The Gesture Language Hypothesis

The Gesture Language Hypothesis suggests that gestures and body movements function as a form of language, similar to spoken words. It proposes that humans naturally use gestures to communicate ideas, emotions, and intentions, and that these gestures have structured, rule-governed meanings—much like words or sentences. This idea highlights the importance of non-verbal communication and suggests that gestures are not random, but an integral part of how we share and understand information, potentially forming a universal or foundational component of human language.