Session 3 : Les interactions communicatives : du non-verbal aux gestes et aux corps.

Item: Session 3 : Les interactions communicatives : du non-verbal aux gestes et aux corps.
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

Session 3: Communicative interactions: from the non-verbal to gestures and bodies.

by Laboratoire ICAR

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Media & Information GTInterdisciplinary studies GTCCommunication studies

🎙 Laboratoire ICAR 👥 251 📅 October 10, 2025 ⏱ 53 min 👁 210 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-15

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

gesture classificationcoverbal gesturesnon-verbal communicationmultimodalityclinical orthophony

Summary

This session, part of a conference dedicated to Jacques Cosnier, explores communicative interactions from non-verbal cues to gestures and body language. The first presentation by Marion Tellier focuses on classifying coverbal gestures, highlighting Cosnier’s typology and its enduring relevance. She discusses the distinction between communicative and extra-communicative gestures, and within communicative gestures, quasi-linguistic (emblems) and co-verbal gestures, which include paraverbal, expressive, and illustrative types. Tellier illustrates these categories with video examples and addresses the challenges of categorization, noting the influence of McNeill’s simpler framework. She also emphasizes the importance of annotation guides for reliability. The second presentation by Agnès Witko and Juliette Cosnier (Jacques Cosnier’s granddaughter) applies Cosnier’s classification to train speech therapists. They advocate for active pedagogy and the ‘sit and watch’ method, encouraging students to observe interactions without preconceptions before classifying gestures. They present a student analysis of a video, linking gesture categories to clinical practice, particularly for autism spectrum disorders. The session concludes with Brahim Azaoui’s talk on gestures and languages of dialogue, adopting a pantomimic-semiotic approach. Overall, the session underscores the legacy of Cosnier’s work in both research and professional training.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information is high, as it provides a comprehensive overview of gesture classification systems, particularly Cosnier’s, and demonstrates their practical applications in research and clinical training. The presentations are well-argued, with clear explanations and illustrative examples. Tellier’s critical perspective on the limitations of Cosnier’s typology and the comparison with McNeill’s framework adds depth. Witko and Cosnier’s application to speech therapy education is innovative and well-supported by pedagogical theory. The argumentation is solid, grounded in academic literature and practical experience.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is strong, with presenters referencing key works by Cosnier, McNeill, and others. The sources cited are credible and relevant. The title accurately reflects the content. The session is a conference presentation, so it is not peer-reviewed, but the expertise of the presenters and the grounding in established research enhance its reliability. The use of video examples and student analyses adds empirical support. The adequacy between title and content is excellent.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the session's focus on communicative interactions, covering non-verbal cues, gestures, and body language.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The video presents expert presentations from established researchers in gesture studies, grounded in the work of Jacques Cosnier. The content is well-structured, with clear references to academic sources and practical applications. The scientific quality is high, though the format is a conference session rather than a peer-reviewed publication.

Chapters

Cited Sources

Cosnier, J. (1982). Communications et langages. In J. Cosnier et al. (Eds.), Les voies du langage. — Referenced as the source of the functional classification of gestures.
McNeill, D. (1992). Hand and Mind: What Gestures Reveal about Thought. — Mentioned as an alternative classification system with fewer categories.
Corpus of annotated gestures (Corly consortium) — Mentioned as a resource for annotation guides.

Concurring Sources

Kendon, A. (2004). Gesture: Visible Action as Utterance. — Referenced as a foundational work in gesture studies.
Calbris, G. (1990). The Semiotics of French Gestures. — Mentioned as a pioneer in French gesture studies.

Contribution & Novelties

The session provides a contemporary assessment of Jacques Cosnier’s gesture classification, highlighting its continued relevance and application in both research and clinical training. It offers practical insights into using these classifications in speech therapy education, with a novel pedagogical approach. The discussion of annotation guides and the challenges of categorization contributes to methodological considerations in gesture studies.

Pour aller plus loin :

Gesture studies overview — Provides a broad introduction to gesture research.
McNeill’s gesture classification — Contextualizes the alternative framework mentioned.
Multimodal interaction analysis — Relevant to the multimodal approach discussed.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a slightly lower technical level. This indicates a well-balanced presentation that is both informative and accessible, suitable for an academic audience.

Reliability 8/10