Meaning of Gestures in Different Cultures ... Complimentary or Offensive?
91In a foreign country, a man visited a local restaurant. He didn’t speak their language. He ordered something indecipherable off the menu. When the waiter brought him a plate of delicious looking fried noodles, he smiled and made an OK sign at the waiter with his thumb and forefinger linked in a circle. Looking angry, the waiter then picked up the dish and thrown it to his lap. What he did wrong, he wondered. Well, nothing is quite as it seems when it comes to using hand gesture in another country.
Gestures or emblems have been used to replace words in many countries, and they are often specific to a given culture. Gesture may mean something complimentary in one culture, but is highly offensive in another. Generally, there are no universal hand gestures. However, with the influence of television and movies, some gestures have become more widely known and accepted in many countries. In spite of that, if we want to succeed in international business and relationships, we should be aware of these differences, understand, respect and accept them. To many, these misunderstanding can still be a bigger deal than just momentarily annoyances.
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What does this ‘Oh’ sign mean to you ?
If you are an English-speaking Caucasian and under the sea scuba diving around the world, it means ‘OK’, ‘good’, or ‘spot on’. In fact, it was believed that this ‘OK’ sign has been popularized by divers.
French understands it as ‘zero’ or ‘worthless’.
Japanese would read it as ‘money’.
Don’t show this to a Northern Greek. About 2000 years ago, ancient Greek vases have been found showing this gesture as a sexual insult. It is still thought the same way today. It implies that someone is a living manifestation of that unmentionable orifice, or refers to male and female’s genitalia, or as a signal that a man is homosexual. So, if you use this sign in northern Greece to tell a person that he is ‘ok’, he will feel insulted. He may retaliate. Alternatively, he may invite you home for an intimate dinner for two.
Other regions where this sign can be sexually insulting are parts of Central and Mediterranean Europe, Germany, Turkey, Malta, Sardinia, Tunisia, Greece, Russia, Middle-East, Paraguay, Brazil.
What does “thumb-up” or “thumbs-up” mean to different cultures?
The gesture “thumb-up” is also commonly misinterpreted. In English, it is popularly known as 'thumbs up', despite the fact that the action is commonly performed with only one hand. English-speaking Caucasians use it to signal ‘OK’, which is same meaning as O.K. ring gesture. The two can in fact be used almost interchangeably.
To most Europeans, it signals the number 1, since they count from 1 to 5 beginning with the thumb for 1 and ending with the little finger at number 5. Other nationalities, like Americans and Asians usually start counting on the index finger for number 1, and end on the thumb for number 5.
Avoid using this gesture in Southern Sardina or Northern Greece unless you want to invite a fight. There, it is an obscene insult signal meaning ‘get stuffed’ (or f*** you). While American, British and Australian would use the thumb up to signal hitch-hiking to the drivers, this message will not encourage a Greek driver or motorist to stop to give them a ride.
THE THUMB UP MEANINGS:
Based on 1,200 informants from 40 different locations from all over the world, the meanings of “thumb-up” were interpreted as follows:
O.K. 738
One 40
Sexual Insult 36
Hitch-hike 30
Directional 14
Others 24
Not used 318
Source : http://bernd.wechner.info/Hitchhiking/Thumb
Understanding the cultural upbringing of a person is vitally essential to avoid misinterpretation of gestures and misunderstanding of the other person’s feelings and intentions. Most Asians are not used to looking Australians, Americans or British in the eyes, as they view it as cultural sign of disrespect, so the Westerners misinterpret the Asians’ intention as devious, insincere or deceitful. Most Europeans like to stand physically close to the person whom they are having a conversation with, much closer than the Westerners. Consequently, Westerners think the Europeans are ‘pushy’ while Europeans think the Westerners are aloof or reserved.
There are no right or wrong signals, only cultural differences. Lack of cultural understanding will lead to disharmony among people from different cultures. When we know what to look for, such encounters with other cultures are actually very interesting, fascinating and fun. It is certainly a great topic to discuss over a cup of coffee and cakes.
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Thanks, Katie, for being the first to comment. :)
This is an excellent introduction to the subject, Ingenira.
Non-verbal communication or body language is a fascinating subject and as you point out, the meanings of common gestures can change depending on location.
Body language is so important I devoted an entire chapter in my job search book, "Much of What You Know about Job Search Just Ain't So," to body signs and meanings especially as they apply to candidates in interviews.
