The Body Language of Adults Who Are Blind1

Table 1.

Body expression formsC1C2C3C4CA1A1A2S1S2Frame of mind expressionsa.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.Idiosyncratic expressionsa.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.a.p.Blindisms00(>3)000000Functional expressions Instrumental expressions>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3 Turning the head toward sound112021000 Formerly functional expressions00000>3>300 Socially functional expressions000>3>3>300>3Emphasizers>3>30>3>3>3>3>3>3Ideographs0(3)1(3)>3>3>3>3>3>3Conversation regulators>3>3(>3)>3>3>3>3>3>3 Concrete expressions Isomorphic representations>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3 Pointings>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3>3 Pictographs000010302 Spatial relations000001011Abstract expressions Metaphoric pointings01121>3>3>3>3 Differentiators00(1)000>3>3>3 Concrete symbols0(1)3(1)>3>3>3>3>3>3 Abstract symbols01102(1)22126178190Emblems003>302>3>3>3Note. The abbreviation “a.p.” indicates that the form was always present, and “ > 3” that the form was displayed on more than three occasions. The exact number is given for the abstract symbols. Parentheses indicate that we are doubtful that the form was expressed at all or unsure about the number of occurrences. A number is given in parentheses only if the form was expressed fewer than four times.