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Worldwide Gestures -    blog no 44

Tami Lancut Leibovitz

Next to verbal language is another no less rich language – and that is, body language. This language includes an assortment of non-verbal associations understood by people of the same culture. In each country, these gestures may signify completely different things.

 

 

Following are three very widely used gestures whose meanings vary from place to place around the world.

  1. The OK sign of a circle - Different versions have been triing to answer the question what is the origin of this gesture? Some claim that the sign OK originally meant "all correct", and that frequently it was intentionally written in the incorrect form "oll korrect." Others claim that the sign symbolizes the opposite of knockout. The symbol OK is widespread in English speaking countries and has been assimilated in other countries, though interpreted differently. For instance, in France and Belgium the sign represents "zero" or "nothing." In Japan, the sign signifies money.  If you are doing business in Japan and use this gesture, a Japanese businessman is liable to think that you are asking for a bribe. In Mediterranean countries, this is an accepted sign for a homosexual person, and in Arab states this gesture is considered callous and impolite.

 

  1. Thumb Up - In Australia, the United States, South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand, the gesture of an upturned thumb can have several meanings: a person trying to get a lift, a sign for OK or a sign of callousness. Europeans counting to five on the palm of their hand will raise their thumb to indicate the number one (1). The second finger will represent the number 2 and so on. Meanwhile, in English speaking countries people will raise their second finger to indicate the number 1 and the thumb will represent the number 5.

 

  1. The V sign - In Australia, New Zealand and Britain this is the sign of a curse. In America, the sign means a quantity or number of two; in Germany it means victory. This gesture is attributed to Winston Churchill. There is also the upside down V sign which signifies horns and is intended as a sign of insult.

 

            For further information please refer to our book "I.B.L. Code – International Business Language"

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