Gestures in cross-cultural speakers: Exploring Personality and Proficiency in Second Language Speakers

In an increasingly globalized professional landscape, effective cross-cultural communication is paramount. This study investigates the relationship between personality traits, language proficiency and gesture production in second language communication, a crucial aspect of professional practice in multilingual contexts.

Our research focuses on 61 Cantonese speakers of English as a second language, narrating a video cartoon. This setup mirrors real-world situations where professionals must communicate complex ideas in a non-native language. We assessed their English proficiency and gesture frequency, categorizing gestures functionally into semantic and discursive types, while also noting adaptors and micro-gestures ("flutters"). Personality traits were evaluated using the Big-Five inventory (John & Srivastava, 1999).

Statistical analysis revealed fewer correlations than report by previous studies focusing on Western participants (Hostetter & Potthoff, 2012; Kopple, 2014; Nagpal, Nicoladis & Marentette, 2011; O’Carroll, Nicoladis & Smithson, 2015): agreeableness was positively correlated with semantic gestures, while neuroticism and age were negatively correlated with flutter duration. Surprisingly, proficiency and gender showed minimal impact on gesture production. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the relationship between personality traits and gesture types in professional communication.

The results suggest that anxiety, rather than proficiency or personality, might play a more significant role in gesture production during second language communication. This insight has profound implications for professional practice, particularly in sectors requiring frequent cross-cultural interactions.