The body is the other way for us to speak, intended or unintentional. Each body gestures symbolized something, the hidden expression but mostly people can understand it. This communication appears through gestures and gesticulation. Each body movement plays a part in creating and communicating meaning, which you will never know how your actions will be interpreted across the border.
Namaste gesture
This gesture can be interpreted as "The God in me greets the God in you." It is also symbolizes the reconciliation of duality in nature.
Thumb sign
Raising a thumb at U.S stands for "O.K" or congratulatory messages and at the same time, this sign is used by the North American's hitchhiker, the symbol to help flag down a passing car but in Brazil, Russia and Greece, this sign can be interpreted as obscene or very impolite. In Colombia, it symbolized homosexual when this sign placed over the nose. In Nigeria, this sign means an insult to everyone, and also vulgar in Iran, Australia, the Middle West and Sardinia. Today, it is widely known as "LIKE" in Facebook.
Interested gesture
This gesture implies to a man that finds a pretty woman. In America and Britain, they raised the eye-brow, grasping the beard in the Arab world, rotating the finger in the cheek at Italy and kissing the fingertips in France.
Sticking out tongue sign
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Sticking out tongue or usually known as "mehrong" at South Korea can be interpreted as cheeky or cute. But it can be seen as provocative or insulting in many cultures. However, it is used as a polite greeting at Tibet, and a ceremonial warning by Maori in New Zealand as it means that "we are willing to attack you if you do not come in friendship." However, if you sticking out tongue and pointing your eyes at the same time, it means that "you're bored" in Japan and "watch out" for Brazilians.
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| Winston Churchill's V-sign |
This sign is commonly known as victory or triumph, popularized by Britain's leader, Winston Churchill. But if the sign is reversed with the palm facing inwards, it is seen as rude and offensive. But at the same time, this sign also can be interpreted as "peace".
Eye contact
The behaviour of eyes can communicate relative social ranking, dominance, submission or respect. They can also be a signal of aggression, love and sexual interest or disinterest. For black Americans, lack of eye contact means respect but for white Americans, it means disrespect. For Arabs, Latin Americans and southern Europeans, maintaining the eye contact during conversation means respectful or trustworthiness while for east Asians and Indians, no eye contact is more acceptable. In Greece, it is common for them to stare but in Britain, this gesture means rude.
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| okay sign |
Okay-sign
If you create a circle with your index and thumb finger, leaving three fingers standing upwards, this is the sign of "Okay" in the West. But in Turkey, it means that you prefer the alternate form of sexuality. However, this sign means money in Japan while for Germans and Brazilians, it is used to call someone a jerk.
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| fig sign |
Fig sign
This figurine sign can be seen as lucky talisman in Brazil and a symbol of fertility and luck in ancient Rome. But this sign means rude, offensive and sexuality vulgar in Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, Italy and Malaysia. For neo-pagans, this sign means the mother goddess.
Hook em' horn gesture |
| hang ten sign |
This gesture is commonly known by University of Texas's football as a symbol of fame and widely recognize across U.S. But in Mediterranean countries, it means ward off the evil eye and for Italians, it means a person's spouse is cheating on them. At the same time, the Church of Satan use this as their religious symbol, also used by hard rock groups. So, to avoid bad interpretations, you can hide the index finger and stick out the thumb finger, and shake the hook horn gesture as "the hang-ten sign."
Showing the sole gesture
For us, nothing is wrong about showing our sole while the Westerners rarely think about this gesture but in Arab countries, it means offensive.
Hand in the pocket gesture
Normally we did this without we realized. Maybe it is just how you stand. But in Austria, it can be considered as rude and anti-social, or offensive in Turkey.
Greeting sign
Usually, people used to handshake as a greeting, or hug in several cultures. But for Italians, the people kiss cheeks.
Ref:
The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to DSS (2007)
Liberty Magazine, September 2006 issue.
#tmg2013
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