Ingenira, this is really good. I had no idea before reading this, but now I do. I'm sharing this with my family because it's so important to know how to communicate the right way, to show love but not offend. Thank you for a great lesson! (Voted up and forwarded to a few others)
Ingenira, thank you for making me aware, that if my dream of traveling the world comes to pass, I may tie my hands to my sides, to avoid the wrong signals. Very helpful and voted UP!
What a cool hub idea you have, Ingenira. I remember when I was in Japan my students were interested in American gestures. It's interesting how many are cross-cultural, too. Thanks for sharing.
thank you, drbj. I saw that you have written extensively on matters related to interview. That's really awesome !
Thank you, Unleashed Victory for reading and sharing. :)
My pleasure, Lilly. I hope your dream to travel around the world will come true.
wordscribe43, you taught in Japan before, how cool is that ! It's certainly a great way to experience their culture. I'd love to do what you did one day !
Hi Ingenira! Your hub is really interesting. What may seem acceptable in one culture would mean offensively to others so it is good to know about them so you won't get in trouble in case you have the chance to visit other places. Thanks, rated up.
Thank you, PaperNotes. Glad you enjoy reading it. Normally, if you look different from the locals, you will most likely be forgiven or laughed at. If you look like the locals, there is high possibility that you'll get into trouble, well, hopefully, it turns out to be an amusing one. ;)
I enjoyed your humorous and yet very useful Hub, thank you. Cultural understanding is a very important subject and this Hub goes a way to improving that.
Love and peace
Tony
Good Hub ... is certainly helpful to know the meanings of these gestures when we travel! And in any case is a very interesting topic.
thanks, Tony. :)
Appreciate your comment, fucsia.
Great hub and very useful
Thank you, globalgirl from the Romantic Road in Dorset. :)
Hi Ingenira, this hub reminds me to Italian. I love to see Italian food programs and they always move, express, and have specific gesture when they talk. It seems, if we hold their hand they can't talk :). Anyway great hubs and vote up!
Haha, Ign Andy. That's interesting. Thanks for sharing.
This is sooo interesting and shows truth in the ole saying, "gestures or actions speaks louder than words." I guess the best thing to do if in another country is to seek advice from someone that lives there and remember that the gestures may not be the same. Thanks for sharing. I'm rating this up for you. :)
You are spot on with this article. In china the gesture of pointing is considered very rude while we westerners will let it pass. I have alway thought it was our responsibility to learn the rules when we visit another country of even a different culture in our own country. I suppose that is where the old saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Voted you up and will twit this too. I will link to it on a blog I just recently read about a group of people called "prethinker" that work for companies like Microsoft. The article is called "Can Google Read Your Mind". You might find it interesting.
b
Thanks, Money Glitch, glad to see you again after a long silence. Hope to see new hub from you soon.
Well said, sirrot. I checked out your blog, it's very interesting. I have decided to follow you. You are cool !
This is a hub that could actually save people's lives one day.
useful
NateSean, wow, save people's lives...
well, we will never know.
Thanks, Dovay Lee. Welcome to my pages.
when you're in a new place or country, its interesting to learn their culture and find out the differences.
Certainly, cultural differences is a great barrier in terms of communication with other people though it's not impossible to learn from books and other literature that could tackle the differences between gestures of different cultures. This is a very informative post, eh. Thanks.
The supposed root of the British sticking two fingers is the battle of Agincourt in the 15th century.
The French would cut off fingers of prisoners to prevent them from firing their bows. Because of this the English longbow-men would hold up two fingers at the French in a gesture to prove that they still had the ability to shoot an arrow.
Whether this is actually true or not is probably debatable - I really hope it is!
Very interesting!
This was very interesting. I think though that if you go to another country and they know of course you are just a visitor, if you make a hand gesture that is insulting, that knowing you are a foreigner you would be forgiven.
midnightbliss, glad to see you again. Thank you for your nice comment. I hope to see more hubs on legend and myth from you. I love those stories !
Thank you for your comment, Cathyrin. Truly, if we have the desire to learn from browsing the web or reading from a book, the barrier of culture difference can be overcome.
A great read, really interesting!
Prof superwags, thank you for your very interesting comment. Whether it is true or not, those are awesome stories to show how gestures can make a big deal.
Thanks so much, Tryphena.
Mrs. J.B., thanks for your comment. It really depends on the country and the people whether they can forgive a foreigner's ignorance. Not everyone can be so forgiving. It's good to follow your intuition and sense it if there is something wrong, and do something about it.
Thank you, strictlydating expert. :)
Strangely enough, this has never come up in my travels - and it's probably for the best, as I might have gotten myself in trouble, it seems! Great hub, Ingenira - I love reading well-written hubs like this about different customs. It'll probably keep me out of a sticky situation in the future!
wow, I always assumed ok was universal. Good thing to keep in mind, thanks for the heads up.
