Research Articles
Authors: Francesco Possemato , Joe Blythe , Caroline de Dear , Josua Dahmen , Rod Gardner , Lesley Stirling
This paper presents a geospatial framework for the documentation and analysis of naturally-occurring locational points in interaction. This novel approach aims to provide a set of methods and procedures for interrogating geographically-enriched interactional data. GPS and GIS metadata and satellite imagery are brought to bear on video-recorded multiparty interactions to situate pointing gestures within the broader topographic setting, allowing the directionality of points to be determined to within a few degrees. The methods illustrated in this paper primarily aim to assist research on the relationship between language, gesture, and spatial cognition. By examining and comparing naturally-occurring locational points produced by speakers of typologically different languages (namely English, Gija, Murrinhpatha, and Jaru) this paper demonstrates how a geospatial approach may facilitate systematic comparisons of pointing styles across languages, contexts, and cultures, and support investigations into universals of human conduct.
Keywords: Geospatial, Language, Gesture, Spatial cognition, Cultures, Human conduct, Analysis
How to Cite: Possemato, F. , Blythe, J. , de Dear, C. , Dahmen, J. , Gardner, R. & Stirling, L. (2021) “Using a geospatial approach to document and analyse locational points in face-to-face conversation”, Language Documentation and Description. 20(0). doi: https://doi.org/10.25894/ldd54