The Design of Pointing
Abstract
Previous discussions of pointing have largely evaded a central question: How is an act of pointing even recognized as communicative in the first place? Here I argue—building on classic and recent work in pragmatics—that pointing is designed to deviate minimally from mere attending. This basic design is found throughout the diverse universe of human pointing¬—from the most familiar, conventional forms to the most exotic and ad hoc—and may even extend to cases of pointing in non-human animals. Further, I show that this framework lights up promising avenues for further research on the emergence of communicative forms on developmental, cultural, and evolutionary timescales.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Design Education and Practice
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Pages
- 37–53
- Publication date
- 31 May 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter