(Salle F08)
Avital, Sharon
Fenger, Marie
(University of Texas, Austin)
Gesture and interaction formation in the blind
In order for an interaction to take place multiple conditions have to
be met : the interacts must recognize each other, show interest in
each other, acknowledge that interest, and take turns in minutely
orchestrated fashion. Considering the multiple conditions that have
to be met, it is surprising that it ever takes place-especially when
the participants have no visual access to one another because they
are blind.
Studies focused on communicative behavior of the blind have usually
studied their ability to produce spontaneous facial expressions
and gestures. The fi ndings so far suggest that blind individuals do
gesture and when they do they do so at the same rate and the same
manner as sighted individuals (Iverson & Goldin Meadow, 1997).
Goldin Meadow does mention however, that more work is required
to determine the breadth of the blind individual gestural repertoire
(2004). Blind individuals are also capable of producing spontaneous
facial expressions (Eibl-Eibesfeldt 1973, 1975 ; Pitcairn & Eibl-
Eibesfeldt 1976, Galati et al., 1998 ; 2001) and of controlling their
spontaneous expressive behavior (Cole et al., 1989).
The studies conducted on blind individuals so far have tried to
determine whether the blind are capable or not to produce certain
behavior. While we know now that they can, we know little about
the resources that the blind use in coordinating their interaction
with one another. This research is a part on an ongoing study that
attempts to understand the interaction of blind in a more holistic
way. The study is conducted in the School for the Blind and Visually
Impaired in a mid-sized city in the U.S. and involves videotaping of
classroom interaction and naturally occurring dialogues of various
age groups within the school. The fi ndings are analyzed frame by
frame in order to capture the complexity of the interaction.
The main topics that we will address in our presentation are :
the synchronization of gestures and speech within individuals
and between individuals ;
