Mimicry has been observed regarding a range of nonverbal behaviors, but only recently have researchers started to investigate
mimicry in co-speech gestures. These gestures are considered to be crucially different from other aspects of nonverbal behavior
due to their tight link with speech. This study provides evidence of mimicry in co-speech gestures in face-to-face dialogue,
the most common forum of everyday talk. In addition, it offers an analysis of the functions that mimicked co-speech gestures
fulfill in the collaborative process of creating a mutually shared understanding of referring expressions. The implications
bear on theories of gesture production, research on grounding, and the mechanisms underlying behavioral mimicry.
Keywords Co-speech gestures – Mimicry – Collaborative referring – Grounding – Common ground