CHAPTER XI

GESTURE

THE speaker has another means at his command arresting and directing the attention of his audience a for emphasizing his chief points. This is gesture. gesture we mean expressive movement, especially of t arms and head. Gesture should be reserved for empha passages or for those in which the author's meaning ca not be fully expressed by the voice alone.

EXERCISE I

PREPARATORY

Standing in the first position (page 10) with the ar hanging loosely, shoulders and muscles of the neck Ρ fectly passive: (1) Relax the arms and shoulders co pletely by turning the body rather sharply from left right and back a number of times, letting the arms where they may.

(2) Raise the upper arm at the side with the forea dangling lifelessly, and in this position shake the upper arm until the forearm and hand can be thrown about freely. (See figure.)

(3) Extend the arms straight out From the shoulder with the hands Hangling and shake the hands in the ame way, 1) at the sides, 2) in front,

with palms (a) downward, (b) upward, (c) edgewise.

(4) With elbows at the sides, raise the forearm shaking the hands as before in the various posi described above.

EXERCISE II

INDICATION

After thoroughly relaxing as above, (1) lift firs upper arm, then the forearm, then the hand, finally p ing with the forefinger, allowing the other fingers to their natural free and relaxed attitude. (2) Bring the back to the side in the same order. Point in va directions and with the palm up, edgewise, or downw Use either hand.

Practice also with the forearm and hand, and with hand alone; in the latter case, first lifting the fore carelessly until the wrist is about on a line with the el or opposite the middle of the chest. Point in va directions, until flexibility and ease of wrist have attained. At first go very slowly, but gradually b the movements until there is no perceptible break in action.

Say, "Look at We use the finger

Be sure that in all these actions you have the least sible muscular tension or effort. Use just the mus that are necessary and no more. tree, house, book, window," etc. definite or minute objects, the whole hand with fing outspread for vast objects. Of course, there are m degrees between these extremes.

Wherever we find it necessary to locate an object make use of indicative, or as they are sometimes cal locative gestures; but remember that, though for prac you may make a great many gestures, in actual speak

you

No gest

should let "discretion be your tutor." at all is far better than superfluous or unmeaning actio

ATTITUDES OF THE HAND

The feeling with which we regard the object or per indicated is shown by the attitude of the hand. Thu neutral indication is shown by the simple pointing of forefinger; but a sense of pleasure in the object would shown by a caressing attitude of the hand and fing much like that we have in patting a dog, or smoothin bit of velvet. Antagonism is shown by a tendency repel or push away the object indicated, either with edge of the hand, or, in strong feeling, with the palm fist. Superior things, or things which we would above us, or would exhibit favorably, are indicated of with the palm up, or, as we say, with supportive gesti as if we lifted them to be seen. Things which we wo put below us or which we regard as inferior, we s with the palm down. What is true of objects or pers is true of ideas; we act toward imaginary objects, or id just as we would toward real things, or people.

GESTURES OF THE HEAD

In colloquial speech we often indicate merely by a sli turn of the head or inclination toward the object. In excited action we have nods and shakes of the head, various movements expressive of our feelings; but in nified speech, and especially in oratorical delivery, stant motion of the head is out of place. Compare what was said under "The Eye and Face in Readin p. 51, and especially p. 55).

EXERCISE III

Look first at the object, then, as you point, look ba the audience. Use the hand only for trivial things forearm and hand for conversation, and the full arn very strong feelings and oratorical effects.

Indicate simply a definite object (a) with h (b) with forearm, (c) with full arm.

Indicate a broad surface (as the setting sun, the wa a house, a tree), using the expanded hand.

Indicate carelessly a number of objects in succes (e.g. with hand relaxed, palm up, "John, James, Henry ").

Indicate with pleasure a beautiful rose, a pictur sunset, a cunning little kitten.

Indicate with repulsion, or rejection, a silly chil hideous reptile, a black thundercloud.

presented, as if to push away the object..

Here the pal

66'

Indicate with the fist, or with the forefinger extend and the other fingers clenched (a) an enemy, rascal," "And shook his gauntlet at the towers," ( child, playfully, "Don't do that."

Indicate with support (palm upward), a friend, an id "I give my heart and hand to this vote," a chair, "P be seated."

Indicate with command (palm down), a chair, down, sir!" the door, "Leave the room. Indicate yourself, "I myself."

66

EXERCISE IV

GESTURES OF PERSONAL RELATION

These exhibit more particularly the relation betw the speaker and his audience, or the object address

Use first one, then both hands, and with various degr of energy and of extension from hand to fully develo

Appeal. Extend the hand as if to receive someth from those addressed: "Isn't it true?" The head slig inclined, the palm up. Invitation. As if beckoni This is oftenest used as preliminary to gestures of ind tion, as much as to say, "Come, let us look at this!"

Protest.As if pushing your audience away: "II test against it." The head drawn back or lifted sligh Greeting. Offer your hand as if to shake hands with palm up, you greet a superior; (b) with palm do an inferior; (c) edgewise, an equal. (The head bowin Presentation of ideas is very similar to the above.

Urge or Impel.—Much like protestation. The words manner of the speaker will make the intention clear. various actions under Ex. II. may also be directed to audience.

EXERCISE V

GESTURES OF ENFORCEMENT

Our gestures are often merely the expression of a p pose to enforce or emphasize what we say. For examp raise the arm, at the same time bowing the head, t bring down the arm, lifting the head, say, "I will." T is a common gesture of affirmation. Its purpose is emphasize what is said. The upward movement is cal preparation; the downward, the execution or completion the gesture. Often the preparation is suspended or rested to still further intensify the effect of the downw movement. The action of the head here is said to op