Hand Gestures Have Different Meanings in Different Cultures. for the Next Few Weeks, I

Gestures

Hand gestures have different meanings in different cultures. For the next few weeks, I will give some examples of this.

1. Don’t use the crooked-index finger to gesture, “Come here.” In Southeast Asia and the Middle East, it is a threatening gesture to children and is insolent to adults. To summon a person, the entire hand is used, with the fingers facing down.

2. The gesture for “OK” in the U.S. ( placing the thumb and index finger together) is not used in Colombia except when the circle made by the fingers is placed over the nose. This is the gesture to suggest homosexuality.

3. In many cultures, public yawning is considered extremely rude.

4. Latin Americans tend to stand close to each other when conversing, and they may tap conversation partners frequently on the arm, shoulder or back.

5. In Cuba, when held behind someone else’s head, the hand gesture of vertical horns (raised index and pink y fingers, with the thumb clasping the other two fingers) means that the person’s spouse is cheating on him or her. However, this can be done as a joke when photographs are being taken.

6. In Haiti, when students have to leave class, they hold up an index finger until they are out the door. This is not necessarily meant to call attention but is seen as polite, almost as if it makes the student invisible while slipping out of class.

7. In the U.S. people pat someone’s head to say, “There, there,” or “Nice Job!” In S.E. Asia, this can be extremely insulting.

8. Spatial experience is important in conversation in Japan. The distance between Japanese speakers is greater than that between English speakers.

9. Women do not shake hands in Vietnam, neither with women nor with men. Men may shake hands when greeting each other.

10. Standing in an upright position with a raised chest and squared shoulders is considered arrogant in Vietnam. The Vietnamese prefer a humble posture with lowered shoulders.