Kinetic T-patterns detection in conversation: Comparison between Icelandic and Italian style of communication

A. Vescovo, A. Agliati and L. Anolli

Department of Epistemology and Learning Ermeneutics, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy

Conversation may be considered as a universal communication system which performs social and interactive cue of communication. One primary characteristic of conversation is that it is fully interactive; taking turns’ flow by participants makes conversation a sequential activity.

It also involves a shared social structure which follows de.ned cultural standards, so that culture carries out a strong influence on communication. Moreover, culture provides an overall framework for nonverbal behavior, because the way people use body to perform gestures and postures in interaction could deeply vary.

In the present study, forty conversations between Icelandic and Italian people in a cooperative situation were analyzed. The subjects were divided into dyads of friends and strangers. Conversation rhythm and gestures were examined and kinetic T-patterns detected using Theme™ (PatterVision Ltd, Iceland).

The results indicate a strong effect of nationality on conversation rhythm and gestures. In particular, specific gestures were detected in Icelandic and Italian people, confirming the social and cultural influence on nonverbal behaviour. Moreover, T-patterns’ characteristics between Icelandic and Italian participants were deeply different: Icelanders were found to manage the temporal organization of conversation in a more synchronous and regular way, better coordinating their actions in longer sequences of turns.

Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2005 , 5^th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

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