Children using gestures and its integration with speech for communication: a comparative study between two age groups

Abstract

Children need gestures to communicate with others. They communicate using different gestures. Unlike adults children have limited number of gestures as they have not acquired the capability of using a variety of gestures. It is seen that every gesture as a purpose of its own. Different gestures are used in different situations and also children’s gesture varies according to some factors associated with it. While gesturing children not only use gestures but there is an amalgamation of speech as well. It is seen that there are different combinations of gesture and speech available which facilitates the communication. This paper examined the different types of gestures that the children use while communicating with others also the use of these gestures is overviewed along with the integration of speech. Two groups of children are studied, 14 months and 18 months.