A New Year -- A New Idea

 McGilchrist mentions that two of our most basic instincts are to point and to grasp.  

Even animals point.  The dog paws at the door to say, "I need to go out!"  Or he nudges his empty water bowl with his nose to say, "You've let it get empty. Do something!"  My cat points with her eyes.  She sits in front of her food bowl, looking at it meaningfullly, then looks at me, then back to the bowl, which means, "Feed me now, human!"

For people, we can combine those actions wirh appropriate words to help embed a new vocabulary in memory.   Below is a sample dialog I wrote in my head while sitting in the hospital.  The scene is acted out standing in front of a table covered with objects or pictures of objects lined up against the wall.

Marcella: (Looking at objects and pointing.) Is that the new ultapip I've heard  about?  

        I've always wanted one!
Jason: (Also pointing.)  That small, yellow thing? Yes, that's an ultapip.  It's free so take it.
Marcella: (Grabbing the object.)  Great. I've got an ultapip! 
Jason: (Making a grabbing gesture.) Well done!

In most people language is processed in the left hemisphere. Body movement on the left is usually processed on the right and vice versa. But it's more complicated than that. In any case, to encourage mobilization and coordinization of all parts of the brain, do the pointing and grabbing with your dominant hand, then repeat it with the other hand. 

This dialog would work to teach a new noun.  Unfortunately, students have more difficulty memorizing verbs.  I'll have to try a group of action pictures using gerunds.