Friday, 2 March 2012
Same Gestures, Different Meanings..
Gestures, or movements of the head, hands, arms, and legs can be used to convey specific messages that have linguistic translations. These gestures can be very useful in the workplace because they are a quick way to convey thoughts and feelings without needing to speak or write. Additionally, many such gestures are generally widely understood, although they may carry different meanings in other cultures. For instance, although the "ok" sign that is made through touch of the thumb and forefinger with the remaining fingers extended is seen as a positive gesture in the U.S., in some other cultures, this is seen as a vulgar gesture. Here in Singapore, we share similar hand gestures with the same meanings as the ones used in the US.
This video shows 7 widely used hand gestures, which differ in meaning when used in different parts of the globe. So people, the next time you go travelling, be sure to use the correct hand gestures; or, you might get yourself into trouble!
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I definitely agree with the concept of hand gestures above. It is widely known that what may be acceptable in one country may not be acceptable in other places. Here, these seven gestures shown are socially acceptable in America, but not in Europe and Asia. Body language and non-verbals vary from culture to culture - it is not the same universally. So, whenever we travel to a foreign country, we have to be aware that the non-verbal cues are totally different, and we have to adjust to them accordingly.
ReplyDeleteGroup 5-
It is true that a few gestures from all over the world are universally misinterpreted or understood. As a result, this causes misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts. For example, some gestures in the United States may be found to be perfectly acceptable but it may not be to the other parts of the world. Here is a similar example:
ReplyDeleteForm a circle with fingers to indicate “O.K.” Although this means “O.K.” in the United States and in many countries around the world, there are some notable exceptions:
1) In Brazil and Germany, this gesture is obscene.
2) In Japan, this means “money.”
3) In France, it has the additional meaning of “zero” or “worthless.”
Gestures are not the same around the world. Therefore, it is best if one researches on the cultural aspect when visiting or travelling to another unfamiliar country.
Its amazing how hand gestures can be interpreted in many ways in different countries. This clearly illustrates how nonverbal communication plays a crucial part in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThis gestures are actually symbolic representations of meanings. Therefore, different people from different cultures would interpret and assign different meanings.
On top of this, there is also the sign language. It is the medium of communication for people who are speech or hearing impaired. Its astonishing how communication has adapted and evolved to meet the needs of many.
I agree with the post that several hand gestures can be deemed socially acceptable (even pleasing) in some cultures, but offensive in others. Therefore, one should try as much as possible to learn the cultures of different countries, before heading over there for a visit!
ReplyDeleteTo prevent miscommunication, I feel that people should always establish their stand by voicing out what they're thinking, in order to support the hand gestures they're making. For example, if I were to give the thumbs up to a friend/colleague, I'd follow up with an "Okay" or "Understood!", just to make sure they understand what I mean.
commented by:
COM101 Class B Group 6
http://flylikerg6.blogspot.com
Interesting points to note while traveling!
ReplyDeleteThis also associates to what we learned in class about how gestures and non-verbals can cause unintended messages to be sent out to others. This brings a whole new perspective as to how even with the right idea being projected, the culture we use the gesture in makes it unintended.
This is very much like the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis where by language shapes the way we think and see the world.
In my opinion, try to learn the foreign language and gestures before going into foreign land. It might even help you enoy your holiday experience even more.
COM101 Class B Grp 1