A1 Journal article (refereed)
Recipient Design by Gestures : How Depictive Gestures Embody Actions in Cooking Instructions (2022)

Lilja, N., & Piirainen-Marsh, A. (2022). Recipient Design by Gestures : How Depictive Gestures Embody Actions in Cooking Instructions. Social Interaction, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.7146/si.v5i2.130874

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lilja, Niina; Piirainen-Marsh, Arja

Journal or series: Social Interaction

eISSN: 2446-3620

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 21/02/2022

Volume: 5

Issue number: 1

Publisher: University of Copenhagen

Publication country: Denmark

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7146/si.v5i2.130874

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79898

Abstract

This paper investigates how depictive gestures, i.e., hand movements that depict actions, scenes or objects, are configured and used for accomplishing instructions. By drawing on video recordings of second language interactions in cooking classes for newcomers in Finland, we focus on instructions that project a certain type of complying bodily action as the relevant next action. We demonstrate that the instructions are designed to be sensitive not only to the contingencies of the material ecology of the kitchen but also to the epistemic and linguistic asymmetries between the participants. The analysis shows how depictive gestures contribute to the forward-feeding function of cooking instructions by visualizing how the instructed action should be appropriately carried out. The findings contribute to the accumulating understanding of how embodied resources further intersubjectivity in second language interactions (Eskildsen & Wagner, 2015; Greer, 2019; Lilja & Piirainen-Marsh, 2019).

Keywords: interaction; linguistic interaction; nonverbal communication; gestures; visualisation; instructions; second language; conversation analysis

Free keywords: instruction; depiction; depictive gesture; recipient design; second language

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1