TY  - CHAP
A1  - Krifka, Manfred
T1  - Functional similarities between bimanual coordination and topic/comment structure
T2  - Interdisciplinary studies on information structure / Ishihara, S., S. Jannedy, and A. Schwarz (eds.) ; Working Papers of the SFB 632, Interdisciplinary studies on information structure (ISIS) ; Vol. 8
N2  - Human manual action exhibits a differential use of a non-dominant (typically, left) and a dominant (typically, right) hand. Human communication exhibits a pervasive structuring of utterances into topic and comment. I will point out striking similarities between the coordination of hands in bimanual actions, and the structuring of utterances in topics and comments. I will also show how principles of bimanual coordination influence the expression of topic/comment structure in sign languages and in gestures accompanying spoken language, and suggest that bimanual coordination might have been a preadaptation of the development of information structure in human communication.
KW  - Topic/Comment
KW  - Handedness
KW  - Evolution of Language
Y1  - 2007
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/9997
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-1112310
SP  - 61
EP  - 96
PB  - Univ.-Verl.
CY  - Potsdam
ER  -