The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #161044   Message #3824295
Posted By: GUEST,Senoufou
03-Dec-16 - 01:47 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Automatic Gestures
Subject: RE: Folklore: Automatic Gestures
Well done Thompson,you beat me to it and I cross-posted! The black lady (the third one to demonstrate in your clip) most closely resembles my in-laws; it's a very loud sound.

My Siamese cats have several gestures (which tally with all the cats I've had over the years.) A tight closure of the eyes accompanied by a head lift is an affectionate gesture. Lowering the head and opening the eyes wide, however, is aggressive and a warning of attack.

I think being helped by deaf people at my BSL classes (several volunteered to 'talk' with us students and help us to practise) showed me just how important and useful gestures are. For instance, if you crook your elbow close to your side and pump it out and in, most people would think of playing bagpipes. This is the BSL sign for Scot or Scottish. Putting two forefingers side-by-side is the sign for 'same as'. There are many more which are fairly universal and quite obvious, even to a hearing person.