WHAT IS TACTILE LANGUAGE? TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The tactile language is formed by the signals that are emitted with the skin or the external parts of the body. It is the way in which people relate through touch. For example, giving a hug is a way of tactile communication to convey appreciation or love.

In today's society, people are naturally averse to physical contact. However, the sense of touch allows you to convey a wide variety of non-verbal messages.

With this sense, emotions can be expressed, interpersonal attitudes can be expressed, and what is said verbally can be reinforced or contradicted. In tactile language, the organs that most intervene are the hands, which help to reinforce the other senses.

For example, tactile affective language is used when you want to express a feeling of affection or affinity for another person.

It can be reflected in hugs, kisses and caresses. Hugs can be emotionally comforting and, in some cases, are essential for people's health.

There are several types of tactile language, which vary according to the intention of the interlocutor and the nature of the message they want to convey. The fundamental characteristics of the main types of tactile language will be detailed below:

Five types of tactile language

1- Aggressive

The aggressive tactile language occurs when the actions of the sender are recognized by the receiver as a threat, explicit or implicit.

For example, in Italian mafias, a kiss on the recipient's mouth means a fall from grace, probably a death sentence.

2- Professional

Professional tactile language allows you to convey specific information about a person.

In a personal interview, all the details must be taken care of: for example, sitting on the edge of a chair is a sign of impatience; blinking constantly is a reflection of insecurity; biting or wetting the lips is a sign of shyness and indecision; and a firm handshake demonstrates confidence and autonomy.

3- Social

Social tactile language includes all kinds of body language that society uses every day.

In general, you tend to avoid physical contact, depending on who the interlocutor is. Therefore, physical contact depends on several factors, such as gender, age, social class or the context of the contact.

4- Sexual

Tactile sexual language is another of the affective forms between receiver and sender.

It begins in the ritual of seduction, with simple gestures and signals. It can be a look, a smile or a close-up, and the main purpose is intimate contact.

5- As therapy

Tactile language can also be used as a therapeutic method. One of these methods is hug therapy.

Hug therapy is a technique that seeks to release stress, hugging or letting other people hug. This method is considered to relieve tension, confirm acceptance by other people, and can even improve and cure diseases.

Through the hug, a hormone called oxytocin is released, which has a very important role in empathy and interpersonal relationships. It is appropriately called "the confidence hormone."

The importance of tactile language for deaf-blind people

Another use for tactile language is as an aid to deaf-blind people. In many cases these people live in isolation and can only communicate through interpreters, which are rare and expensive.

This tactile language is developed from sign language, with direct contact with the interlocutor, allowing the interlocutor, through touch, to know the gestures that the interlocutor is making.

There are different causes for which there are people who suffer, simultaneously, hearing and visual impairment. One of the most common is Usher syndrome, a genetic disease that affects 3.5 out of 100,000 people.

Not being able to see or hear, learning sign language is useless. Through tactile language they can come into contact with their interlocutor, recognizing through touch what she is saying. They can also communicate with each other.

It is similar to sign or sign language, only that the gestures are made on the body of the interlocutor.

References

1. «Tactile language» in Linguistics (October 2012). Recovered in September 2017 from Linguistics at: linguisticauv2012.blogspot.com.ar
2. "The tactile language that has allowed deaf-blind people to communicate with each other" (November 2016). Recovered in September 2017 from Omicrono at: omicrono.elespanol.com
3. "Making tactile signs" in Project Salute (August 2004). Recovered in September 2017 from Project Salute at: projectsalute.net
4. «Tactile communication» in Semiotica de la Comunicación (October 2012). Recovered in September 2017 from Semiotica de la Comunicación at: semioticadelacomunicaci.blogspot.com.ar
5. «Tactile language» in Linguistics 2012 (December 2012). Recovered in September 2017 from Lingüística 2012 at: es.slideshare.net