AARTI TAKAWANE

- Gestures: The Dos and

Taboos of Body
Language. by Roger E.
Axtell
- Gestures: Body
Language and Nonverbal
Communication. by
Gary Imai.
www.csupomona.edu/~t
assi/gestures.htm.

* According the a social anthropologist, Edward T. Hall,
in a normal conversation between two persons, less
than 35% of the social meanings is actually
transmitted by words.
* So, at least 65% of it is conveyed through nonverbal
channel.
* Mario Pei, a communications expert, once estimated
that humans can produce up to 700,000 different
physical signs.
* Birdwhistell estimated that the face alone is capable of
producing 250,000 expressions.
* People in other parts of the world observe body
language more than the North Americans do.
- Nodding the head
- yes in most societies
- no in some parts of Greece, Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria, and Turkey
- Tossing the head backward
- yes in Thailand, the Philippines, India, Laos
- Rocking head slowly, back and forth
- yes, Im listening in India and Thailand
* Facial expressions reflect emotion, feelings and
attitudes, but..
* The Asians are sometimes known as
- emotionless
- mixed-up emotion
* Eye contacts
- Encouraged in America, Canada, Europe
- Rude in most Asian countries and in Africa
* Raising eyebrows
- yes in Thailand and some Asian countries
- hello in the Philippines
* Winking eye
- Sharing secret in America and Europe
- flirtatious gesture in other countries
* Closed eyes
- bored or sleepy in America
- Im listening and concentrating. in Japan,
Thailand, China
* Ear grasp
- Im sorry. in India
* Cupping the ear
- I cant hear you. in all societies
* Pulling ear
- You are in my heart for Navajo Indians
* Holding the nose
- Something smells bad. universal
* Nose tap
- Its confidential. England
- Watch out. Be careful. Italy
* Pointing to nose
- Its me. Japan
* Blowing nose
- In Japan and many Asian countries, blowing the nose at
social gathering is very impolite.
* Cheek screw
- gesture of praise - Italy
- Thats crazy. Germany
* Cheek stroke
- pretty, attractive, success most Europe
* Whistle, yawn, smile, bite, point, sneeze, spit,
kiss..
* Kiss. In parts of Asia, kissing is considered an
intimate sexual act and not permissible in public,
even as a social greeting.
* Kissing sound. To attract attention in the
Philippines, to beckon a waiter in Mexico.
* Finger tip kiss. In France, it conveys several
messages, Thats good! Thats great! Thats
beautiful!.

* Spitting.
* Spitting in public is considered rude and crude in most
Western cultures.
* In the PRC and some other Asian countries, spitting in
public is very common.
* Lip pointing (a substitute for pointing with the hand
or finger) is common among Filipinos, Native
Americans, Puerto Ricans, and many Latin Americans.


* Open mouth. Any display of the open mouth is
considered very rude in most countries.
* Some cultures, like the Italians, use the arms freely.
Others, like the Japanese, are more reserved; it is
considered impolite to gesticulate with broad
movements of the arms.
* Folding arms are interpreted by some social observers
as a form of excluding self, I am taking a defensive
posture, or I disagree with what I am hearing.
* Arms akimbo. In many cultures, this stance signals
aggression, resistance, impatience, or even anger.
* Arms behind back, hands grasped is a sign of ease and
control.
* Arms in front, hands grasped, common practice in
most Asian countries, is a sign of mutual respect for
others.
* Of all the body parts, the hands are probably used
most for communicating non-verbally.
* Hand waves are used for greetings, beckoning, or
farewells.
* The American good-bye wave can be interpreted in
many parts of Europe and Latin America as the signal
for no.
* The Italian good-bye wave can be interpreted by
Americans as the gesture of come here.
* Beckoning.
* The American way of getting attention (raising a hand
with the index finger raised above head) could be
considered rude in Japan, and also means two in
Germany.
* The American come here gesture could be seen as an
insult in most Asian countries.
* In China, to beckon a waiter to refill your tea, simply
turn your empty cup upside down.
* Handshaking is a form of greeting in most
Western cultures.
* In the Middle East, a gentle grip is appropriate.
* In most Asian cultures, a gentle grip and an avoidance of
direct eye contact is appropriate.
* Hand-holding among the same sex is a custom of
special friendship and respect in several Middle
Eastern and Asian countries.
* Right hand. The right hand has special significance in
many societies. In certain countries in the Middle East
and in Asia, it is best to present business cards or gifts,
or to pass dishes of food, to get an attention, using only
the right hand.
* Left hand is considered unclean in much of the Middle
East and in parts of Indonesia.
* Hang loose.(thumb and little finger extended)
* could convey different meanings:
* in Hawaii, its a way of saying, Stay cool,
or Relax.
* in Japan, it means six.
* In Mexico (do vertically), it means,
Would you like a drink?
* Suicide gesture.
* In the U.S., a person points a forefinger to the temple,
thumb pointing upward.
* In Japan, a stabbing motion to the stomach is used.
* In parts of Asia, putting one hand to throat in a choking
motion is the signal for suicide.
* Clapping hands.
* Russians and Chinese may use applause to greet
someone.
* In many central and eastern Europe, audience
frequently clap in rhythm.
* The O.K. signal. (the thumb and forefinger form a circle)
means
* fine, or O.K. in most cultures,
* zero or worthless in France
* an insult in Greece, Brazil, Italy, Turkey,
Russia
* Thumbs-up. It means:
* O.K. good job or fine in most
cultures,
* Up yours! in Australia
* Five in Japan; One in Germany
* Avoid a thumbs-up in these countries: Australia, New
Zealand, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and most
African countries.
* Pointing.
* Pointing with the index finger is common in North
America and Europe.
* But it is considered impolite in Japan and China where
they favor using the whole open hand.
* Malaysians prefer pointing with the thumb.
* In Thailand, do not point with your toes.
* In Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, France.., do not
put your feet up on a desk or any other piece of
furniture.
* Sitting cross-legged is common in North America and
some European countries.
* Royal Cross is common in England.
* In Japan, Thailand, and China, a solid and balanced
sitting posture is the prevailing custom. Sitting cross-
legged shows the sign of disrespect.
* In the Middle East and parts of Asia, resting the ankle
over the other knee risks pointing the sole of your shoe
at another person, which is considered a rude gesture.
* Walking can reflect many characteristics of a culture.
For example,
* In Thailand and some of the Middle Eastern countries,
men who are friends may walk holding each others
hand.
* In Japan and Korea, women commonly walk a pace or
two behind male companion.
* Asians often regard Western women as bold and
aggressive, for they walk with a longer gait and a more
upright posture.
* Respectful of ones parents and elders
* Respectful of authority
* Interdependent
* Humble
* Group oriented
* Hard-working and frugal



* Careless: with dress, rules, and manners
* Generous: as neighbors
* Superficial: shallow and short-lasting friendship
* Confident: demand almost too much of self
* Ethnocentric: less interested in others
* Independent: Individually feeling not to fit others
mold.
* Source: Tyler, V. Lynn. Intercultural Interacting. (1987)

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