Is it an affectation that they’re trained to deploy? (If so, why?) Or is it just a natural thing that happens in the very specific circumstance of being a politician on the campaign trail, and that’s why no one else seems to do it?
I don’t think I’ve seen it in any other context 🤔
Cheers!
It’s one of many gestures that are used by trained public speakers as non-verbal communication cues. Here are some examples, including the one you asked about: https://qz.com/work/1093701/a-guide-to-ted-talk-hands-seven-signature-moves
There are many more beyond those. Using hand gestures in public speaking has been around since at least classical times.
from what i remember, they are coached to do it because pointing is seen as too aggressive but not making any hand gestures is too robotic. so its a way to make a non-aggressive emphatic hand gesture.
Which, ironically, makes them seem even more robotic
Only to people who are actually paying attention to a lot of politicians and likely looking exactly this up.
For the majority of the public? it is just “good public speaking”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironomia
They are taught by “experts” that pointing is an ugly aggressive hand gesture.
This, I think, is a sign or symbol of some sort. What symbol? I have no clue.
Gesticulation has long been a part of public speaker training.
It helps frame your words and your message and also direct meaning in a way that punctuation does in the written word.
As punctuation is to reading, as gesticulation is to speaking.
It’s part of body language being part of speaking to someone (a person or an audience) and can help people relate to the speaker.
That particular gesture was famously popularized/lampooned due to Bill Clinton
It’s zuck’s new toy /s
