In any society hand gestures are used in replace of (or with) words to describe someone or something. They are so common people don't even realize that they are even using hand signals. In America the "thumbs up" and the peace sign are very commonly used, without a second thought. Yet every culture has a different set of gestures that are socially acceptable, and ones that are not. With only so many hand gestures available to use some hand gestures have two meanings depending on what culture is using them.
The following video shows woman from different cultures using hand signals from their culture and their meanings. You will see that hand signals in some cultures mean something totally different in another culture.
When two cultures are brought together there is always going to be some confusion for one side or the other. Hand gestures however can be offensive and cause new problems for the two cultures. There are many examples but here are some of the most common hand gesture differences.
The Thumbs Up
In America if you work in construction or in any noisy situation the classic "Thumbs Up" means you understand the information being relayed to you. Or maybe you want to show someone that they did a good job in America a "Thumbs Up" means good job.
Now let's change the situation you are on vacation in Greece and you are on a tour of their beautiful islands. You are having a good time and you see a few locals and you decide to give them the "Thumbs Up" to show you appreciate the situation. Their reply is dirty looks and maybe even a return thumbs up with a little more aggression. This is because in Greece and other countries such as Russia and West Africa a "Thumbs Up" means the same as the "middle finger" in the USA.
Come here Doggie!
Everyone knows what it means when someone looks at them and then motions using their index finger. It means come over here, often to show or tell that person something. This gesture is also used to call a dog over usually to play using a playful voice.
People in America tend not to get offended when this gesture is used to signal them but in other countries it is a big insult. My Aunt Lea is from the Philippians and she told me that in her country when this gesture is used on a person. It is pretty much saying that this person is nothing more than a dog and is below them in society.
The reason between cultures and this gesture is that it is how they view dogs. In America dogs are "Man's best friend" they are respected and a great companion. There are shelters for adopting dogs and laws in place to protect them. This isn't the case in the Philippians were dogs are commonly abused and are left roaming the streets starving. Also dog fighting is a common occurrence in the Philippians and that alone shows the level of respect dogs are shown which is zero. So being a dog in America isn't always a bad thing but being a dog in Philippians is as low as you can go.
(Information on dogs from)
Okay! Okay! I Get it!
Such a nice gesture across the ocean takes a complete 360 degree turn. Over in some parts of Europe it is the sign for the number Zero and implies that you are Zero (nothing).The okay sign also can be used as an insult in France and Latin America due to it representing an anus, and calling the person being gestured to an anus. Imagine making the mistake of using this sign in France after a fine meal, it would be very insulting to those serving the meal or anyone else that receives the gesture.
Hand Gestures are a normal part of every culture. They are taught to us at a young age and people continue to learn and use new signals as they learn them. When multiple cultures interact with each other there is always going to be a misunderstanding or two, due to simply not understanding each other. Yet if people take the time and initiative to understand other cultures, it is more than possible to do.
Source cited:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Hand-Gestures---What-They-Mean-in-Different-Countries&id=1595662
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hand-gestures-and-their-meanings.html
This was a great post! I was shocked to see that in some countries the thumbs up is like the middle finger here in America. These hand gestures are something we are so used to, that i am sure people don't even think about them when going to other countries. It really shows that we need to be aware of what goes on in the cultures around us, especially when visiting another country. We never would want to offend anyone.
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of Spanish kids that attended my high school. I would walk down the hall way in school and get whistled at, and they would make kissing faces at me. I thought this was so disrespectful. However, my Spanish teacher informed us that in their culture that is how they get a girls attention, and it isn't disrespectful at all.
This is very useful information that everyone around the globe should be aware of. It could cut down on some misunderstandings and unintentional insults. While talking, I never think twice about using hand gestures, it just happens without any thought. Thumbs up and the ok symbol are pretty commonly used and it is very surprising and interesting that they mean very different things around the world. I never would of thought that the symbol for ok would be the same as calling someone an anus in France! That could really make a pleasant conversation turn bad! This is really good information to be aware of especially when traveling to other countries.
ReplyDeleteThis post really shows the differences between cultures. Something in the U.S. that is seen as acceptable is so offensive in other cultures. I thought it was interesting about how we call someone by using our finger or to call a dog. I never thought of how it could be offensive in the sense of comparing a person to a dog. As you have said though, it depends on how dogs are treated in your country. I can see now how it would be insulting in the Philippines if they tend to leave dogs starving, or abuse the dogs. Also, just a simple sign as thumbs up seems like second nature to someone who lives in the U.S. I couldn’t imagine giving someone the thumbs up as you have said in Greece, and meaning the middle finger. Especially when traveling this shows us just how important it is to understand or research another culture. I just wanted to say after writing my own blog, I thought this was a very entertaining and informative blog.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! It is extremely interesting to see, and understand, that things as simple as hand gestures can be extremely important in communication with someone from a different culture. I had a discussion with my boyfriend's grandfather who lives in England and also has a house in Greece. He saw pictures of us giving the "backwards peace sign" to the camera (which is the equivalent to the middle finger in those cultures) and that sparked a whole conversation on this topic.
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting when you hear these stories about hand gestures and how it only takes a little understanding to defuse the situation. The personal stories really back up my point like the backwards peace sign in Greece or the kissing sounds in the hallways. It shows how different cultures can coexist amongst their differences.
ReplyDelete