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Context, not sequence order, affects the meaning of bonobo (Pan paniscus) gestures

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Date
28/09/2021
Author
Graham, Kirsty E.
Furuichi, Takeshi
Byrne, Richard W.
Keywords
Bonobo
Context
Gesture
Meaning
Syntax
QL Zoology
I-PW
AC
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Abstract
In most languages, individual words can be ambiguous between several different meanings, but through syntax and context the intended meaning of an ambiguous word usually becomes apparent. Many great ape gestures also have ambiguous meanings, which poses the problem of how individuals can interpret the signaller's intended meaning in specific instances. We tested the effects of sequence compositionality and situational context (including behavioural and interpersonal contexts) in wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Wamba, DRCongo. We found no effect on a gesture's meaning from its presence and position in sequence. However, two aspects of situational context did affect meaning: behaviour of the signaller immediately prior to gesturing, and relative age/sex of signaller and recipient. The intended meaning of ambiguous gestures was almost completely disambiguated by means of these aspects of context. Our findings suggest that the use of contextual information to interpret ambiguous signals predates the uniquely-human lineage and is not specific to language.
Citation
Graham , K E , Furuichi , T & Byrne , R W 2021 , ' Context, not sequence order, affects the meaning of bonobo ( Pan paniscus ) gestures ' , Gesture , vol. 19 , no. 2-3 , pp. 335-364 . https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.19028.gra
Publication
Gesture
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.19028.gra
ISSN
1568-1475
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © John Benjamins Publishing Company. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.19028.gra
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/24764

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