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Praxis, demonstration and pantomime : a motion capture investigation of differences in action performances

Żywiczyński, Przemysław ; Placiński, Marek ; Sibierska, Marta LU ; Boruta-Żywiczyńska, Monika ; Wacewicz, Sławomir ; Meina, Michał and Gärdenfors, Peter LU (2024) In Language and Cognition 16(4). p.1338-1365
Abstract

A commonly held assumption is that demonstration and pantomime differ from ordinary action in that the movements are slowed down and exaggerated to be better understood by intended receivers. This claim has, however, been based on meagre empirical support. This article provides direct evidence that the different functional demands of demonstration and pantomime result in motion characteristics that differ from those for praxic action. In the experiment, participants were dressed in motion capture suits and asked to (1) perform an action, (2) demonstrate this action so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, (3) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, and (4) pantomime... (More)

A commonly held assumption is that demonstration and pantomime differ from ordinary action in that the movements are slowed down and exaggerated to be better understood by intended receivers. This claim has, however, been based on meagre empirical support. This article provides direct evidence that the different functional demands of demonstration and pantomime result in motion characteristics that differ from those for praxic action. In the experiment, participants were dressed in motion capture suits and asked to (1) perform an action, (2) demonstrate this action so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, (3) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, and (4) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could distinguish it from another action. The results confirm that actors slow down and exaggerate their movements in demonstrations and pantomimes when compared to ordinary actions.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
demonstration, evolution of language, motion capture, pantomime, teaching
in
Language and Cognition
volume
16
issue
4
pages
1338 - 1365
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85189670588
ISSN
1866-9808
DOI
10.1017/langcog.2024.8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2db58748-81f1-474d-8925-e8bef8e96269
date added to LUP
2024-04-24 14:56:02
date last changed
2025-01-27 15:15:08
@article{2db58748-81f1-474d-8925-e8bef8e96269,
  abstract     = {{<p>A commonly held assumption is that demonstration and pantomime differ from ordinary action in that the movements are slowed down and exaggerated to be better understood by intended receivers. This claim has, however, been based on meagre empirical support. This article provides direct evidence that the different functional demands of demonstration and pantomime result in motion characteristics that differ from those for praxic action. In the experiment, participants were dressed in motion capture suits and asked to (1) perform an action, (2) demonstrate this action so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, (3) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could learn how to perform it, and (4) pantomime this action without using the object so that somebody else could distinguish it from another action. The results confirm that actors slow down and exaggerate their movements in demonstrations and pantomimes when compared to ordinary actions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Żywiczyński, Przemysław and Placiński, Marek and Sibierska, Marta and Boruta-Żywiczyńska, Monika and Wacewicz, Sławomir and Meina, Michał and Gärdenfors, Peter}},
  issn         = {{1866-9808}},
  keywords     = {{demonstration; evolution of language; motion capture; pantomime; teaching}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1338--1365}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Language and Cognition}},
  title        = {{Praxis, demonstration and pantomime : a motion capture investigation of differences in action performances}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/langcog.2024.8}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/langcog.2024.8}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}