A comparative inventory of false kinesic cognates in Turkish and Spanish cultures

Resumo

The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative inventory of false kinesic cognates prevalent both in Turkish and Spanish cultures. As a result of video-interviews based on 151 linguistic functions, which were recorded in Istanbul with 54 informants, 10 gestures were identified as false cognates. The article begins by referring to the importance of non-verbal communication in the interactive communicative action. Following this, the kinesic system and the various signs that it consists of are reviewed, with particular attention to gestures, and more specifically, to emblems. Finally, a cross section of the Spanish and Turkish gestures of the bicultural repertoire is provided.