TY - JOUR
T1 - The whole-hand point
T2 - The structure and function of pointing from a comparative perspective
AU - Leavens, David A.
AU - Hopkins, William D.
PY - 1999/12
Y1 - 1999/12
N2 - Pointing by monkeys, apes, and human infants is reviewed and compared. Pointing with the index finger is a species-typical human gesture, although human infants exhibit more whole-hand pointing than is commonly appreciated. Captive monkeys and feral apes have been reported to only rarely "spontaneously" point, although apes in captivity frequently acquire pointing, both with the index finger and with the whole hand, without explicit training. Captive apes exhibit relatively more gaze alternation while pointing than do human infants about 1 year old. Human infants are relatively more vocal while pointing than are captive apes, consistent with paralinguistic use of pointing.
AB - Pointing by monkeys, apes, and human infants is reviewed and compared. Pointing with the index finger is a species-typical human gesture, although human infants exhibit more whole-hand pointing than is commonly appreciated. Captive monkeys and feral apes have been reported to only rarely "spontaneously" point, although apes in captivity frequently acquire pointing, both with the index finger and with the whole hand, without explicit training. Captive apes exhibit relatively more gaze alternation while pointing than do human infants about 1 year old. Human infants are relatively more vocal while pointing than are captive apes, consistent with paralinguistic use of pointing.
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U2 - 10.1037/0735-7036.113.4.417
DO - 10.1037/0735-7036.113.4.417
M3 - Review article
C2 - 10608565
AN - SCOPUS:0033252817
SN - 0735-7036
VL - 113
SP - X417-425
JO - Journal of Comparative Psychology
JF - Journal of Comparative Psychology
IS - 4
ER -