Good article. Ive heard that the peace sign in some parts of europe, either England or Scotland because a king had those fingers cut off so they couldn't handle a bow & arrow.
Thank you for your honest comment and compliment, Larry Gee (the travel guide). I travel quite extensively too, and so far, with God's blessings, I have not encountered bad experience with gestures. Maybe because I seldom use gestures, I work as a professional working with other professionals, and the locals know I am a foreigners. So, I presume you must be a well-liked and well-respected travel guide wherever you go.
Great hub regarding gestures...Smiling for instant can mean different thing in China. Especially with women they will take it the wrong way. Very original hub.
Thank you, John for your visit and interesting comment.
This is very interesting post.Tourist who visit different places of the world should also know about these things as they are very important.
Thumbs up for this (Y) :)
Thank you, John Orton. :)
This is an interesting subject. Years ago I worked with a young veteran who had just come back from the Viet Nam war. He mentioned how often his fellow soldiers managed to insult the locals by using gestures which Americans use routinely as positive. On the other hand American Indians used a sign language that is more or less universal and, I understand, the basis for the sign language now used by the deaf.
dahoglund, that is a very interesting story, thanks for sharing. I can imagine how the gestures can be taken so negatively by the locals during war time. Without a spoken word, a gesture can anger many.
Sign languages part is really the best invention for people with disability. Perhaps it'd be a good topic for you write... the history of sign language. :)
Thank you so much for dropping by and leaving a meaningful comment.
wow..Good to learn some sign language here and how it applies to different cultures. Nice hub, Keep it up!
Glad you do, speedbird, and glad to see you here. :)
I won't use the wrong gestures again when travelling abroad and will pay more attention to their cultural difference. Have much fun of reading this hub!
Am savin d page right away... Good job! How ever,i thought 'lol' als o mean 'lots of love'?..
Wow! Being from the United States, I'll have to watch my gestures in Northern Greece. Funny how the same signals have completely different meanings
Glad that you have fun reading this hub, char4u.com. Thanks for your visit and comment.
EniolaOluwa, really, lol means lots of love ? I thought it meant lots of Luck ? LOL... hehehe...
TurtleDog, I think many people should visit Northern Greece to experience the culture there.
Well, if Northern Greek watched a lot of American movies, you'll be fine with the gestures.
Austin Yordy, sorry, I missed your post earlier. I must admit I wasn't able to respond fast enough before more comments come in.
Thank you so much reading and leaving a comment.
Very interesting information! I feel like some signs are so universal but I guess not!
Thank so much, LukeMason for your comment and welcome to my Hub pages. :)
Very interesting - but what does this mean ?
"Most Europeans like to stand physically close to the person whom they are having a conversation with, much closer than the Westerners. Consequently, Westerners think the Europeans are ‘pushy’ while Europeans think the Westerners are aloof or reserved"
You talk about Europeans and Westerners as if they were different people - Europeans ARE Westerners ! I am British, European and a Westerner. So who are these Europeans you are talking about ?
You have a point, Singular Investor. Geographically speaking, British is a European and a Westerner.
When I mentioned "Westerners", I was refering to Australians, Americans or British whoes mother tongue is English, while I referred the "European" to non-English speaking countries in Europe. Perhaps I should have been more precise as I mentioned them.
Yes, I think the French and Germans and others would not be pleased at being excluded from the category 'Westerners'.
With reference to gestures - there IS apparently one gesture that is universal. When we point to ourselves and say 'me' we all point to the same place - and it is not our head, where many people think we are. I haven't checked with everybody on the planet of course ! Perhaps you could put up a poll to find out which part of their body people point to when they point to themselves.
Nice article,thanks for sharing.
Thank you, crystolite, glad to see you again !
Singular Investor, thank you again for your comment. If the German or French is exposed to the word "westerner", they may not like it. I have German friends who heard about the word "western" for the first time in their lives. :)
You are probably right about the universal gesture - pointing to ourselves to say "me". :)
Its a Great post about Blogspot. I LIKE your this hub. i am now following you dear friend.
You might visit my following hub and i i am inviting you to visit and leave your valuable comments...
Thank you, Blogger Sumon.
This will definitely come in handy! Thank you for another cool hub.
Thanks for your comment, The Jet.
Interesting hub! Thank you for discussing some sign language and what it mean to other culture.
katiem2 15 months ago
Very interesting, thanks for the heads up on gestures in different countries. :) Katie