Gestures from Other Cultures - Research Paper Example

 Communication is a vital part of any society. It is how individuals in the society express their emotions and ideas. Writing and speaking are the most well-known methods of communicating, but they are not the oldest or the most popular. Before written and oral ways of communication were developed, people conveyed their thoughts and feelings with their motions. Indeed, gestures have become so basic to a person that at times they are done subconsciously. Although they are a widespread way of communicating, it is interesting to note that certain gestures may sometimes mean the opposite or an entirely different thing from one culture to another. What is a gesture? The dictionary defines it as “a motion of the hands, head or body to emphasize an idea or emotion, especially while speaking.”1 This means that gestures are a part of verbal communication. In fact, research has shown that motioning while speaking gets the message across faster.2 This is probably why in public speeches, speakers are advised to use effective gestures and avoid making distracting ones. 3 Gestures are a part of both verbal and non-verbal communication. In verbal communication, gestures support the speaker’s words in creating a more specific illustration to the listener. On the other hand, non-verbal communication entails sending a message to one’s audience without the use of spoken words. Thus, the speaker would “speak” with facial expressions, gestures and body movements. Supposedly, non-verbal communication has three purposes: for greetings, specific communication and involuntary situations. 4 A common example of a gesture for greeting is the waving of one’s hand. Rubbing one’s eye when tired and sleepy is an involuntary motion while gestures used in sign language is an example of specific communication. According to psychologist and Professor Geoffrey Beattie, 5 gestures can be classified into six types. Emblems are specific gestures and may take the place of words such as the “V” sign for victory or peace. Iconic gestures are those that add more information to the mental image the speaker is trying to express like when the hands show how big or small something is. Metaphoric gestures are those used when trying to explain how complex something is. Regulators are movements to show, for example, when one is finished speaking or starting to say something. Those motions that show emotion are called affect displays while those used to make a particular point fall under beat gestures. Hand gestures may be considered as a ‘universal language’ as proven by a study involving English, Spanish, Chinese and Turkish speakers where these individuals all used the same motions to explain a video with only their hands.6 This idea can also be supported by how the gestures used in American Sign Language are understood by people anywhere in the world. Conversely, a study on non-verbal communication showed that some gestures are culture specific. 7 When a motion used in one country has a totally different interpretation, even harsh at times, in another country, this gesture is said to be influenced by the country’s culture. It is suggested that travelers be well aware of these differences to avoid misunderstandings and possible uncomfortable situations. Even the most everyday gestures may get an individual in trouble with people from other cultures. The following paragraphs will attempt to enumerate several of these differences. Hand gestures are the most common motions everywhere in the world. Nevertheless, one should be careful in making certain motions as interpretations vary across nationalities. A very good example would be the surprised and even shocked reactions in some parts of the world when George W. Bush and his family flashed the ‘hook ‘em horns sign’ in his second inauguration. 8 The same sign meant a salute to Satan or devil worship in Nordic countries, a cheating wife in Italy, a curse to the receiver of the gesture for some Africans and a very rude American hand sign in some Mediterranean counties. 9 In all Muslim cultures, for example, the right hand is used for eating while the left hand is used for hygiene and toileting. 10 Since one’s left hand is considered “dirty”, it is rude to accept or give something to a Muslim using the left hand. Offering a handshake is always good but do not expect a handshake, especially with a conservative Muslim from the opposite sex, as this is taboo. Instead of a handshake, Muslims may touch their right hand to the heart to say they are greeting you with an open heart. 11 In China, this very gesture – touching the right hand to the heart – would mean the speaker is making a truthful promise. 12 The OK sign, a common hand gesture in North America, is made by making a circle with one’s thumb and first finger. While, in Brazil it is offensive and in Japan it means money, 13 it means “I’ll kill you” in Tunisia and extreme hostility among Arabs when done with teeth bared. 14 The thumbs-up sign, another common hand gesture, shows approval or understanding for Americans and most countries. For Brazilians though, it is the equivalent of a rude hand sign in the United States. 15 In Thailand, it is a sign of mockery and condemnation like how children stick out their tongue to each other. 16 Hand gestures may also be misinterpreted within countries in the same continent like in Europe. The cheek screw, where one makes a fist while “screwing” both index fingers on each cheek, is interpreted as good, lovely, beautiful or clever in Italy, but, in southern Spain, this means an effeminate man. 17 While flicking one’s chin with the back of the fingers means “I’m not interested or you bore/bother me” in Italy and France, it is a sign for “No” in southern Italy. 18 Kissing, bowing and pointing are other gestures very popular among people. Like hand gestures, there can be misunderstandings in different parts of the world when these acts are done. Where kissing the opposite sex is taboo in conservative and religious cultures, it is a matter of course in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. 19 Meanwhile, bowing, which is practiced in Japan, China and Korea, requires different executions to distinguish one that is meant for apology, thanks 20 or worship. It is truly remarkable that simple actions of one’s body can have diverse interpretations depending on what country a person is at. This just goes to show that although the world today seems to have grown smaller because of technological advances such as the Internet various cultures are still able to manifest their uniqueness even through little things like gestures. Bibliography Beattie, Geoffrey. Visible thought: The new psychology of body language. London: Routledge, 2003. Castella,Claire. “Meanings of Gestures in Other Cultures.” eHow.com. Accessed on April 18, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/info_8048215_meanings-gestures-other-cultures.html Debenham, Lucy. “Interesting Body Language Features From Other Cultures.” BodyLanguageExpert.co.uk. Accessed on December 18, 2010 from http://www.bodylanguageexpert.co.uk/interesting-body-language-features-from-other-cultures.html Exforsys Inc. “Public Speech Gestures.” Exforsys Inc. August 8, 2009. http://www.exforsys.com/career-center/public-speaking/public-speech-gestures.html Gestures That Are Offensive in Other Countries,” Vacation Ideas. November 29, 2010. http://www.vacationideas.me/travel-tips/gestures-that-are-offensive-in-other-countries/ Grinnell, Richard M, Gabor, Peter A., Unrau, Yvonne A. Program Evaluation For Social Workers: Foundations Of Evidence-Based Programs. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Hamilton, Cheryl. Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the Professions. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Highfield, Roger. Hand gestures are ‘universal language’. The Telegraph. Last modified on July 1, 2008 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3345965/Hand-gestures-are-universal-language.html Jones, Dr. Sharon Scott. Gestures in Different Cultures: Being Hand-y & Playing Footsie. PDF file. Keegan. “Nonverbal Communication.” ORACLE ThinkQuest. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/nonverbalcom.htm# Nauert, Rick. “Gestures Improve Verbal Communication,” PsychCentral, (2010). Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/01/07/gestures-improve-verbal-communication/10609.html on April 18, 2012. Nawar Shora. The Arab-American Handbook: A Guide to the Arab, Arab-American, and Muslim Worlds. Seattle: Cune Press, 2009. Pradeep Yammiyavar, Torkil Clemmensen & Jyoti Kumar. “Influence of Cultural Background on Non-verbal Communication in a Usability Testing Situation.” International Journal of Design, 2, no. 2 (2008): 31-40. Accessed on April 18, 2012 from http://www.ijdesign.org/ojs/index.php/IJDesign/article/view/313/164 Samover, Larry A, Porter, Richard E. and McDaniel. Edwin R. Communication Between Cultures. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Steves, Rick. Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door 2011: The Travel Skills Handbook. California: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2011. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. S.v. "gesture." Accessed on April 18 2012 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gesture Read More