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The Use of Hand Gesture in Political Speeches: Some Case Studies

Department of Psychology, University of York

Through the detailed analysis of videotapes, this research examines the relationship between the style and content of political speeches and the hand gestures politicians use. The results show that hand gesture is closely related to intonation, both in terms of vocal stress and tone group boundaries. The results also show that hand gesture is linked to the elicitation and control of applause. For example, a speech by Mr Arthur Scargill showed that he was highly successful in arousing applause through the use of rhetorical devices such as three-part lists and contrasts, which he typically accompanied with carefully synchronised hand gestures. He also frequently uses hand gesture to quell the applause, so that he actually seems to conduct his audience: his gestures both accompany rhetorical devices which evoke applause and curtail the applause once it has been aroused.

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