Interpersonal, ideational, and textual functions of coverbal gestures in speech. Remarks from a teacher talk sample

As part of the bias toward the written modality in linguistic and communicative models, the role of coverbal gestures in human communication have not received much attention in linguistics since recent times. Indeed, taking into account the way speech and gesture cooperate in everyday talk can offer very relevant insights on how discourse is structured, common ground is shaped and understanding is achieved in verbal communication. As an example of the enrichment offered when gestures are considered as part of the picture, and relying on the notions of “verbal affiliate” (Schegloff 1984) and “gestural catchment” (McNeill 2005), the paper shows how speech and gesture cooperate in shaping reference and signification throughout discourse in a specific communicative situation, namely teachers’ speech in classroom.