The Role of Gesture in Shaping Audience Interpretation in Kurdish TV Programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.9.3.P3.16Keywords:
Gesture, Kurdish media, Interpretation, AudienceAbstract
This study looks at the frequent gestures used in TV programs and how people understand gestures of TV presenters in Kurdish media. It investigates if age and ethnicity influence the viewpoint of people regarding gesture interpretation. The study used different methods. First, 20 gestures were picked out and categorized using a theoretical framework. Then, 70 people from Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkmen groups, with different age groups, were selected to participate in the survey. The results showed that while there were some common understandings, the manner in which gestures were understood by people changed depending on their socio-cultural origins. The study revealed that gestures play a highly significant role in communication platforms. It also highlights that understanding different cultures is key to communicating effectively with diverse audiences
References
Abdulaziz, P.S., 2022. Non-verbal communication and respect in Kurdish social situations with reference to English. Academic Journal of Nawroz University, 11(4), pp.405–418. Available at: https://doi.org/10.25007/ajnu.v11n4a1322
Angrosino, M., 2007. Doing ethnographic and observational research. London: Sage Publications.
Arnett, J.J., 2000. Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), pp.469–480.
Bryman, A., 2016. Social research methods. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bull, P., 2002. Communication under the microscope: The theory and practice of microanalysis. Hove: Psychology Press.
Chung, S. and Kim, K., 2015. Age differences in media use and the impact on attitudes. Journal of Communication Research, 42(3), pp.253–270.
Ekman, P. and Friesen, W.V., 1969. The repertoire of nonverbal behavior: Categories, origins, usage, and coding. Semiotica, 1(1), pp.49–98.
Hall, E.T., 1976. Beyond Culture. New York: Anchor Books.
Hussein, B. and Mahmood, R.K., 2020. The types of nonverbal communication cues with reference to refugeeism. Journal of University of Raparin, 7(2), pp.159–182.
Koutsombogera, M., Pikrakis, A. and Caridakis, G., 2011. Multimodal analysis of nonverbal behaviors for turn-taking management in political TV debates. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments (PETRA). New York: ACM, pp.1–6.
Kumar, R., 2011. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. 3rd ed. London: SAGE Publications.
McNeill, D., 1992. Hand and mind: What gestures reveal about thought. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Patton, M.Q., 2002. Qualitative research and evaluation methods. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Pew Research Center, 2020. Millennials overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/28/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers-as-americas-largest-generation/ [Accessed 16 July 2025].
Pöchhacker, F., 2004. Introducing interpreting studies. London: Routledge.
