ABSTRACT
What is it that leads gesture to assume language-like structure in the deaf children but not their hearing parents? This question is important as it can provide insight into the factors that are necessary for language-like structure to appear in human communication. I believe we have an answer to the question. I suggest that it is only when gesture is called upon to carry the full burden of communication (as opposed to playing an adjunct role) that it assumes language-like structure. In this chapter, I describe a series of studies on hearing adults that test this hypothesis.
