Toddler-directed and adult-directed gesture frequency in monolingual and bilingual caregivers
Fecha
2023Autor
Molnar, Monika
Leung, Kai Ian
Santos Herrera, Jodee
Giezen, Marcel
Metadatos
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Molnar, M., Leung, K. I., Santos Herrera, J., & Giezen, M. (2023). Toddler-directed and adult-directed gesture frequency in monolingual and bilingual caregivers. International Journal of Bilingualism, 27(5), 717-730. https://doi.org/10.1177/13670069221120929
International Journal of Bilingualism
International Journal of Bilingualism
Resumen
Aims and objectives: This study was designed to assess whether bilingual caregivers,
compared with monolingual caregivers, modify their nonverbal gestures to match the increased
communicative and/or cognitive-linguistic demands of bilingual language contexts – as would be
predicted based on the ‘Facilitative Strategy Hypothesis’.
Methodology: We examined the rate of gestures (i.e., representational and beat gestures) in
monolingual and bilingual caregivers when retelling a cartoon story to their child or to an adult, in
a monolingual and a bilingual context (‘synonym’ context for monolingual caregivers).
Data and analysis: We calculated the frequency of all gestures, representational gestures,
and beat gestures for each addressee (adult-directed vs. toddler-directed) and language context
(monolingual vs. bilingual/synonym), separately for the monolingual and the bilingual caregivers.
Using linear mixed models, we contrasted monolingual versus bilingual caregivers’ gesture frequency.
Findings/conclusions: Bilingual caregivers gesture more than monolingual caregivers, irrespective
of addressee and language context. Furthermore, we found evidence in support of the
Facilitative Strategy Hypothesis across both monolingual and bilingual caregivers, as both groups
increased the rate of their representational gestures in the child-directed retelling. Furthermore,
both bilingual and monolingual caregivers used more gestures in the context of increased
communicative demands (language mixing or using synonyms for monolingual caregivers).
Originality: To our knowledge, this is the first study of gesture use in child-directed communication
in monolingual and bilingual caregivers.
Significance/implications: Independent of their monolingual or bilingual status, caregivers
adjust their multimodal communication strategies (specifically gestures) when interacting with
their children. Furthermore, under increased communicative demands, both groups of caregivers
further increase their gesture rate.