Dictionary of Worldwide Gestures

The second edition of the Dictionary of Gestures features a new introduction on the nature and function of gestures, substantially enlarged contents, a wider selection of sources, expanded commentary to many gestures, and more illustrations. It describes culturally transmitted gestures from printed and pictorial sources, arranging the descriptions according to the parts of the body executing the respective gestures as well as by their significance. Each entry includes basic bibliographic information, a brief geographical, chronological, or cultural indication of its provenance, and a concise note regarding its use or relationship to other gestures. With an index and a source list that includes the abbreviations used, the Dictionary of Worldwide Gestures will make an excellent addition to public library collections and university and college libraries that support anthropology or cultural studies.