargonics

Poetic Words

Signature

Verbalized nonverbal


Y


YAWN


Z


ZYGOMATIC SMILE

Wan smile

Copyright © 1997 - 2024 (David B. Givens & John White/Center for Nonverbal Studies)