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Recurrent Gestures, Embodiment and Sedimentation: The Case of Two-Handed-Alternation-Sagittal (2HAS) Gesture in Japanese and Swedish

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Author

  • Daiya Kuryu

Summary, in English

This thesis investigates the semiotic foundations of recurrent gestures through a cross-cultural study of the Two-Handed-Alternation-Sagittal (2HAS) gesture in Japanese and Swedish. Drawing on the Motivation & Sedimentation Model (MSM)––a cognitive-semiotic model of meaning-making––the study explores how recurrent gestures emerge from the dynamic interplay between embodiment and sedimentation. Accordingly, the thesis describes an empirical study aiming to what extent recurrent gestures, situated between spontaneous gesticulation and conventionalized emblems, are shaped both by shared bodily experiences and by historically sedimented social practices. The 2HAS gesture, characterized by alternating hand movements along the sagittal axis, was analyzed for its meaning variations and distribution using phenomenological triangulation: combining first-person conceptual reflection, second-person intersubjective methods, and third-person quantitative analysis. Through an examination of semi-spontaneous conversations in two groups of participants, Japanese and Swedish, the study reveals both commonalities and differences in the use and meaning of 2HAS across these cultural groups. The gesture frequently expressed delineated meanings like BIDIRECTIONALITY and GIVE & RECEIVE, as well as holistic meanings like UNCERTAINTY, OPTIONALITY and WORD SEARCH. While commonalities support the gesture’s grounding in pan-human aspects of embodiment, cultural variations point to the influence of culture-specific sedimentation. These findings refine our understanding of the nature of recurrent gestures and offer empirical grounding for a revised version of MSM, which incorporates a hybrid Embodied/Sedimented level and further distinguishes genetic (individual) and generative (historical-social) layers of sedimentation.

Department/s

Publishing year

2025

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Master's degree (two years)

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • cognitive semiotics
  • recurrent gestures
  • embodiment
  • sedimentation
  • Two-Handed-Alternation-Sagittal (2HAS) gesture
  • the Motivation & Sedimentation Model (MSM)

Supervisor

  • Jordan Zlatev (Docent)