I have a long form review of the new Cambridge Handbook of Gesture Studies over on LINGUIST List. The handbook was published as I was signing off on final proofs of Gesture: A Slim guide. While I managed to sneak a few references into my own work, I was delighted to have the chance to read a review copy. You can read the full review on LINGUIST List.
ALTBelow are some excerpts:
The Cambridge Handbook of Gesture Studies is a fitting encapsulation of the state of a relatively young, interdisciplinary field of enquiry. Alan Cienki has managed the difficult task of distilling the topic while also reflecting a well-curated range of methods, voices and perspectives. An understanding of the vital role of gesture in language is essential for any linguist who studies interaction, and this handbook provides a clear, authoritative introduction to key approaches. With 26 chapters and almost 700 pages, the Cambridge Handbook of Gesture Studies is a hefty tome, but not completely unmanageable.
The Cambridge Handbook of Gesture Studies is a welcome contribution, both as a summation of key insights from the field of Gesture Studies to date, and an indication of where there is scope for progress.
I am a big fan of LINGUIST List book reviews. It’s a publication that’s available to everyone, and I’ve relied on reviews to get a sense of the many wonderful books I don’t have time to read. I’ve written a few over the years, and you can to! Just keep an eye on the monthly FOR REVIEW list.
Read my full review of The Cambridge Handbook of Gesture Studies on LINGUIST List.
And, because it’s basically the opposite (in the best way!) of what I was trying to achieve with the Slim Guide, here they are together:
