Professor Dr. Jurgen Streeck

Biography

Jürgen Streeck is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a pioneer in the study of multimodal (embodied) human interaction, utilizing micro-ethnographic research methods to reveal how speakers coordinate eye gaze, hand gestures, and speech during face-to-face interactions. He examines the use of material objects in symbolizing interactional processes and conducts studies on meta-communication through self-touch and body postures. Streeck's influential works include co-edited volumes such as 'Embodied Interaction: Language, Body, Material World' (Cambridge, 2011) and 'Intercorporeality: Emerging Socialities of Interaction' (Oxford, 2017), which have contributed significantly to the field of communication studies. His book 'Gesturecraft: Manufacture Meaning' (Amsterdam, 2009) is based on 20 years of video-based research on hand gestures, while 'Self-Making Man: Day Action, Life, Language' (Cambridge, 2017) explores the dynamics of movement, looking, gesturing, and speaking in various contexts, including managing a local auto-repair shop. Streeck has also developed an interest in understanding touch and the modalities of communication, extending his research to interactions between humans and animals. His academic background as a linguist informs his ongoing research into language evolution and its role in social, cultural, and mental life, including the creative expression found in hip hop music.

Research Interests