Abstract: Speech-associated gesture, extensively found in human communication, was classified into representational gesture and non-representational gesture according to its generation and adaptation. Most studies proved that language and gesture are close relatives, sharing “Family Resemblance”. The opinion was also supported by evidences from language development, cognitive psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, saying gesture and language coexist in the same communication system: gesture can be interfered by language and results in amplifying Formant 2 (F2) when it resembles the same meaning with language. Gesture and language can mutually affect on account of sharing semantic homogeneity, which is carried out by mirror image system. Thus, relationship between speech-associated gesture and language provide the possibility to do further research on the nature and development of human mind.

Key words: speech-associated gesture, language, mirror neurons, communication system